{"id":179112,"date":"2021-11-05T11:31:01","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T10:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=179112"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:01:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:01:58","slug":"what-is-discord-how-it-works","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/what-is-discord-how-it-works\/","title":{"rendered":"What is DISCORD and how it works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Discord<\/strong><\/a> is a popular chat platform<\/strong> for keeping up with friends and communities. It combines the features of a chat lobby, chatting system, streaming service, and a message board. Used initially mainly by groups of gamers to chat about whatever they were playing, it\u2019s now also used by groups of friends just to hang out together online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discord <\/strong>has grown so much that it now has more than 250 million registered users. If you\u2019re looking to get a group together to play any popular online game or just to chat about whatever interests you, keep reading to learn what Discord is and how it works<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Discord?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re an online gamer, you\u2019ve heard of, and possibly used Discord. Like Skype, it lets people talk to their friends online by voice or video. But there\u2019s a big difference between them: Discord\u2019s servers. Every Discord server has text and voice channels<\/strong> where you can chat with other members. You can share links, images, music, videos, and play games. Discord servers usually have several channels with different topics and rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Setting up Discord<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can download Discord on a computer <\/strong>or mobile device<\/strong>. You can access Discord\u2019s servers using a web browser, but it\u2019s best to use the Discord app. When you start, Discord will prompt you to create an account. You can use Discord without an account, but you won\u2019t be able to access your chats after you close the browser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After download, you\u2019ll go through the setup process<\/a> before seeing details of Discord\u2019s latest updates and features. You then just need to become familiar with the app and what it offers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a Discord server<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to set up your own Discord server. Just click on the plus symbol, and it will bring up a screen where you can set up your server, use a template, or join another server. For a business, you could start with the Artists & Creators<\/strong> option. Then you can choose For a club or community. After that, you can customize your server with a name and an icon. Then, just click Create, <\/strong>and you\u2019ll have your own server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is in a server?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have a Discord server, there are some features for you to look at. Here are some top items you need to take note of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personalize your server<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To personalize your server<\/strong>, go to the settings. There are many settings that will help you make your server unique. On the left of the screen, there are the following options: Server Overview, Roles, Emojis, Stickers, Moderation, Audit Log, Integrations, Widgets, Server Templates, Enable Community, Server Boost Status, Members, Invites, Bans, Delete Server. Exploring each of these will help you learn how to modify your own special server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Server permissions and user roles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To set up admin and moderator roles or any other roles you want to offer members, click on the arrow to the right of your server name. This is near the top on the left of the screen. Then choose<\/strong> Server Settings<\/strong>. It\u2019s not recommended to give everyone a role as soon as they join your server. Use server verification to keep raiders and spammers off your server. Be fussy about who you assign roles to on your server.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start a Discord Channel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Discord servers consist of different channels. You can specify which channels are for text or voice<\/strong> and decide on a name for each of your channels. You can also group your channels into categories. One possible category could be Entertainment, <\/strong>where you could have channels for TV and movies, games, podcasts, and books. To start a channel, right-click in the channel panel, where you\u2019ll be able to set up a new channel or category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why gamers use Discord<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many gamers use Discord as their primary communication with gamer friends<\/strong> because Discord has special overlays for game clients. These allow you to manage your Discord settings without having to ALT-Tab out of your game. Discord allows you to socialize on the internet better than any other program. It\u2019s a handy tool for hanging out with your friends while you\u2019re gaming, making it much more fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does Discord work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Discord lets you communicate with others and share files<\/strong>, while there are also voice functions. If it\u2019s your first time, it can become confusing. Here\u2019s how Discord works and some features you should plan on using.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navigating Discord<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the far left of your screen, when you open Discord<\/strong>, you\u2019ll see a list of servers. Next to it on the right, you\u2019ll see if any friends are online, friend requests and messages. Below your list of Discord servers, there\u2019s a button with a plus<\/strong> symbol you can use to set up your own server or join another one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also a button with a compass symbol<\/strong>. You can use it to look at public servers. Once you\u2019re in a Discord server, you\u2019ll see a list of the channels within that server. Go into a channel, and messages will come up in the center of the screen. You\u2019ll be able to see a list of the people participating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those handy bots<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Discord bots<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>are like features and plugins that can improve your Discord experience<\/strong>. Bots can automate tasks on your servers, filter out spam, play games and music and kick or ban certain users. You\u2019ll have to find the bot you want before you add it to your server. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are lots of Discord bots and discussions about what they do<\/strong>. There are websites with lists of Discord bots, like discordbotlist.com. They even publish lists of bots the community has found most helpful. Once you\u2019ve found the bot, just invite it to your server! It\u2019s that easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discord notifications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you belong to lots of Discord servers, you might be getting too many notifications<\/strong> for comfort! But Discord gives you excellent control over the number of notifications you want to receive. To control your notifications, go to User Settings <\/strong>and hit Notifications, <\/strong>where you\u2019ll find many controls, including muting channels and servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discord Tips and Tricks<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here are some sites to visit with guides that cover all aspects of what you need to know about Discord:<\/p>\n\n\n\n