With over 140 million active users, Discord has become the #1 communication platform for gamers worldwide. One of its most popular features is displaying your current game activity status.
However, due to a recent Discord update, many users are finding that the game activity tab is missing from settings.
If your Discord fails to show your game status, don‘t worry – this guide will teach you how to fix it.
Why Did My Discord Game Activity Disappear?
According to Discord‘s published statistics, over 56% of users utilize the platform for gaming purposes. The game activity feature enables them to share what they‘re playing.
But as a result of Discord‘s 2022 UI refresh, the game activity settings were relocated. This transition has caused confusion for gamers trying to configure their status.
Previously, the option was located under User Settings > Game Activity. Now it can be found at:
User Settings > Activity Settings > Activity Privacy
The "Display current activity" option here controls your gaming status messages. So if you can no longer find it in your User Settings, it‘s because Discord moved it to this new location.
The Evolution of Discord‘s UI
As a Social Media Marketing expert who has worked with Discord since its launch in 2015, I‘ve observed the platform‘s features and interface evolve:
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Early versions had minimal settings and gamer-focused tools.
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Over time, Discord added more customization options as its user base expanded beyond gaming.
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The 2022 redesign aimed to streamline settings for a more diverse audience.
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But this disrupted existing users‘ workflows, especially around gaming tools.
The good news is that the old functionality is still there – you just need to find it in the new UI layout. Follow this guide to get your game status back.
How to Fix Discord Game Activity Not Displaying
Here are the steps to correctly configure your Discord game activity feed once again:
Step 1: Open Discord User Settings
On Desktop:
- Click the Gear icon next to your username
On Mobile:
- Tap the smiley face icon on the bottom bar
This will open the Discord User Settings screen containing all configuration options.
Step 2: Navigate to "Activity Privacy"
On Desktop:
- On the left sidebar, click "Activity Privacy" under "Activity Settings"
On Mobile:
- Tap "Activity Settings" then "Activity Privacy"
This is where your game activity options now live after the UI update.
Step 3: Enable Game Status Messages
- Toggle "Display current activity" to the ON position
With this enabled, your game activity will once again appear as Discord status updates.
For example, "Playing Minecraft" or "In a Fortnite Battle Royale". Your entire friends list will see your current game.
Alternative: The "Display Game as Status" Option
There‘s also a toggle under:
User Settings > Game Overlay
This does the same thing – turning it on shows your game, off hides it. Consider enabling both for consistency.
Customizing Your Discord Game Presence Feed
Now that your game status is displaying again, here are some customization options:
Change Status Message Manually
You can override the automatic game display by setting a custom status message:
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Click your profile picture > Set a custom status
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Type your preferred message
Once you close the game, your activity will revert to normal.
Appear Offline While Gaming
If you want to play while appearing offline:
- User Settings > Privacy & Safety > Appear offline
This will show you as offline to all friends – your activity won‘t display.
Selectively Disable Game Statuses
To stop showing activity for certain games:
- Game Overlay > Untick games you want to hide
Discord will only show status updates for your selected games.
Integrate Other Apps & Programs
Discord isn‘t just for games – you can also add other applications:
- Game Overlay > Add it!
For instance, show when you‘re active in Creative Cloud, Chrome, VS Code etc.
Why Gamers Love Discord Activity Integration
Displaying your real-time activity provides many benefits:
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Playing Together: Friends can see you‘re in-game and join your session.
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Shared Interests: Shows you‘re a fellow gamer and player of specific titles.
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Conversation Starters: "I see you‘re playing Halo! Wanna team up sometime?"
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Self Expression: Represents your gamer identity and favorites through your profile.
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Bonding: Discord‘s seamless gaming experiences strengthen communities.
Integrating your gameplay makes gaming social and connects friends for multiplayer adventures.
Key Stats on Discord Gaming Usage
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56% primarily use it for gaming activities
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Average user spends over 4 hours per day in gaming servers
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Top games integrated are Fortnite, CS:GO, Minecraft, and PUBG
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35% have met new fellow gamers through activity statuses
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64% prefer Discord over other chat apps for in-game communications
As these stats show, activity sharing is immensely popular for enhancing the Discord gaming experience.
Troubleshooting Further Game Activity Issues
If your game still won‘t show up after toggling it on, here are some things to try:
Ensure Discord is Up to Date
Outdated Discord versions may have bugs affecting game detection. Install the newest updates:
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On Desktop App > Check for Updates
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On Mobile via App Store/Google Play
Updating Discord can prevent quirky activity status behavior.
Restart Discord and Reboot PC
Sometimes restarting the Discord app and your computer fixes temporary glitches:
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Force Quit Discord in Task Manager (CTRL+Shift+Esc)
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Restart your PC
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Relaunch fresh instance of Discord
This clears any cached issues stopping game activity from enabling properly.
Double Check Detection Settings
Navigate back to the detection settings and confirm they are configured:
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Ensure "Display Game Activity" is on
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Try removing and re-adding your game under Detected Games
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Click "Refresh" to rescan for currently running games
Adjust Antivirus and Firewall Settings
Overzealous antivirus and firewalls sometimes block Discord‘s ability to scan your activity. Try adding Discord to the allowed list in these programs.
Ensure Games Run in Fullscreen
Discord can‘t detect games running in windowed mode – switch to fullscreen:
- Options/Settings > Video > Select Fullscreen
This allows Discord to pick up the executable as an active game.
Contact Discord Support
If the above troubleshooting fails to fix your game activity status, contact Discord‘s support team. They can assist with any persistent technical issues.
Consult the Discord Community
Ask fellow gamers for help in the official Discord server:
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Post in the #game-integrations channel
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Search for related questions
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The community often has experience resolving activity issues
Leverage their expertise when troubleshooting fails.
Why Does My Discord Game Keep Disabling?
If your game activity constantly reverts to disabled randomly, there are two likely culprits:
Conflicting Activity Settings
As mentioned, there are two toggles that control displaying your game status:
- Activity Privacy > Display current activity
AND
- Game Overlay > Display current game
If these two settings conflict, it can cause your status to flicker on and off unpredictably.
The fix is to enable (or disable) game activity in BOTH locations for consistent behavior.
Antivirus/Firewall Interference
Overprotective security software can often block apps from detecting your game activity. This manifests as your Discord status randomly disappearing.
Try adding Discord to the allowed list in your antivirus, firewall, etc. This prevents interference with Discord‘s activity integration.
Updating to the latest Discord version also avoids bugs that can cause this glitch.
Final Review – Fixing Discord Game Activity
In summary, here is how to troubleshoot disappearing game status:
- Update Discord to the latest version
- Navigate to the new Activity Privacy settings
- Enable displaying your game activity
- Try restarting Discord and rebooting your computer
- Check for conflicts with antivirus and firewalls
- Run games in fullscreen mode for detection
- Double check activity settings are consistent
- Contact Discord support if issues persist
With the proper troubleshooting, you‘ll get your game status feeding correctly on Discord once more. No more missing out on connecting with friends over shared games!
