To call a friend on Discord mobile, open your Direct Messages, tap the chat with that friend, then tap the phone icon at the top for a voice call or the camera icon for a video call. To talk with a bigger crowd, open a server, tap a voice channel and tap Join Voice. If nobody can hear you, check that your microphone isn't muted and that Discord has permission to use it in your phone settings.
You can only call people you're friends with, or people who share a server with you and allow calls from server members in their privacy settings. If the call icon is missing, or the call never rings, that is the first thing to check.
Below you'll find each type of call in turn, with the steps in order, and then a short fix list for the most common problem of all: the other person can see you but can't hear you. The steps work on both Android and iPhone, because the Discord app looks and behaves almost the same on both.
One note before we start. Discord changes its menus every so often. If a name looks different in your version, search the app's settings for the key word, such as Voice or Permissions, and you'll find it.
Start a voice call with a friend in Direct Messages
This is the route most people want. It's like phoning someone, except it runs over Wi-Fi or mobile data, so it doesn't use your phone minutes.
- Open the Discord app and sign in.
- Open your Direct Messages list. This is where all your one-to-one chats live.
- Tap the chat with the friend you want to call. If you haven't added them yet, start with my guide to adding friends on Discord.
- Look at the top of the chat and tap the phone icon.
- Wait for them to answer. Their phone or computer will ring if they have Discord open or notifications switched on.
- Use the microphone button to mute yourself and the red button to hang up when you're finished.
The first time you do this, Android or iPhone will ask whether Discord can use your microphone. Tap Allow. If you said no by mistake, you can fix it in the table further down.
If your friend is busy or has their status set to busy, the call will still show in their chat as a missed call. That's a handy way to tell them you tried without sending a long message.
Switch to a video call
A video call follows exactly the same path, with one different tap. Open the same Direct Messages chat and tap the camera icon instead of the phone icon. Discord asks for camera permission the first time, in the same way it asks for the microphone.
You can also turn your camera on during a voice call. Once the call is running, look for the camera button on the call screen and tap it. Tap it again to switch the camera off, which is useful when you've got a poor connection and the picture keeps freezing.
- Use Wi-Fi if you can. Video uses far more data than voice.
- Hold your phone steady, or prop it against something, so your friend isn't watching a wobbling ceiling.
- Check what's behind you before you switch the camera on. Discord shows exactly what your lens sees.
- Tap the flip button on the call screen to swap between the front and back cameras.
Join a voice channel in a server
A voice channel is different from a call. Nobody rings you, and nobody has to answer. It's more like walking into a room where people are already talking, and it's how gaming groups, study groups and communities usually hang out.
- Open Discord and tap the server icon on the left.
- Scroll through the channel list until you find a voice channel. It has a speaker icon next to its name.
- Tap the voice channel.
- Tap Join Voice. You're now in the room and everyone in it can hear you.
- To leave, tap the disconnect button on the voice bar.
Two buttons matter once you're inside. The microphone button mutes you, so people can't hear you but you can still hear them. The headphone button deafens you, which means you can't hear anyone and you're muted as well. People often tap deafen by accident and then wonder why the room has gone silent.
If you haven't joined the server yet, you'll need an invite link from someone who is already in it before the channels show up.
Call a group of friends in a group DM
A group DM is a private chat with a handful of friends, and it can be called in the same way as a one-to-one chat. Open the group DM from your Direct Messages list, tap the phone icon at the top for voice, or the camera icon for video. Everyone in the group gets a ring and can join when they're ready.
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It suits a family catch-up or a few mates planning the weekend, because it's private and nobody outside the group can wander in. If you want a bigger, always-open space, a server voice channel is the better fit.
Screen sharing is possible from a call on your phone too, which is handy for showing a friend a photo, a game or a settings page. My guide on how to screen share on Discord has the full steps.
Nobody can hear me: the fix list
Work down this table from the top. The first two rows solve most cases.
| What's wrong | What to check | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone permission was denied | Allow Discord to use the microphone | Phone Settings, then Apps, then Discord, then Permissions |
| You're muted or deafened | Tap the microphone and headphone buttons until neither has a line through it | The call screen or the voice bar |
| Discord isn't picking up your voice | Check the input mode and the sensitivity setting, and try turning noise suppression off | Your profile, then Voice |
| Battery saver is cutting off background apps | Turn battery saver off, or let Discord run without limits | Phone battery settings |
| The wrong audio device is being used | Disconnect Bluetooth earbuds you aren't wearing, then rejoin | Phone Bluetooth settings |
| The connection keeps dropping | Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, then rejoin | Phone network settings |
If the voice channel sits on a connecting message and never joins, that's a different problem with its own fix. See my guide to the Discord RTC connecting message.
After changing any of these settings, leave the call and join again. Discord often needs a fresh connection before the change shows.
Keep your calls private and polite
Only call people who are happy to hear from you. If a stranger keeps calling you, open your privacy settings and limit who can send you direct messages and friend requests. You can also block someone from their profile, and they won't be able to call you again.
It's good manners to ask before you start a video call, especially with someone you don't know well. And if you're in a voice channel with people you've only just met, remember that anyone in the room can hear you, so keep personal details like your address or school to yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Can I call someone on Discord mobile if we aren't friends?
Only if you share a server with them and their privacy settings allow direct messages from server members. Otherwise, send a friend request first and call once they accept.
Is calling on Discord free?
Voice and video calls are free to use. Discord also has a paid plan with extras, but you don't need it to make a call. Check the current terms in the app if you're curious.
Why can't I see the call button in the chat?
The person may have blocked you, or their privacy settings may stop calls from people they haven't added. Updating the app can also bring the icons back.
How do I end a call on Discord mobile?
Tap the red hang up button on the call screen. In a server voice channel, tap the disconnect button on the voice bar instead.
