Discord is a popular free voice, video, and text chat app designed specifically for gamers. With over 150 million monthly active users, Discord brings gamers together across various platforms to communicate and collaborate in real-time.
Whether you want to chat with friends while playing games, make new gaming buddies, or even create communities and servers, Discord makes it easy. Its intuitive interface allows seamless conversations—keeping everyone connected no matter what game they are playing.
So if you are a gamer looking for a unified platform to chat with fellow players, Discord is your best bet. The app works great across mobile and desktop devices.
And the best part? It’s 100% free!
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn:
- What is Discord and why you should use it
- Step-by-step instructions to create a Discord account
- How to personalize your Discord profile
- Tips to find and join Discord servers
- How to communicate with others using text and voice chat
Let’s begin!
What is Discord and Why Should You Use It?
Discord is a free application that provides text, voice, and video chat to help gamers communicate and collaborate in gaming communities called “servers." Discord combines the features of TeamSpeak, Skype, and Slack in one unified platform.
Here’s a quick overview of Discord’s key features:
-
Free voice, video, and text chat: Enjoy HD quality voice and video chat completely free. You can also send direct messages or communicate in public and private text channels.
-
Organized into servers: Invite your gaming friends to your own private servers. Organize channels for different games, clans, or topics. Manage permissions and moderation tools to keep conversations helpful.
-
Direct messaging: Start a private conversation with offline users by sending them direct messages that they will receive when they come online next.
-
Screen sharing: Broadcast your gameplay live by sharing your screen. Let your teammates watch you conquer a tricky boss or get feedback on your skills.
-
Cross-platform compatibility: It doesn’t matter what device you or your friends use, Discord lets everyone participate. It works great on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and even web browsers.
-
Customizable: Customize your profile by adding a profile picture, banner image, and setting your status. Change up your look by selecting special chat tags.
-
Reliable connections: Experience lag-free high quality voice chat with the superiority of Discord‘s audio subsystem.
-
Always connected: Stay notified even when you are AFK. Unread messages and mentions will notify you when you return.
Unlike traditional chat clients, Discord focuses solely on gaming. It gives gamers free voice chat and messaging tailored for their needs.
The app makes it easier than ever to:
- Meet up with friends online and chat while playing games
- Make new gaming friends and join gaming communities
- Team up with other players to complete raids, conquer dungeons and win multiplayer matches
- Share knowledge by asking questions, giving tips and helping newcomers
- Show off your skills and achievements using rich profile customizations
- Find people to play your favorite games with using friend discovery
Whether playing popular multiplayer games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, Valorant or retro games from your childhood, Discord can level up the experience.
Millions use it everyday to chat while playing Roblox, PUBG, Overwatch or Minecraft. Avid fans even use it for single player RPGs like Elden Ring to get help, discuss endings and flex achievements.
So if you love playing all sorts of computer, console or mobile games, Discord should be your go-to chat app.
Let’s create your account so you can see for yourself!
Step-by-Step Instructions to Create a Discord Account
Creating a Discord account is completely free and only takes a few minutes. You’ll need a verified email address to get started.
Here is how you can sign up for a new Discord account:
-
Go to the Discord website – discord.com
-
Click on the Login button in the top-right corner
-
Click on Register located under the login fields
-
Enter your email address and password
- Your password needs to be at least 8 characters long
- Use a strong password you don’t use elsewhere
-
Select your date of birth
- You need to be over 13 years old to create an account
-
Check your email inbox for a verification link
- Click on the link in the email sent by Discord to verify your address
-
Choose your username
- Your username is what fellow gamers will see you as
- It does not need to match or contain your email address
-
Verify using Captcha
- Click on the checkbox to confirm you are not a robot
-
Customize your Discord server
- You can skip creating a server for now
- Creating one lets you invite friends to chat
-
Start chatting!
- Join existing servers using invites from your friends
- Start conversations using voice, video or text chat
And that’s it! Your Discord account is now ready to use.
Customizing your profile and finding gaming friends to chat with makes the experience so much better.
Let’s look at how you can personalize your Discord presence.
Customizing Your Discord Profile
Half the fun of Discord lies in customizing your profile! With so many ways to make your account standout, you’ll enjoy showing off your individuality.
Start personalizing your Discord by changing these profile settings:
Profile Picture
The small icon users see beside your messages. Upload a good profile picture so friends can easily recognize you!
Username
Your unique gaming handle on Discord. If you don‘t like your initial username, you can change it.
About Me
A short bio others see when they click on your profile. Let people know about your favorite games, gaming history or real-life details.
Custom Status
Set a custom status visible to all your Discord friends. Show everyone what game you‘re playing or your current mood.
Additionally, you can really take your profile to the next level by:
- Adding a banner image
- Selecting special chat tags
- Creating a stylish About Me page
- Showing off your gaming Nitro badges
- Linking other social media profiles
Spend time filling out your profile—it helps start more gaming conversations!
Up next, let‘s look at how to use Discord‘s amazing chat features.
How to Communicate on Discord
The key reason gamers use Discord is its seamless chat capabilities. Discord brings all your conversations with fellow players under one roof.
You can communicate in a variety of ways:
Text Channels
Send messages in public channels visible to all members of that server or chat privately in direct messages. Text chats are great for casual conversations while playing.
Voice Channels
Hop into a voice channel to directly talk with your teammates using your mic and speakers. Essential for competitive multiplayer matches requiring coordination.
Video Calls
Start video calls to hangout face-to-face.Wave hello before screensharing your gameplay and conquering levels together.
Reply with Emoji Reactions
Easily react to messages using custom emoji relevant to your gaming community and conversations.
The key benefit Discord provides over other chat apps is its seamless integration of text, voice and video in one unified chat interface.
You no longer need to juggle multiple apps to type messages, coordinate over voice, or video chat with your teammates. Discord brings it all together in connected servers and channels—with fantastic sound quality!
Gamers absolutely love chatting and coordinating plays over Discord. Whether passively discussing strategies in text or actively directing teammates in thrilling matches using voice chat, Discord supercharges the social experience surrounding games.
Next, let‘s explore Discord‘s community servers which connect you with fellow gamers.
Joining Discord Servers to Meet Gamers
The fun on Discord really begins when you start meeting fellow gamers. Instead of cold adding random strangers as friends, Discord uses "servers" to host communities with shared interests.
Discord servers are like mini-chatrooms created around specific games or gaming topics. You can:
-
Join existing public servers to meet gamers who play your favorite games
-
Get invited to private servers by your friends and gaming buddies
-
Create your own server and build a community around your niche
Public Discord servers use invite links to control access. To join awesome gaming communities:
-
Search Discord server listing sites like DiscordServers.com, Disboard.org or Reddit
-
Look for server invites on official game websites and forums
-
Ask your gaming friends for invites to their private servers
Join servers about the games you love playing, from retro games to upcoming titles, to:
- Meet experienced players & gaming veterans
- Team up with fellow noobs
- Give and receive gaming tips
- Find clan members or form squads
- Ask questions when facing levels or enemies you‘re stuck on
- Share your passion for games with like-minded gamers!
The social connections you build in niche gaming servers make playing your favorite games incredibly fun.
Let‘s wrap up with some tips to level up your experience on Discord as a new user.
Tips for New Discord Users
Discord may feel confusing initially with so many features tucked away across apps, channels and menus.
As a new user, focus on these areas:
1. Download Desktop and Mobile Apps
Install Discord‘s desktop and mobile apps so you can stay connected with your gaming communities on-the-go. Use voice chat easily when playing on consoles and mobile games.
2. Update Notification Settings
Customize notifications within Discord’s settings so you never miss exciting conversations. Turn on notification tones for direct messages and mentions.
3. Explore Public Servers
Search for and browse open public servers about the games you love playing. Join communities filled with like-minded people to chat with.
4. Meet Gaming Friends Safely
When making new friends online, avoid sharing personal information like locations, real names or contact details. Be skeptical of suspicious messages demanding such details.
5. Setup Voice Channels
If your friends have Discord, convince them to setup a voice chat channel for effortless coordination while conquering levels together in multiplayer games!
And that wraps up this complete guide to getting started on Discord—from creating your account and personalizing your profile to finding awesome gaming communities to join.
Let the Chat Begin!
Discord has truly revolutionized gaming by bringing free voice, video and text chat tailored for player communities and friend circles.
It‘s no wonder over 150 million users actively chat every month on Discord while playing games ranging from modern esports wonders to retro childhood classics across various devices—console, PC and mobile.
Thanks to Discord, gaming is now a social experience allowing you to bond over your favorite titles by helping each other or banding together to achieve high scores. Solo playing is fun but connecting voice-to-voice makes winning levels incredibly memorable when shared together with friends.
So what are you waiting for? Signup, customize your profile and dive into amazing fan communities around the games you are currently playing or childhood favorites you love revisiting. Level up your gameplay and make new friends with the magic of Discord.
See you on the servers!
