[Updated May 2023] Discord Lagging? Here’s How to Fix It

Discord is an excellent messaging and digital distribution platform that allows users to exchange messages, audio, and media. It is the go-to chat platform for gamers due to its server features and low bandwidth consumption, allowing them to communicate in-game without suffering from lags and delays.

However, there have been recent reports from several users who experience lags on Discord. Some have difficulty hearing conversations from voice chats, while others experience difficulties sending text and media on the platform.

Reports show that the entire platform lags, and users can’t even navigate to their servers, rendering the program unusable.

A poor network connection is the most common cause of lags on Discord. However, server-related issues and corrupted application files should also be considered when troubleshooting this problem.

To help you out, we’ve decided to make a guide on how to fix Discord if it keeps lagging on your computer.

Let’s get started!

Common Reasons for Discord Lagging Issues

In this section, we will discuss some common reasons why Discord may lag or experience performance issues. Understanding the possible causes can help you identify the best solution to fix the problem.

1. Poor Internet Connection: A weak internet connection can cause Discord to lag, making it difficult to send messages or participate in voice chats. Ensure that you have a stable and fast internet connection to avoid performance issues.
2. Overloaded Servers: High traffic on Discord servers can lead to lagging issues. If a server is experiencing a high number of users or activity, it may struggle to keep up, causing performance problems.
3. Outdated Discord Version: Using an outdated version of Discord can cause compatibility issues, leading to lagging and other performance problems. Make sure you keep your Discord app updated to its latest version.
4. Background Programs: Running multiple background programs can consume your computer’s resources, causing Discord to lag. Close any unnecessary applications or processes to free up system resources.
5. Device Performance: If your device is not powerful enough to support Discord and its features, you may experience lagging issues. Ensure that your device meets the minimum system requirements to run Discord smoothly.
6. Corrupted Cache Files: Discord’s cache files store temporary data and information related to the application and its usage. Over time, these files can become corrupted and cause performance issues. Clearing Discord’s cache can help resolve the problem.
7. Hardware Acceleration: While hardware acceleration can improve Discord’s performance on some devices, it may cause lagging issues on others, especially those with older or entry-level graphics cards. Adjust the hardware acceleration settings to find the best option for your device.
8. Incorrect Voice Settings: Improperly configured voice settings can cause issues with voice chats, including lagging or choppy audio. Resetting the voice settings to their default values can help resolve the problem.

By identifying the cause of your Discord lagging issues, you can apply the appropriate solutions mentioned earlier in the article. This will ensure smooth and efficient communication on the platform and enhance your overall experience.

How to Repair Discord Lag

Fix 1: Close Unnecessary Programs

Unused applications running on your computer can take up system memory and bandwidth, which can cause performance issues on the programs you are using. To free up your system’s resources, close down unnecessary programs running on your computer.

1. Press the Windows Key + X on your keyboard to access the Quick Menu.
2. Click on the Task Manager to launch it.
3. Go to the Processes tab and identify the programs you are not using.
4. Close down the unused programs one by one and exit the Task Manager afterward.

Go back to Discord and observe if you would still experience lags on the platform.

Fix 2: Update Your Drivers to Fix Discord Lagging

Discord uses several devices, such as speakers, microphones, network adapters, and even the graphics card, when you cast your screen. If you experience lags on Discord, try to update your device drivers to ensure they are working correctly.

1. Press your device’s Windows Key + X to open the Quick Access Menu.
2. Now, click on Device Manager.
3. Select one of your drivers and right-click on it.
4. Click on the Update Driver button and follow the on-screen prompts to install the update.

Repeat this process until you’ve updated all the drivers on your computer. Once done, go back to Discord to check if the problem is solved.

Fix 3: Clear Discord’s Cache

After using Discord for a while, its temporary data and caches may accumulate over time and cause the application or your system to run slow. It’s also possible that Discord’s cache got corrupted, and your computer is having a hard time accessing its data, which causes the lag or performance issue.

To fix this, delete Discord’s cache by following the steps below:

1. On your computer, open the Run Command by pressing the Windows Key + R.
2. Search for %APPDATA%/Discord/Cache and hit Enter to open the folder path.

3. Press CTRL + A to select all the files and delete them from your system.

Once done, go back to Discord and check if the application would still lag while gaming.

Fix 4: Turn Hardware Acceleration ON/OFF

Depending on your system, hardware acceleration can either improve Discord’s performance or make it worse. Hardware acceleration uses your GPU to reduce the load on your processor, thus improving its performance.

However, if you are using an old or entry-level graphics card, it can make Discord’s performance worse. Use Discord with hardware acceleration turned on and off to determine which settings work best.

1. On Discord, click on the Gear icon on the bottom left corner of the display to access Settings.
2. Now, click on the Advanced tab from the side menu.
3. Turn Hardware Acceleration On/Off and see which settings work for you.

Use Discord for a couple of minutes to check if you would experience any lags or performance issues.

Fix 5: Reset Voice Settings to Repair Fix Discord Lagging Issue

If your friends complain about your voice being choppy or laggy, try resetting your voice settings. You might have mistakenly changed some of your preferences, which caused the problem with Discord.

See the steps below to reset your voice settings on Discord:

1. First, access Discord’s Settings by clicking on the Gear icon on the bottom left corner of your display.
2. Now, go to Voice & Video and scroll down to the bottom.
3. Click on Reset Voice Settings and follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your action.

Restart Discord afterward and check if it will still keep lagging during voice chats.

• See Also: Discord Mic Not Working Windows 10

Fix 6: Reinstall Discord

If none of the methods above worked, try reinstalling Discord on your computer. Some of its installation files may have gotten corrupted, or the application is not installed correctly on your computer.

1. First, open the Control Panel on your computer and click on Uninstall a Program.

2. Locate Discord from the list of programs installed on your system.

3. Right-click on Discord and click on Uninstall to delete the application.

Go to Discord’s official website afterward and redownload the desktop app from there.

Fix 7: Update Windows

The current version of Discord may not be compatible with your Windows version. It is also possible that your operating system has a bug or glitch that causes Discord or other applications to malfunction.

To fix this, try to check if newer versions of Windows are available on your computer and install it.

1. First, open the Start Menu and click on Settings.
2. Inside Windows Settings, click on Update & Security.
3. Lastly, wait for Windows to check for updates and follow the on-screen prompts if there’s a newer version available.

If the issue persists, visit Discord’s Help Center and contact customer support to report the problem. We have other helpful guides to fix these Discord issues: Discord won’t open fix, RTC connecting error, and Discord ‘no route’ issue.

Frequently Asked Questions