Discord Not Loading? Fix the Loading Screen, Connecting and Images

"Not loading" can mean three quite different things on Discord: the app never gets past its start screen, it sits on connecting, or it opens but images and attachments stay blank. Each has a different fix in Discord's Help Center, so it helps to be precise about what you're seeing.

I've followed Discord's troubleshooting guide, its connecting-screen article and its images and connection errors article. Where those pages don't cover a situation, I've said so instead of guessing.

Telling the three Discord loading problems apart

• Frozen loading screen: the app opens, shows its loading animation and never moves on.
• Stuck on connecting: you see the main connecting screen and it never reaches your servers.
• Content not loading: Discord opens, but images, attachments or other media stay blank.

If you're not sure, start with the status check below, then pick the matching section.

Checking Discord's Status page before you change anything

Discord says to check its Status page first for real-time updates on service availability. If there's a wider incident, no setting on your side will help, and changing things could just add confusion. Then test your internet connection with a speed test, and try another network if you have one.

Fixing the Discord loading screen that never ends

For a loading screen that freezes, Discord's troubleshooting guide lists three fixes:

1. Clear Discord's cache and temporary files; my guide to clearing the Discord cache shows how on each device.
2. Run Discord as administrator. On Windows, right-click the shortcut and choose Run as administrator.
3. Turn off hardware acceleration in User Settings > Advanced, if you can get far enough to open settings.

What to do when Discord is stuck on the connecting screen

Discord's article on the main connecting screen gives a short checklist:

• Make sure your date and time are set automatically, as Discord's first check.
• Scan your computer with a malware scanner, clear any threats, restart and relaunch Discord.
• Make sure your firewall allows Discord to connect.
• Check that no proxies are switched on. On Windows that's the LAN settings under Internet Options; on a Mac it's the Proxies tab in your network's Advanced settings.

If you're still stuck, Discord suggests opening the console with Ctrl, Shift and I (Option, Command and I on a Mac) to look for errors. It points to a separate console log article for reading them, which is more technical than most people need.

When Discord opens but images and attachments won't load

Blank images are the classic DNS symptom. Discord says DNS issues are the most common cause of broken images and other connection troubles, and its first suggestion is to change your DNS provider. It typically recommends Google Public DNS and Cloudflare, and notes the exact addresses can change, so use the providers' own sites.

Discord's page also names two situations where your internet provider may be involved. For people in the UK with BT, it says British Telecom confirmed its DNS service was blocking images and other parts of Discord for some users, and recommended changing DNS provider. For some US users on Xfinity xFi routers with Private Browsing turned on, Discord says Xfinity blocked its image delivery, and suggests contacting Xfinity Support.

Allowlisting Discord in antivirus or security software

If changing DNS doesn't help, Discord's next suggestion is to allowlist Discord in your antivirus software. It says some antivirus and security providers have blocked its services before. You may need to ask your antivirus provider how to do it, since each program words it differently.

Discord not loading in your browser instead of the app

If you use Discord on the web, Discord's voice and video guide suggests checking that your browser and its version are compatible and trying a different browser. A browser's own permission settings can also block a microphone or camera, but that's separate from the page failing to load at all.

Discord not loading on a phone or tablet

For the mobile app, the nearest official guidance is the crashing and install article. It says to restart your device, update the operating system, download the app only from Google Play or the Apple App Store, free up storage and try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data. Discord's help pages don't have a separate mobile article for a blank loading screen, so these are the fixes to work through.

If your connection keeps dropping on other apps too, my explainer on why YouTube lags may help you see whether the network is the issue.

Reinstalling when Discord still won't load

On Windows, a clean reinstall means deleting the Discord folders under %appdata% and %LocalAppData%, restarting and installing again, as Discord's installer article describes. I've written out the steps for both systems in my page on Discord getting stuck on updates, so I won't repeat them here.

Getting help if Discord is still not loading

Discord points to its support team when troubleshooting doesn't solve a problem. Describe what you see (loading screen, connecting screen or missing images), your device, and the fixes you've already tried. That saves everyone a round of questions.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Discord not loading?

Discord's help pages name a service outage, a stuck cache, wrong date and time, a firewall or proxy, DNS trouble and antivirus software as common causes.

How do I fix the Discord connecting screen?

Set your date and time automatically, scan for malware, allow Discord through your firewall and make sure no proxy is enabled, as Discord's connecting-screen article advises.

Why aren't images loading on Discord?

Discord says DNS issues are the most common cause. Try changing your DNS provider, then allowlisting Discord in your antivirus.

Is Discord down for everyone?

Check Discord's Status page for real-time information on service availability.

Does clearing the cache help Discord load?

Discord lists clearing its cache and temporary files as a fix for loading screen freezes.

What if nothing makes Discord load?

Contact Discord's support team with details of what you see and what you've tried.