By FreePortal Team · Reviewed by FreePortal Editorial Team · Last updated October 2026

How to Download and Install Discord Free Guide

The free communication app for gamers and communities — text, voice, and video chat on any device.

Is Discord Free?

Yes. Discord is free to download and use, including text chat, voice calls, video calls, screen sharing, and servers. Nitro is an optional paid subscription ($9.99/month) that adds higher upload limits, HD streaming, and — as of 2026 — Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition. A cheaper Nitro Basic tier ($2.99/month) adds custom emoji and 50 MB uploads. Neither is required for normal use.

System Requirements

Requirements below reflect Discord's official minimums (checked October 2026).

Windows: Windows 10 or later (x64 or ARM64). Windows 7/8/8.1 support ended on 15 March 2024.
macOS: macOS 12 (Monterey) or later.
Linux: Ubuntu 20.04+ / Debian 11+, openSUSE 16.2+, or Fedora 32+.
iOS: iOS 16.0 or later.
Android: Android 7.0 or later (Android 10+ recommended for audio sharing).
RAM: 2 GB minimum (4 GB+ recommended for video calls and screen share)
Storage: ~150 MB for the installer, growing to roughly 500 MB with cache
Internet: Broadband connection required
Browser: Chrome 108+, Firefox 142+, Edge 86+, or Safari 15.4+ for the web version

How to Install Discord

Go to the official site. Visit discord.com/download.
Download the installer. The page auto-detects your OS. Click the download button for Windows, macOS, Linux, or grab the mobile app from the App Store / Google Play.
Run the installer. Open the downloaded file — installation takes just a few seconds.
Create an account. Enter an email, username, password, and date of birth. Verify your email when prompted.
Launch Discord. The app opens to your friends list, ready to go.

Getting Started

Add friends. Click the Friends tab and use "Add Friend" with someone's username to start chatting privately.
Join a server. Servers are communities. Click the + button in the left sidebar, then "Join a Server" and paste an invite link from a community you like.
Tune your voice settings. Go to Settings → Voice & Video and select your microphone and speakers. Use the "Let's Check" mic test.
Set up notifications. In Settings → Notifications, choose which alerts matter — otherwise every message will ping you.
Create your own server (optional). Click the + in the sidebar → "Create My Own" → name it and invite friends.

Useful Tips

🔐 Enable 2FA. Settings → My Account → Two-Factor Authentication. Discord accounts get stolen constantly — this stops most attempts.
🚫 Never share your codes. No legitimate giveaway ever needs your password or "authentication code" sent via DM. Those are scams, always.
⌨️ Learn keybinds. Set a Push-to-Talk key in Voice Settings so background noise doesn't broadcast to your whole call.
🧱 Servers need structure. If you run one: start with #rules, #announcements, and #general categories before adding ten channels nobody uses.
🤖 Add bots carefully. Only invite bots you recognize, and never give them Administrator permission — least privilege only.
🎨 Customize your profile. Add a bio, pronouns, and connections (Steam, Spotify) so people can find and recognize you across servers.
🖥️ Use Streamer Mode. In Settings → Streamer Mode, hide personal information (email, connected accounts, invite links) and optionally suppress notifications while streaming or screen-sharing.
📱 Sync across devices. Your account works identically on desktop and mobile — servers, DMs, and settings sync automatically.

Discord vs Slack vs TeamSpeak

Discord: Free, feature-rich, built for gaming and communities. Voice, video, screen share, servers (guilds), DMs, bots, and rich presence. Best for gaming groups, hobby communities, and small teams.
Slack: Business-focused, paid per-user above the free tier. Best integration with work tools (Google Drive, Jira, GitHub) and compliance features. Best for professional and corporate teams.
TeamSpeak: Self-hosted voice chat, very low latency, no chat or community features. Niche — still used by competitive gaming groups and some flight-sim communities. Best only if you specifically need low-latency self-hosted voice.

For most users — gaming groups, hobby communities, friend circles — Discord is the strongest choice. Slack is the right tool for professional work, and TeamSpeak is a niche option for specific low-latency use cases.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

🔇 Others can't hear you. Check Settings → Voice & Video — select the correct input device, then use "Let's Check" to test. On Windows, also check Settings → Privacy → Microphone and confirm Discord is allowed.
🎧 You can't hear others. Same path — Settings → Voice & Video → Output device. If you use a USB headset, plug it in before launching Discord, as Discord sometimes latches onto the wrong device on startup.
🖥️ Screen share is black. On Windows, Discord needs "Graphics Capture" to be enabled in Settings → Voice & Video → Screen Share. If it still fails, try sharing the application window instead of the entire screen.
🐌 Discord is laggy or uses too much CPU. In Settings → Advanced, disable Hardware Acceleration if your GPU is struggling; enable it if your CPU is the bottleneck. Try both and see which is smoother on your hardware.
🚫 Account locked for "suspicious activity." Discord's automated system sometimes flags new accounts on VPNs. Check your email (including spam) for a verification link and complete phone verification if prompted. Do not contact support via DMs — use the official form.
❌ Install fails on Linux. The .deb package is the most reliable. On Arch, use the AUR package. If the app launches but shows a blank window, try launching with --disable-gpu as a temporary workaround.
🪟 Discord won't install on Windows 7/8. Support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 ended in March 2024. Upgrade to Windows 10 or later, or use the browser version if your browser meets the minimum requirements.
📱 Screen share is greyed out on mobile. Confirm you are on iOS 16+ or Android 7+ (Android 10+ for audio sharing). Xiaomi devices running MIUI do not support mobile screen share.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install Discord, or can I use it in a browser?

You can use it in a browser at discord.com/app with no install. The desktop app has better voice quality, screen share, and push-to-talk support, so most users install it. Both work with the same account. Note that the browser version requires a current browser — Chrome 108+, Firefox 142+, Edge 86+, or Safari 15.4+.

Is Discord safe?

Yes, if you use it sensibly. Enable two-factor authentication, never share your password or authentication codes, and be cautious with friend requests and server invites from strangers. Discord’s main risk is social — scams and account takeovers — not the software itself.

Can I use Discord on my phone?

Yes. Discord has full mobile apps for iOS 16.0+ and Android 7+ (Android 10+ recommended) with voice, video, text, and screen share. Features sync automatically with your desktop account. Screen share is supported on both platforms, though Xiaomi devices running MIUI do not support mobile screen share.

Is Discord good for non-gaming communities?

Yes. Discord is used by study groups, hobby communities, open-source projects, fan clubs, and small teams. The gaming origin is historical — the feature set works for any community that needs text, voice, and video in one place.

Does Discord sell my data?

No. Discord’s official Privacy Hub states: ‘We don’t sell your personal information.’ The business is funded by subscriptions (Nitro) and paid products, not data sales. You can review and limit data collection in Settings → Privacy & Safety, and request deletion through the same panel.

What is the difference between Nitro and Nitro Basic?

Nitro Basic ($2.99/month) adds custom emoji, 50 MB file uploads, and custom video backgrounds. Nitro ($9.99/month) adds HD streaming, 500 MB uploads, larger server boosts, and — as of 2026 — Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition (50+ games) through Nitro Rewards. Both are optional; the free tier covers text, voice, video, and screen share.

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