Apps not loading is never a good thing, and especially social ones where you’re itching to hop onto your favorite server. If your Discord is freezing when opening, or showing a black or blank screen on startup, you’re dealing with an app issue, rather than a network outage. In this article, we’ll be showing you how to fix a Discord frozen black screen.
What Causes Discord Frozen Black Screen
“The Discord app shows me a frozen black screen” is something you’d rather not experience. Unfortunately, a black screen or frozen app is a PC problem rather than a Discord one. As with all faulty apps, there are a few potential causes:
- A network issue or DNS failure
- An overzealous firewall or antivirus
- Cache corruption
- Graphical issues caused by outdated drivers
- An outdated Discord
Fixing a Faulty Discord App
It might be a black screen or a blank one; the spinning logo might take forever. Whatever the fault, we’ve got some fixes below to troubleshoot the problem.
Refresh the App
If you’re able to make it past the loading screen but no further, then the first thing you should try is to manually refresh the app. For Windows, the shortcut is (Ctrl + R). Try this a few times and, if it doesn’t work, restart the app and try again.
Refreshing also has the added benefit of searching for app updates, so if your Discord is outdated, this will download a newer version.
Run as Admin
To ensure you have all possible permissions, you can try running Discord as an Admin. Here’s how:
Step 1. Find Discord in File Explorer or the Start Menu and right-click the icon.
Step 2. Select “Run as Administrator” and confirm via the UAC pop-up.
Step 3. See if this resolves the issue.
Clear the Cache
Over time, a large amount of data can be stored in the cache. If it gets corrupted in any app, things can start going wrong on the front end. Clearing the Discord cache can help things load properly. Here’s what to do:
Step 1. Open the Run Dialog (Win + R) and type “%appdata%” before hitting “Enter.”
Step 2. In the File Explorer window that opens, click the “discord” folder.
Step 3. In this folder, delete the “Cache,” “Code Cache,” and “GPUCache” folders.
Step 4. Restart your machine. The folders will be recreated automatically. Try reopening Discord.
Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration uses your GPU to smooth the whole app experience. The problem is that it’s also demanding, and problems with graphics might mean a black screen on startup. If you can access Discord settings, you can try disabling it:
Step 1. Click the User Settings icon in the bottom-left of your screen.
Step 2. In the Settings window, click “System” in the sidebar.
Step 3. Under “General,” toggle “Enable Hardware Acceleration” to “Off.”
Step 4. Restart Discord and see if it helps.
Check Your Firewall and Antivirus
An overzealous firewall or antivirus might block Discord from accessing its servers and therefore prevent it from properly loading. Ensure that the app is added to security exceptions and allowed on all networks.
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Last updated on 15 August, 2026
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