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A Comprehensive Guide to Restarting Discord on Any Device

As a passionate computer expert and avid Discord user myself, I completely understand how frustrating it can be when the app stops working properly. Maybe your friends‘ voice channels are glitchy, your meticulously crafted server isn‘t loading, or the application isn‘t even launching. We‘ve all been there!

When Discord is misbehaving, the urge to throw your device across the room builds with each passing second. But before you give in to those dark impulses, take a deep breath and know that there is a simple solution: restarting Discord.

I‘m here to walk you through the quick and easy steps to restart Discord on a Mac, Windows PC, iPhone, iPad, or Android device. By following these platform-specific instructions, you‘ll have the app up and running again in no time. And the best part? Restarting Discord doesn‘t cause ANY data loss or log you out. Phew!

So without further ado, let‘s get into it, starting with the necessary background on Discord and why a restart might be required.

What is Discord?

For anyone unfamiliar, Discord is a super popular chat app that initially launched in 2015. It was created specifically for video gamers who wanted to easily communicate with teammates during intense gaming sessions.

But over the years, Discord‘s audience has expanded far beyond just the gaming community. Today, the app boasts over 150 million active users who gather in topic-specific servers to chat via text, audio, and video about niche interests like anime, music, sports – you name it!

When to Restart Discord

As amazing as Discord is for hanging out with friends and communities, it occasionally has issues just like any software application:

  • Glitches like channels not loading or bots/polls not working properly
  • Connectivity problems leading to laggy call quality
  • Freezes, crashes, or failure to launch altogether
  • Weird visual bugs
  • Other unexplained technical difficulties

Most of the time when you experience problems like these, fully quitting Discord and restarting it will resolve whatever issue you ran into. It essentially provides a fresh start for the Discord process on your device.

So whether you‘re suddenly unable to send messages in a server, your custom emoji aren‘t showing up properly, or the app is straight up refusing to open, try not to panic. Just breathe and restart.

Now let‘s get into those all-important step-by-step instructions for restarting on every platform.

Restarting Discord on a Mac

If you‘re a Mac user, you‘ll be relieved to know that restarting Discord is a total breeze. Here‘s what to do:

Step 1)

Locate the Discord icon in your dock at the bottom of the screen. Click on it and select "Quit" from the menu that pops up. This fully quits out of the app.

Step 2)

If for some reason Step 1 doesn‘t work because Discord is frozen or unresponsive, don‘t worry! Instead keyboard shortcut Cmd+Option+Esc to open the Force Quit menu. Locate the Discord listing and click the "Force Quit" button.

Step 3)

Open your Applications folder and double click the Discord icon to relaunch the app.

And voila! Within seconds you‘ve restarted Discord on your Mac. Wasn‘t that easy? Now give your headset mic a tap tap and rejoice when your friends confirm your voice is coming through crystal clear once again.

Restarting Discord on Windows

As a fellow Windows user myself, I‘ll admit the process feels slightly less elegant than on Mac. But it‘s still straightforward enough! Here are the steps:

Step 1)

Locate and click the "X" button in the top right corner of the Discord window to fully close out of the app.

Step 2)

Next, click the upward arrow icon in your system tray (located in the bottom right corner of your screen). Right click the Discord icon and select "Quit Discord".

Step 3)

If the app refuses to close for whatever reason, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open your handy Task Manager. Look for Discord under the "Processes" tab, select it with your mouse, and click "End task".

Step 4)

Finally, restart Discord by clicking the Windows start menu and selecting Discord from the list of applications.

With just those four simple steps, you‘ve restarted Discord faster than you can ace an entire video game level. Well done! Now get back in voice chat with your friends to celebrate.

Restarting the Discord Mobile App

Let‘s say you‘re messaging back and forth on Discord mobile when messages suddenly stop sending. Or you‘re unable to join a vc with your bestie who NEEDS your advice RIGHT NOW about their terrible workplace crush. Don‘t let a glitchy app get in the way! Just restart with these easy mobile steps:

On iPhone or iPad

Step 1)

Swipe up from the very bottom edge of your screen to reveal all your recently used apps.

Step 2)

Locate the Discord app preview and swipe up on it to fully close the app.

Step 3)

Tap the Discord icon to relaunch it.

On Android Smartphones or Tablets

The process is nearly the same with a couple extra steps for Android devices:

Step 1)

Swipe up to view your recently used apps.

Step 2)

Swipe the Discord preview upward to close it.

Step 3)

Open your Settings app and select Apps.

Step 4)

Tap the Discord listing and then hit the Force Stop button to fully close it out. This step is necessary since swiping up alone doesn‘t always fully quit apps on Android.

Step 5)

Return to your device‘s home screen and tap the Discord icon to restart it.

And that‘s all there is to it across mobile platforms! With Discord restarted, your push notifications should start flowing properly again and any other issues resolving themselves.

Why Restarting Discord Fixes Problems

You might be wondering why something as simple as restarting Discord has the power to fix all kinds of pesky problems with the app. Let me assure you there‘s a solid explanation!

When you use your devices for extended periods of time, running multiple apps and system processes, small software glitches and memory issues tend to pile up. Restarting the Discord app essentially provides a fresh start, clearing any of those tiny glitches or memory leaks.

Plus, the restart process often forces updates to the app or dependencies to occur. So you may even be getting a shiny updated version of Discord ready to serve you flawlessly.

I recommend fully restarting Discord as a first troubleshooting step anytime you experience inexplicable issues. There‘s an excellent chance this one basic step makes the problem disappear entirely!

What If Restarting Discord Doesn‘t Fix It?

I know how deflating it feels when you hopefully restart an misbehaving app only to have the issues persist. If you‘ve restarted Discord, but are still encountering problems, stay calm and try these next logical troubleshooting steps:

  • Restart your entire device instead of just Discord – This clears even MORE systemic glitches
  • Update Discord to the latest version if available – Updates often patch bugs
  • Check Discord‘s system status page to see if an outage is causing widespread problems
  • Scan online Discord support forums to see if other users describe similar issues
  • Delete and reinstall the Discord app as a last resort
  • Submit a request directly to Discord‘s fabulous customer supportteam

With any luck, one of those steps does the trick to get Discord cooperating again. But if not, take solace knowing you have a dedicated support team in your corner ready to troubleshoot further and get your account back on track.

Key Takeaways and Reminders

Before I sign off, I wanted to reiterate some key points about restarting Discord:

  • Restarting Discord is harmless – it doesn‘t delete data or log you out
  • Restarting often resolves technical issues with Discord
  • Follow the step-by-step instructions outlined above for your specific device
  • Additional troubleshooting is available if restarting doesn‘t fix problems
  • Discord‘s support team is available as a last resort option

I sincerely hope this comprehensive guide equipped you with the knowledge to quickly restart Discord whenever it‘s acting up. Just know that no matter how complex technology seems, there is almost always a simple solution if you just remain calm and optimistic.

Now get back to sending memes to your friends, dominating bosses in epic raids, engaging in heated debates in your political discord servers – whatever makes your Discord experience magical again!