The fastest way to restart Discord
Close Discord completely, then open it again. On Windows, right-click the Discord icon in your system tray (bottom right of your screen) and select Quit Discord. On Mac, click Discord in the menu bar at the top, then select Quit Discord. Wait a few seconds, then open Discord from your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac).
A full restart clears the app's memory and fixes most problems — freezing, audio cutting out, messages not loading, or the app running slowly. This takes less than a minute and solves the issue in roughly 7 out of 10 cases where Discord is misbehaving.
Key Takeaways
- Closing Discord from the system tray or menu bar ensures the app shuts down completely, not just the window.
- Waiting a few seconds before reopening gives Discord time to clear its memory and reset connections.
- If Discord does not appear in your system tray, use Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac) to force it closed.
- Restarting Discord fixes most temporary glitches without requiring you to change settings or reinstall the app.
Why Discord needs to restart
Discord runs in the background even when you close the window. The app stays in your system tray or menu bar, using memory and keeping connections open. Over time, these connections can become unstable, or the app can accumulate temporary files that slow it down. A restart clears all of this and forces Discord to reconnect to its servers fresh.
Common signs you need to restart: messages take a long time to send, voice chat cuts in and out, the app freezes when you switch channels, or you see a spinning loading icon that never finishes. These are almost always temporary glitches that a restart fixes when ready.
Restarting Discord on Windows
Look at the bottom right corner of your screen, near the clock. You should see a small arrow pointing up — this is the system tray. Click it to reveal hidden icons, then find the Discord icon (a white or blue speech bubble). Right-click it and select Quit Discord. The icon will disappear from the tray.
Wait 3 to 5 seconds. Then open Discord again by clicking the Windows Start button, typing "Discord" in the search box, and clicking the Discord app. The app will launch fresh and reconnect to the servers.
If you cannot find Discord in the system tray, it may have crashed or closed already. Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc, look for "Discord" in the list, click it, and click End Task. Then launch Discord again from the Start menu.
Restarting Discord on Mac
Look at the top of your screen in the menu bar. Click the Discord icon (usually a white or blue speech bubble) and a small menu will drop down. Select Quit Discord. The icon will disappear from the menu bar.
Wait 3 to 5 seconds, then open Discord again. Click the Finder icon in your dock, select Applications from the sidebar, find Discord, and double-click it. The app will launch and reconnect to the servers.
If Discord does not appear in the menu bar, it may have already closed. Open Activity Monitor (search for it in Spotlight by pressing Command + Space, typing "Activity Monitor," and pressing Enter). Look for "Discord" in the list, click it, and click the X button at the top left. Then launch Discord again from Applications.
What to do if Discord still does not work after restarting
If the problem continues after a restart, check your internet connection. Open a web browser and visit a website to confirm you are online. If the internet is working but Discord still has problems, try signing out and back in. Click your profile picture in the bottom left corner, select Log Out, wait a few seconds, and log back in with your username and password.
If that does not help, clear Discord's cache. On Windows, press Windows Key + R, type %appdata%\Discord, and press Enter. Delete the Cache folder. On Mac, open Finder, press Command + Shift + G, type ~/Library/process Support/Discord, and delete the Cache folder. Then restart Discord. Clearing the cache removes temporary files that may be causing the problem.
When to restart Discord versus reinstalling
Always try restarting first. It takes one minute and fixes most issues. Reinstalling Discord should only be your next step if restarting, signing out and back in, and clearing the cache do not work.
If you do need to reinstall, uninstall Discord completely (on Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, find Discord, and click Uninstall; on Mac, drag Discord from Applications to the Trash), restart your computer, then read Discord fresh from discord.com and install it again. This removes every trace of the old installation and gives you a completely clean copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does restarting Discord delete my messages or settings?
No. Restarting only closes and reopens the app. Your messages, servers, friends list, and all settings stay on Discord's servers and will be there when you log back in. Nothing is lost.
Why does Discord stay running after I close the window?
Discord is designed to keep running in the background so you do not miss notifications. Closing the window minimizes it to the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac), but the app is still active. You must right-click the icon and select Quit to shut it down completely.
How often should I restart Discord?
Restart Discord only when you notice a problem — freezing, lag, audio issues, or messages not loading. You do not need to restart it regularly. Most users restart Discord once every few weeks or months, depending on how often they use it.
Will restarting Discord disconnect me from voice chat?
Yes. If you are in a voice channel when you quit Discord, you will be disconnected when ready. Other people in the channel will see you leave. When you reopen Discord, you can rejoin the channel.
What if Discord takes a long time to reopen?
Discord usually opens within 10 to 15 seconds on most computers. If it takes longer, your computer may be low on memory or your internet connection may be slow. Wait up to 30 seconds before assuming something is wrong. If Discord still does not open, try restarting your computer.