Today we are going to talk to you about the Discord platform and we are going to guide you in your first steps on it. It is a platform with which you can create chat servers with which to communicate with people with similar tastes, a type of community that is becoming very popular in the gaming world thanks to its versatility and the possibility of having voice chats while it’s played.
We are going to start by trying to describe simply what exactly Discord is, and then try to make clear the aspects that differentiate it from other platforms. Then we will explain how to create an account, to finish with two small guides on how to join an existing server or create one from scratch.
What is Discord
Discord is a social platform designed to allow you to create chat groups for different games and purposes. You can think of it as something similar to Skype or TeamSpeak, although including the functions of other more professional tools, which has earned it the nickname “Slack” among gamers.
This application has versions for both PC and mobile devices, as well as a client that you can use directly from the browser. It also has many functionalities, allowing you to chat by text, by voice, and even make video conferences, all with a completely free application.
You can use this platform for any purpose you want, of course, but it has had a great impact on the gaming community. All because it is a perfect application for meeting friends and colleagues and organizing games, and above all because it allows you to talk to other people while you are playing with its voice chat functions.
The conversation with other users is carried out through its servers. This is the name given to each of the communities that you can create in it. To give you an idea, each community is like having your own IRC, since each server can have different channels, among which the users will then be distributed to communicate.
These groups can be about specific games, but also developer studios, and other topics. They can be both public and private, but they are always meeting points where you can get together and chat. The platform’s fame comes from its gamer side, but there are also many other servers dedicated to all kinds of hobbies and interests.
Under its protection, other websites have been born that serve as indexes in which to find servers, which is what thematic groups are called in Discord. On pages like Discord. me, Disboard.org, Discordservers.com, or Discordea.net/ you can browse and find a community according to your tastes.
What makes Discord different
But then what makes Discord special? Yes, there are quite a few similar applications that you can find online, and one of the merits of this one, in particular, is that it combines the best functions of other apps, uniting them all in an interface that is easy to use for any user regardless of their knowledge.
They also seek the greatest possible efficiency so as not to hinder the games. For example, in voice calls they use low latency. This means that if you use them while you are playing, calls will consume as little data as possible so as not to hinder the connection of your online games.
To all this, we must add the aforementioned social layer that it has with all its private and public communities. This turns the application into a kind of social network in which you can talk about your tastes and contact other like-minded people. The versatility it obtains also helps thanks to its applications for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux, which together with the web client mean that Discord can be used on practically any type of device.
To continue with this versatility that makes them strong, Discord has also decided to explore other paths such as creating its game store. This is a section that is already implemented in its service, something very similar to GOG, feeding mainly on classics, indie games, and some exclusive titles.
In this way, the application will try to solve one of its weaknesses, that of achieving a sustainable business model. This is quite complicated considering that they always want to remain a free service. The only remuneration possibilities it has besides the store are its two Nitro modes, one for $5 a month to improve chat with mobile avatars, and another for $10 with a flat rate with limited access to a collection of classic games.
How to register and install Discord
You can register on Discord using any of its clients, but to make it easier we are going to teach you how to do it through its website. The process is very basic, the first thing you have to do is enter discordapp.com, and once inside click on the Login button that you will see at the top right of their website.
Once you get to the window in which you must enter your email and password to identify yourself when you have already created an account, click on the Register link that you will see just below the Login button, which will take you to the process of creating a new account.
This first step is much easier on mobile since when you start the application for the first time, on the welcome screen you will see the option Register next to the option to log in without having to click anywhere else.
Whether you click on the Register option through the web or in any of its clients for mobile or computer, the next step will always be the file with which you are going to create your account. Here, you must indicate an email, username, and password, and once you have everything written, click on Continue.
When you complete the creation of your user account, a window will appear in which you can create your first server to connect with your friends. This is a completely unnecessary step, so you can click on Start to create your server as we will tell you a little later, or press Skip to leave it for later and simply enter the application.
And that’s it, you will have completed the registration and you will be able to start using Discord normally. At first, you may be asked to verify your account with a link that will be sent to you by email, but otherwise, you will be able to start using all its features.
At this point, you only have to download the Discord application on all the devices you want. To do this, go to the discordapp.com/download page, where you will first be shown the download option for the device from which you connect to the web. Below you will see the rest of the desktop operating system options, as well as links for the Android and iOS mobile applications.
How to join a server
When you are on the main Discord screen, on the far left you have a column in which your different servers will be added, and when you register for the first time it will be empty. What you have to do here is click on the button with the plus symbol + to add a new server.
A window will appear offering you the option to create a new server or join one that already exists. Here, click on the Join a Server button to choose the option to access a server that has already been created by someone else.
When you click on the Join a Server button, you will go to another window in which you will have to write the address of the invitation to the server you want to join. These instant invitations have a shortened format with a URL composed of Discord.gg followed by a code of letters and numbers that you will have to request from the members of that server.
But as we have said before, some directories offer you the possibility of directly entering existing servers. On pages like Discord. me, Disboard.org, Discordservers.com, or Discordea.net/ you can navigate between several options, and when you click on a specific server there will be a link that takes you to the screen to accept the platform’s invitation, All you have to do is press the Accept Invitation button to access the server.
If you later want to leave one of the servers you are on, you must click on the server name (1) that will appear at the top of the screen when you have it selected in the left column. A drop-down menu will open, in which you will simply have to click on the Leave server button (2) to proceed to exit it.
How to create your server
When you are on the main Discord screen, on the far left you have a column in which your different servers will be added, and when you register for the first time it will be empty. What you have to do here is click on the button with the plus symbol + to add a new server.
A window will appear offering you the option to create a new server or join one that already exists. Here, click on the Create a Server button to proceed to create your server from scratch.
Creating the server is extremely simple, something that helps anyone, regardless of their knowledge, to do it. By pressing the Create a server option from before you will go to a screen where you will have to enter the name of the server, and the region to which you belong and add an icon. The region is pre-configured, and the icon is not mandatory, but if you want to put it it will have to have a size of 128×128.
In just a few seconds your server will be created automatically, and the first thing you will see is a screen with the direct invitation code so you can start inviting the first users while you begin the configuration. The code you are given expires in one day, but you can make it permanent to make it a more open server for everyone.
And after closing that window you will automatically enter your server. This will have only two categories, text channels and voice channels. Next to each category, there is a + symbol to create channels within it, which can have the name you decide.
In the channels you create within the different categories, you can write whatever you want, and you will be told which users are connected and not connected. Just as in applications like Slack, when you write a text you can edit or pin it so that everyone can see it even if they connect much later.
If you click on the at icon (@) you will access the notification panel. It will show you the mentions and notifications you receive on all the servers you are on, but you can also select a tab to see only those from the server you are connected to when you click on its icon. At the top, you will also see a search engine, and icons for notifications, anchored texts, and users.
If you click on the server name, several options will be displayed. In them, you can configure your notifications, privacy, and your username. When you are the server administrator you will also see other extra Server Settings options, as well as two buttons with which you will be able to create channels and categories.
If you go to Server Settings you can change its name and icon, configure verification levels with Moderation, view the Audit Log to see what changes the server has had, manage Roles to assign moderators, or configure integration with applications such as Twitch or YouTube Gaming with the Integrations section.
You can also upload your own Emojis, create automated messages with the Webhooks section, or create a Widget to insert server information into a website. You will also be able to manage users, invitations, and ban lists, and even delete the server completely. Therefore, at this point, all you have to do is spend time shaping your server to adapt it to your needs.
Discord FAQ
1. What is Discord for?
Discord is used to communicate with friends or other users via voice or video, participate in thematic channels, and chat by text.
2. What do you need to connect on Discord?
To connect to Discord you need a compatible device, a Discord account, and a permanent Internet connection.
3. What is Discord Web?
It is the web version of Discord and allows you to use the application without having to download the program to your computer or smartphone.
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
