Key Points
- Changing your age on Discord requires approval from their Trust & Safety team due to strict age policies.
- You must provide government-issued photo ID and a photo with your username as age verification.
- Follow the step-by-step process to submit an age change request or file an appeal if your account is locked.
- Understanding Discord‘s rules around age and usage is key for a successful change.
Discord, the popular gaming-centric online chat platform boasting over 150 million monthly active users, has strict rules around age and identity verification. This guide will explain their age policies, detail the required steps to change your age in compliance with these rules, and provide tips to ensure your request or appeal is approved.
Why Does Discord Require Age Verification?
According to their Community Guidelines, "We require users to be at least 13 years old (or higher depending on jurisdiction) to use Discord." They mandate providing accurate ages to comply with COPPA in the U.S. and analogous global regulations created to protect minors online.
Discord also maintains standards around usage of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) servers:
Accessing an NSFW server or channel on Discord requires that you be an adult (18+ years of age, or applicable minimum legal age in jurisdiction). By accessing an NSFW server/channel, you are implicitly confirming that you meet these age requirements.
This means providing false age information violates their rules. Doing so can lead to account suspensions, locks, or bans per their moderation policies. That‘s why understanding Discord‘s age requirements is so important prior to creating an account or attempting to change your age later on.
When Would You Need to Change Your Age on Discord?
Common reasons Discord users seek to update their age include:
- Fixing an incorrect birthdate: For example, initially typing your age wrong when creating your account.
- Accessing age-restricted servers: Getting approved to join an 18+ or 21+ server.
- Lifting usage restrictions: Removing chat limits based on detecting a "minor" account.
Unfortunately, unlike changing other account details, you cannot edit your birthdate directly in Discord‘s settings. The Trust & Safety team manually reviews all age change requests for security purposes.
So whether you simply entered your birthday incorrectly when registering, or have grown into an older age group and now wish to access mature servers, the process requires direct communication with Discord‘s support team.
Discord‘s Policy on Changing Your Age
According to a Discord staff response on their community server, below are their policy highlights for age modifications:
- You must contact Trust & Safety support to change your age.
- Government-issued photo ID is required as age verification.
- Support will "investigate" the situation before approving changes.
- Lying about your age violates their Terms and can prompt account deletion.
Some users have expressed frustration over what they consider strict policies, but Discord states these exist to satisfy legal guidelines around minor safety. The steps may seem excessive, but are required from their end.
Now let‘s walk through the detailed process to request an age update successfully.
How to Change Your Age on Discord (Step-by-Step Process)
Requirements:
- Government-issued photo ID
- Smartphone camera (or webcam on computer)
- Official Discord username
Step 1) Head to Discord‘s Trust & Safety Form
First, navigate to Discord‘s Trust & Safety request form. This is where all account appeals and modifications get reviewed.
You can optionally log into your Discord account here as well for faster processing, but it‘s not required.
Step 2) Select "Appeals & Age Update Requests"
Next, use the first dropdown menu to select Appeals & Age Update Requests.
Then in the second menu, choose Update my age information.
Enter your active email and write a brief description that you want to change your birthdate to reflect your accurate age.
Step 3) Write Your Discord Username on Paper
On a blank piece of paper, neatly write out your full Discord username (#0000 ID tag included).
Make sure it‘s clearly legible in preparation for the next step.
Step 4) Take Photo of ID and Username
Place your government-issued photo identification card (driver‘s license, passport, etc.) beside the paper with your username written on it.
Use your smartphone camera or computer webcam to take a picture showing both clearly side-by-side.
Step 5) Upload Photo to Form
Return to the Discord Trust & Safety browser tab with your appeal form open. Click "Attach File" to upload the photo you just took.
This functions as age verification connecting your real-world identity to your Discord account.
Step 6) Submit Request & Wait for Approval
With your documents and description submitted, click Send at the bottom to file your official age change appeal.
You will receive a confirmation email, then typically hear back regarding approval status within 1-2 weeks.
If granted, Discord will update your account‘s age internally based on your ID details. Easy as that!
Fixing "Locked Out" Accounts
What if you get banned from Discord because your original age was incorrect? Don‘t worry, the appeal process remains largely the same.
If your account is locked while requesting an age change, file an Appeal for "Action Taken on My Account" instead. Uploading your photo ID verifies your identity.
Discord reviews these appeals within a business week and restores account access if you meet the age criteria.
Crucial Tips for Changing Age Successfully
Finally, keep these tips in mind to ensure your age modification gets approved:
- Double check ID details: Ensure your license, passport, etc. are clearly valid without any obscuring.
- Take a crisp photo: Use good steady lighting and multiple shots to get a clear image.
- Write neatly: Make sure your handwritten Discord username is 100% legible.
- Be concise: Don‘t overexplain in your form. State you wish to update your birthdate to reflect your actual age.
Stay patient throughout the process as well. Discord‘s Trust & Safety team receives high volumes of requests.
As long as you meet their age and identity verification requirements, your appeal should be processed smoothly!
The Takeaway on Changing Age on Discord
While updating your birthdate on the platform is restricted for legal compliance, submitting an accurate age change appeal with Discord is a straightforward process.
Provide a photo showing your government ID and Discord username to satisfy their age proofing standards. This allows them to change your age in accordance with their strict youth safety guidelines.
For further assistance with your specific scenario, don‘t hesitate to contact Discord‘s Support team.
