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3 Ways to Fix Discord Not Detecting Games on Windows

Quick Tips
  • Discord may not detect a game if you are using an unauthorized copy or running cheat software. So, ensure that isn’t the case.
  • Enable the activity status feature in Discord and try running the app with administrative privileges.
  • If Discord fails to detect your game automatically, try adding it manually.

Try Basic Fixes

  • Restart your game: If it’s just a one-off glitch preventing Discord from detecting your game, restarting it will help. Reopen your game on Windows to see if Discord detects it.
  • Try another game: Discord may not detect a game if you are using an unauthorized copy or running cheat software. If you are unsure about the authenticity of a game, launch another game to check if Discord detects it.
  • Update the Discord app: Although Discord tends to install the latest updates automatically, it may occasionally get stuck on an older version if something goes wrong. To update the Discord app manually on Windows, click the Show hidden icons button (up arrow) on the taskbar. Then, right-click the Discord icon and select Check for Updates.

Fix 1: Enable Activity Status

Discord may fail to detect and display your games on your profile if you have accidentally disabled the Activity Status feature. Hence, it’s the first thing to check.

Step 1: Open the Discord app on your PC and click the gear-shaped icon at the bottom left to open the User Settings menu.

Discord Settings Menu

Step 2: Use the left pane to navigate to the Activity Privacy tab. Then, toggle on Display current activity as a status message in the right pane.

Enable Activity Status in Discord

Restart the Discord app to check if it can detect your games.

Fix 2: Run Discord as an Administrator

A lack of relevant permissions can cause Discord’s game detection feature to stop working on Windows. You can easily fix such permission-related issues by running Discord with administrative rights.

Right-click on the Discord app icon and select Run as administrator from the resulting menu.

Run Discord as Administrator

If this method works, you can configure the app to always launch with admin rights. To do so, select the Discord app shortcut and press Alt + Enter keyboard shortcut to open its properties. Switch to the Compatibility tab and check the box for Run this program as an administrator. Then, hit Apply, followed by OK.

Run Discord Always as Administrator

Fix 3: Add the Game Manually to Discord

The Discord app also provides the option to add games manually. So, if Discord fails to detect your game automatically, use these steps to add it.

Step 1: Open the Discord app on your PC and click the gear icon at the bottom left to open the User Settings menu.

Step 2: Select the Registered Games tab from the left sidebar. Then, click the Add it option in the right pane.

Add Game Manually to Discord

Step 3: Enter the name of your game in the search box and click the Add Game button.

Add Game Manually in Discord

You can click the X icon at the top right of the game to remove it later.

Remove Added Game on Discord

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Last updated on 02 September, 2024

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