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Troubleshooting · App Fixes

Discord Not Starting: How to Fix It on Windows

Truly Helpful Guides2 min read

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Truly Helpful Guides
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App Fixes
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block windows update
On this page5 sections
  1. Discord freezes when launching
  2. Fast-in-app keyboard trick to unstick a frozen Discord loading screen
  3. Force-quit Discord with Task Manager
  4. Install pending Windows updates
  5. Reinstall Discord client

Discord, a communications platform that’s become a staple for gamers and non-gamers alike, is prone to freezing and failing to start. If you find Discord won’t launch on your Windows 10 or 11 laptop or PC, the following fixes may help get it up and running.

Discord freezes when launching

Discord not starting can happen when launching the app normally or if it fails to start in the background. The good news? There are several troubleshooting steps that may help narrow down these problems, including a “trick” you might use to force it to reload itself from within the app.

Fast-in-app keyboard trick to unstick a frozen Discord loading screen

You might see a window open without its contents loading. Ctrl+R can reload a responsive Discord window, but repeatedly pressing it is not a dependable startup repair, and there is no guaranteed ten-second recovery. If the window is frozen or never opens, fully close Discord and try the next step.

Force-quit Discord with Task Manager

Another way to resolve this problem is to quit Discord entirely and then restart it fresh. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc (or right-click the taskbar and choose Task Manager) to open it, navigate to the Processes tab, end the Discord process, then launch Discord again. If it still fails to open, continue with the checks below.

Install pending Windows updates

If you’ve tried all of the above fixes without success, install pending Windows updates. In some cases, Discord fails to start because the Windows system isn’t current. Check via Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for Updates and install all the available updates before restarting the PC.

Reinstall Discord client

If all else fails, you’ll need to reinstall the Discord client. This method is somewhat more involved. First, check Discord’s official troubleshooting guide and its Windows corrupt-installation instructions. There are several links to troubleshoot common problems, including instructions on how to download and install the latest version of the client.