{"id":55435,"date":"2020-04-23T15:32:56","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T19:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inmotionhosting.com\/support\/?p=55435"},"modified":"2026-07-28T15:40:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T19:40:03","slug":"how-to-install-discord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inmotionhosting.com\/support\/edu\/discord\/how-to-install-discord\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install Discord on Desktop and Mobile Devices"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Discord runs in a browser, but the desktop app adds features the web client cannot reach: noise suppression, game activity detection, and global push-to-talk that works when the window is not focused. This guide covers the current official installers for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, then walks through securing your account with a passkey and backup codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before installing, create a Discord account<\/a> if you do not have one. New to the platform? Start with getting started with Discord<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Install Discord on Windows?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Discord ships two Windows builds, so pick the one that matches your processor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Go to the official Discord.com Download page<\/a><\/strong>. It detects your operating system and surfaces the matching button.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Under Windows<\/strong>, choose x64<\/strong> for Intel and AMD machines, or ARM64<\/strong> for Windows on Arm devices such as Snapdragon-based laptops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Run the downloaded DiscordSetup.exe<\/strong>. The installer extracts, pulls the latest client update, and launches on its own.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Sign in with your Discord credentials.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Installing the wrong architecture is the most common Windows hiccup. If the app crashes on launch or refuses to install, check your processor type under Settings > System > About<\/strong> and download the other build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How Do You Install Discord on a Mac?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Discord publishes a single macOS build that covers both Apple silicon and Intel hardware, so there is no architecture choice to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Open discord.com\/download<\/a> and select macOS<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Double-click the downloaded Discord.dmg<\/strong>. A window opens showing the Discord icon next to an Applications folder shortcut.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Drag the Discord icon onto the Applications<\/strong> folder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Eject the mounted disk image from your desktop or Finder sidebar, then delete the .dmg file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Launch Discord from Applications and sign in.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      macOS will ask for microphone and screen recording permissions the first time you use voice chat or share your screen. Approve both under System Settings > Privacy & Security<\/strong>, or those features stay silent and blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Which Linux Package Should You Choose?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Discord\u2019s Linux support improved considerably. There are now four official package formats plus two sandboxed community and verified options, and the right pick depends on how you want updates handled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Format<\/th>Distributions<\/th>Auto-updates<\/th>Source<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
      .deb<\/td>Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, Pop!_OS<\/td>No, manual reinstall<\/td>Official<\/td><\/tr>
      .rpm<\/td>Fedora, RHEL, Rocky, AlmaLinux<\/td>No, manual reinstall<\/td>Official<\/td><\/tr>
      .pkg.tar.zst<\/td>Arch, Manjaro, EndeavourOS<\/td>No, or yes via repo<\/td>Official<\/td><\/tr>
      .tar.gz<\/td>Any 64-bit distribution<\/td>No<\/td>Official<\/td><\/tr>
      Flatpak<\/td>Any distribution with Flatpak<\/td>Yes<\/td>Verified on Flathub<\/td><\/tr>
      Snap<\/td>Ubuntu and others with snapd<\/td>Yes<\/td>Community maintained<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Discord\u2019s download page lists deb, tar.gz, rpm, and pkg.tar.zst as the Linux formats. The direct-download packages do not update themselves, so the app will eventually block launch and demand a newer version. That is where Flatpak earns its place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Discord took ownership of its Flathub listing, and the Flatpak is now a verified publisher entry rather than an unofficial community build. The Snap package is a different story: it remains maintained by the Snapcrafters community and is not officially endorsed by Discord. Both auto-update, which is worth the sandbox tradeoffs for most desktop users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      How Do You Install Discord on Ubuntu or Debian?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Download the .deb and install it with apt<\/code> rather than dpkg<\/code>, since apt<\/code> resolves dependencies in the same step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      wget<\/span> <\/span>-O<\/span> <\/span>discord.deb<\/span> <\/span>\"https:\/\/discord.com\/api\/download?platform=linux&format=deb\"<\/span><\/span>\nsudo<\/span> <\/span>apt<\/span> <\/span>install<\/span> <\/span>.\/discord.deb<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      The capital -O<\/code> matters. A lowercase -o<\/code> tells wget to write its log to that filename instead of saving the download, which is a frequent source of confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      To update later, download the current .deb and run the same install command. Prefer automatic updates? Use the Flatpak instead:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      flatpak<\/span> <\/span>install<\/span> <\/span>flathub<\/span> <\/span>com.discordapp.Discord<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      How Do You Install Discord on Fedora, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      Discord now publishes an official RPM, so third-party COPR repositories are no longer necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      wget<\/span> <\/span>-O<\/span> <\/span>discord.rpm<\/span> <\/span>\"https:\/\/discord.com\/api\/download\/stable?platform=linux&format=rpm\"<\/span><\/span>\nsudo<\/span> <\/span>dnf<\/span> <\/span>install<\/span> <\/span>.\/discord.rpm<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      This works on Fedora, RHEL 9 and 10, Rocky Linux, and AlmaLinux. On older systems still using yum<\/code>, substitute sudo yum install .\/discord.rpm<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      A note on CentOS 7:<\/strong> CentOS 7 reached end of life in June 2024 and no longer receives security patches. If you are running Discord on a CentOS 7 workstation or server, migrating to Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux is the more pressing task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      How Do You Install Discord on Arch Linux or From a tar.gz Archive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      Arch users have two paths. The repository version handles updates through your normal system upgrade:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      sudo<\/span> <\/span>pacman<\/span> <\/span>-S<\/span> <\/span>discord<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      Or install Discord\u2019s own package directly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      wget<\/span> <\/span>-O<\/span> <\/span>discord.pkg.tar.zst<\/span> <\/span>\"https:\/\/discord.com\/api\/download\/stable?platform=linux&format=pkg.tar.zst\"<\/span><\/span>\nsudo<\/span> <\/span>pacman<\/span> <\/span>-U<\/span> <\/span>discord.pkg.tar.zst<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      The generic tar.gz archive works on any 64-bit distribution, including servers with a desktop environment. Extract it to \/opt<\/code>, then link the binary and desktop entry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      sudo<\/span> <\/span>tar<\/span> <\/span>-xvzf<\/span> <\/span>discord-<\/span>*<\/span>.tar.gz<\/span> <\/span>-C<\/span> <\/span>\/opt<\/span><\/span>\nsudo<\/span> <\/span>ln<\/span> <\/span>-sf<\/span> <\/span>\/opt\/Discord\/Discord<\/span> <\/span>\/usr\/bin\/discord<\/span><\/span>\nsudo<\/span> <\/span>cp<\/span> <\/span>\/opt\/Discord\/discord.desktop<\/span> <\/span>\/usr\/share\/applications\/<\/span><\/span><\/code><\/pre><\/div>\n\n\n\n
      How Do You Install Discord on iPhone or Android?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Open the App Store on iOS or the Google Play Store on Android.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Search for Discord<\/strong> and confirm the publisher is Discord Inc. Clone apps do appear in search results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Tap Get<\/strong> or Install<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Open the app and sign in.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
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        Which Multi-Factor Authentication Method Should You Use?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        Discord\u2019s guidance changed, and the old advice to reach straight for Google Authenticator is no longer the strongest option. Discord supports three MFA types: security keys and passkeys, authenticator apps, and SMS, and recommends setting up a security key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n