Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy, childhood friends and avid gamers, founded Discord to create a communication platform optimized for gamers. Inspired by their shared love of gaming and the connections they formed while playing, they recognized the need for a faster, more reliable, and user-friendly tool. Since this ambitious beginning, Discord has attained global popularity, with an estimated 196 million users now logging in every month to chat, text and engage with their community.
However, Discord can be overwhelming at first. For newcomers, it may feel like entering a room full of conversations, without knowing who to talk to or what’s going on. This guide will help you move from “I’m lost” to “I got this” in no time—so you can jump into conversations, join voice chats, and make the most of everything Discord offers.
Originally a gaming platform, Discord has evolved into a versatile social media tool for everyone—from communities, schools, and work teams to crypto enthusiasts and NFT communities. At its core, Discord allows users to connect through GIFs, pictures, videos, emojis, reactions, files, and more. You can join different servers (or communities) that focus on specific topics, collaborate with others, and create your own community from scratch.
Setting up a Discord account is simple and free. You can sign up through the desktop app, the web, or mobile.
Step 1: Download Discord or Use the Web Version
Step 2: Create an Account
Step 3: Verify Your Email
Step 4: Customize Your Profile
Explore more personalization tips from Discord’s explainer on Server Profiles.
After setting up your account and logging in successfully, you’ll see the Discord interface. For new users, Discord’s dashboard appears confusing. We’ll break it down so it’s easier to understand.
Here are the key elements you need to know to start exploring:
The sidebar also includes your friends list and direct messages (DMs), allowing you to chat privately with other users. In the bottom left corner, you’ll find the settings to customize your account and Discord experience.
Servers are the heart of Discord, where all the action happens. You can create your own server for a specific group, or join one that already exists. It’s worth noting that in Discord many servers require an invite link – you can usually get one from another user, or from the website of the community you’re joining.
Discord’s channels are where most of the interaction happens. Once you’ve joined a server, it will normally be split into multiple subsections called channels, each acting as a hub for a different topic of conversation within that community. For example, you might have a channel dedicated to terms and conditions of an NFT airdrop, and another for community announcements and general chat. Channels themselves come in different formats, let’s check those out now:
These are like chat rooms where you can send messages, images, videos, and other media. To send a message, simply click on the channel and start typing. Using the quote feature, you can also react to messages with emojis or reply to specific messages.
A couple of neat tricks to keep in mind:
Voice Channels
These are open voice chats where you can talk in real time. Joining is easy—just click on a voice channel and start speaking.
Here’s what you can do in voice channels:
To leave a voice channel, just click the telephone icon at the bottom of your screen.
Discord bots are automated programs that help manage your server or enhance your experience. You can use them for various tasks, from moderating your server to playing music.
Bots help boost productivity by managing tasks that would otherwise require manual input.
In addition to bots, you can also integrate apps like Spotify and Twitch into Discord. For example, if you’re a streamer, you can connect your Twitch account and notify your server members when you go live.
If you want to enhance your Discord experience, Discord offers a premium service called Discord Nitro. Here are the perks you receive with Nitro
You can also customize your servers by setting up roles and permissions. This allows you to assign different users specific roles (like moderator or admin) and control what they can do within the server.
Like any platform, taking safety precautions when using Discord is important. While the platform prioritizes user privacy through end-to-end encryption for audio and video, messages on the platform are not encrypted.
Here are some tips to maximise the security of your communication:
Discord can be a lot to take in at first, but once you understand the basics, it’s an incredibly versatile platform for communication and collaboration. To truly blend into a server and avoid awkward moments, it’s good to know the unwritten rules:
With this guide, you can dive into Discord and make the most of it. Just remember to take your time, explore its features, and have fun connecting with communities worldwide.