Discord text formatting uses Markdown: wrap words in *one asterisk* for italic, **two** for bold, __two underscores__ for underline, ~~two tildes~~ to cross text out and ||two bars|| to hide it as a spoiler. Start a new line with -# for small text, # for a header, > for a quote, and wrap words in backticks for `code`.
The bit most people miss: headers, small text, lists and quotes only work when the symbols sit at the very start of a new line, followed by a space. Type them halfway through a sentence and Discord prints the symbols as plain characters. Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough and spoilers are different: they work anywhere in a message, as long as you wrap the words on both sides.
Catch to remember: the line-start rule. Discord's own Markdown guide says the -# for subtext must be at the very beginning of the line, and the same goes for headers. If your small text isn't shrinking, press Shift and Enter to start a fresh line and try again.
Discord formatting cheat sheet
Type the characters in the middle column exactly as shown. The last column describes what your friends see once you hit send.
| What you want | Type this | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Italic | *text* or _text_ | Slanted text |
| Bold | **text** | Thick, heavy text |
| Bold italic | ***text*** | Thick and slanted |
| Underline | __text__ | Text with a line under it |
| Underline and bold | __**text**__ | Thick text with a line under it |
| Strikethrough (cross out) | ~~text~~ | Text with a line through the middle |
| Spoiler (black out) | ||text|| | A dark bar people tap to reveal |
| Small grey text | -# text (new line) | A smaller, faded line |
| Big header | # text (new line) | Large title text |
| Smaller headers | ## text or ### text | Medium or small title text |
| Bullet list | - item or * item | A bulleted list |
| Quote | > text | A line with a bar down the left |
| Multi-line quote | >>> text | The rest of the message is quoted |
| Inline code | `text` | Grey box in a fixed-width font |
| Code block | ```text``` | A larger box for several lines |
How to make text small in Discord
Small text is the newest of the bunch and the one people search for most. It's called subtext, and it's handy for footnotes, credits under a meme or a quiet "edited" note at the end of an announcement.
- Start a new line. On a computer, press Shift and Enter if you're already partway through a message.
- Type a hyphen, a hash sign and a space:
-#. - Type your text straight after the space.
- Send it. The line appears smaller and greyed out.
If it doesn't shrink, check two things: there's a space after the hash sign, and nothing comes before the hyphen on that line, not even a space or an emoji.
Headers, lists, quotes and masked links
Headers
Use one, two or three hash signs at the start of a line for big, medium and small headers. Discord's guide stresses the space between the hash and your words. Without that space, nothing changes. Headers are great in server rules or event posts, but in a busy chat they can feel like shouting, so use them sparingly.
Lists
Begin each line with a hyphen or an asterisk, then a space. To indent a line under the one above, add two spaces before the hyphen. Numbered lists work the same way: 1. then your text.
Block quotes
A single > at the start of a line quotes that one line. Three of them, >>> , quote everything that follows in the same message, which saves you typing the symbol on every line when you're replying to a long point.
Masked links
Discord also supports masked links, where readable words become a clickable link. You put the display words in square brackets and the web address in round brackets straight after. Be careful when you click one in a server you don't know: the words can say one thing while the link goes somewhere else, so hover first on a computer to see where it leads.
Code blocks and coloured text
Single backticks make a short grey code box inside a sentence. Three backticks on their own line, then your text, then three more backticks, make a bigger block that keeps your spacing, which is perfect for error messages or anything you want copied word for word.
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Developers often add a language name straight after the opening three backticks (for example ```python) so Discord colours the code. People also borrow this trick to get coloured text in chat. It works on many common languages, but colours vary between apps, so treat it as a bonus rather than something you rely on. One thing Discord's support team does confirm: anything inside a code block won't format, and that includes spoilers, so a spoiler wrapped in backticks shows to everyone.
How to stop Discord formatting your text
Sometimes you want the symbols to show, like a face made of asterisks or a file name with underscores. Put a backslash in front of the symbol, for example \*not italic\*, and Discord prints the asterisks as they are. Wrapping text in single backticks does the same job and is easier when there are lots of symbols in one line.
Formatting on the Discord mobile app
- Every symbol in the cheat sheet works the same on Android and iPhone; you just type it.
- On iPhone, you can select words in the text box and pick Mark as Spoiler from the menu that pops up, according to Discord's spoiler guide.
- On any device, typing
/spoilerbefore your message hides the whole thing. - For a new line on a phone, tap the return key on the keyboard; it adds a line instead of sending in most layouts.
- On a computer, highlight text to bring up a small toolbar with bold, italic, strikethrough and spoiler buttons if you'd rather not type symbols.
Discord moves its menus from time to time. If a button or menu name looks different on your screen, search Discord's settings for the word and it'll usually come up. For spoilers in images and links, my guide on how to spoiler text on Discord goes into more detail, and the Discord help hub covers the wider basics.
My advice
Learn four: bold, spoiler, -# small text and the > quote. They cover almost everything you'll want in a normal chat, and they're the ones that make long messages easier to read. Save headers for rules and announcements, where people expect structure.
Frequently asked questions
How do you cross out text on Discord?
Wrap the words in two tildes on each side, like ~~this~~. On a computer you can also highlight the words and click the strikethrough button in the small toolbar.
How do you black out text on Discord?
Use spoiler tags: two vertical bars on each side, like ||this||, or type /spoiler before your message. The text shows as a dark bar until someone taps it.
Why isn't my small text working on Discord?
The -# has to be the very first thing on a new line, with a space after the hash sign. Start a fresh line with Shift and Enter and type it again.
Can you underline text on Discord?
Yes. Put two underscores on each side of the words, like __this__. You can combine it with bold or italic, for example __**this**__.
Does Discord formatting work in DMs?
Yes. The same Markdown works in servers, direct messages and group chats, on desktop, browser and mobile. If you need your user ID for support, see how to find your Discord ID.
