Discord Stuck on Starting

Aaron Donald May 11, 2023

You’re about to message your friends on Discord when you notice you can’t get past the starting screen. It’s frustrating when a networking platform doesn’t operate correctly. And many users have encountered this specific issue with Discord. It’s especially prevalent for Windows 10 users. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple fixes and tips to apply to your device that can solve the problem.

In this article, you’ll learn how to solve the Discord stuck-on-starting issue.

Disabling Firewall and Antivirus for Discord

There are multiple reasons why Discord may not be working on your desktop. Firewalls and antivirus programs have the role of protecting your computer from threats. However, sometimes they can pick out apps that don’t cause any harm and block them. Your firewall and antivirus software may identify Discord as one such threat.

Here’s how to disable the Windows antivirus to use Discord:

Select the “Start” (the Windows logo) option to the very left of the bottom of your toolbar.
In the search bar, type in “Windows Security.” Click on the app the search produces.
Click “Virus &Threat Protection” and then “Manage Settings.”
You can toggle the “Real-time protection” to off to disable the antivirus.

After you’ve disabled the antivirus program, it’s time to do the same for the Windows firewall:

From the Start button, click “Settings” then “Update & Security.”
Click on “Windows Security” and then finally “Firewall &Network protection.”
Click on “Windows Security Settings” and then switch off the “Microsoft Defender Firewall” option.
Run the Discord app as usual.

Disabling your antivirus and firewall leaves your computer vulnerable to potential risks and cyber threats. If you choose this solution, only use vetted apps and open trusted websites. Alternatively, you can toggle the antivirus and firewall when you’re finished using Discord.

If your firewall is connected to another network and not just your computer, you may not have the option to turn it off. In such a case, speak with your administrator to see if they permit turning the firewall off safely. You might need to disable any other antivirus software installed on your computer too.

Close Games and Apps in the Background

Your issue with Discord may be that the app doesn’t have enough memory to get started. Your best solution for this issue is to close all the games and other apps playing in the background and draining your RAM when running Discord. It’s worth noting that this solution isn’t ideal if you want to play games while chatting on Discord at the same time.

Here’s how to close your background apps and games:

Select the “Start” option from the Windows toolbar and then select the “Settings” option.
Click on “Privacy” and then on “Background Apps.”
Navigate to “Background Apps” and turn off the “Let Apps Run in the Background” section.

This process may give you enough RAM to get the Discord app going. But suppose you’re set on playing games while using Discord simultaneously. In that case, you can try opening them up after running the Discord app. However, if RAM was the primary issue, there’s a chance the game won’t open or might lag.

Updating Your Discord App

Discord is constantly coming out with new updates to renew the platform, making it run efficiently and smoothly while adding new features. If it doesn’t open up, it could be because your old version isn’t supported. Updating Discord may be the answer to get you past the starting screen on which you’re stuck.

Here’s how to update the Discord app on a Windows desktop:

Open up the Discord app on your desktop.
From the starting screen, type the command “Ctrl + R” to prompt the app to search for updates and automatically install them.

In case this method doesn’t work, you can still update Discord from the systems tray. Here’s how to do that too:

Open the Discord app.
Go to the systems tray in the lower right corner of your desktop toolbar, next to the clock.
Right-click on the Discord app icon from the list. Click the upward arrow for an expanded list if it isn’t available.
After right-clicking on the icon, select “Check for Updates.”
Re-open the Discord app.

The same issue can persist when opening Discord on your phone. Here’s how to update the platform through your Android device:

Open the “Playstore” app.
Type in “Discord” in the search bar and then select search.
Tap on the app that appears and then tap “Update” if the option is available.

If you’re using an iPhone or an iOS device, then follow the steps below:

Open the App Store from your iPhone.
Select the profile option located at the upper right corner of the interface.
Scroll through the list of your apps until you find the Discord app, and then tap “Update.”

Once you update the app on your mobile device or desktop, you’ll be to use it again regularly without any issues.

FAQs

Is Discord unsafe for my computer?

Discord is a trusted app with millions of users worldwide. Installing the app on your phone or desktop and using the platform in your internet browser is perfectly safe.

Why is Discord stuck on starting for my desktop, but not my mobile device?

Many have noticed that Discord has more frequent issues on Windows 10 rather than on other operating systems such as iOS or Android. It could be because the Windows firewall and antivirus identify Discord as unsafe despite the app not being a threat.

Getting Discord Unstuck and Starting

The starting screen issue with Discord can make it impossible to talk to your friends while playing your favorite games, causing a less enjoyable user experience. Updating the app, disabling the firewall and antivirus programs, and closing other games in the background are all possible solutions you should look into to fix the starting screen. Sometimes, faulty apps can be a problem on Discord’s end. In such cases, waiting until the company resolves it is best.

Did the tips above help you solve the starting problem with Discord? Did you just need to update your app, or was it a particular problem with Windows? Let us know in the comment section below.