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5 Ways to Fix Discord Keeps Crashing on Windows Computer

Quick Tips
  • Using keybinds and Discord’s beta features can cause the app to become unstable and crash, so avoid using them.
  • If your audio device is incompatible with Discord’s audio subsystem, configure it to operate in legacy mode.
  • Try clearing the Discord app cache and updating the drivers on your PC by heading over to Settings > Windows Update.

Try Basic Fixes

  • End Discord processes using Task Manager: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open Task Manager. In the Processes tab, right-click on Discord and select End task. This will close Discord and terminate all app processes. After that, try to use Discord again.
  • Avoid using experimental features: Discord is one of the few apps that allows you to experiment with beta features in the stable version of the app. These features can cause Discord to become unstable at times. Hence, it’s best to avoid using them if Discord keeps freezing on Windows.

Fix 1: Disable Hardware Acceleration in Discord

The hardware acceleration feature in Discord utilizes your PC’s GPU to help the app run more smoothly. However, if this feature fails to work properly, it can cause Discord to crash on Windows. It’s best to disable it if you’re experiencing problems.

Step 1: Open the Discord app and click the gear-shaped icon in the bottom-left corner to open the User Settings menu.

Open Discord Settings

Step 2: In the Voice & Video tab, turn off the toggle next to Hardware Acceleration.

Disable Hardware Acceleration in Discord

Fix 2: Delete Custom Keybinds

Keybinds in Discord allow you to perform certain actions with keyboard shortcuts. If Discord crashes every time you use custom keybinds, try deleting them and see if that helps.

Step 1: Open Discord settings and go to the Keybinds tab.

Step 2: Hover your cursor over your custom keybind and click the X icon. Repeat this step to remove all the keybinds.

Delete Keybinds in Discord.png

Restart the Discord app and try to use it again.

Fix 3: Enable Legacy Mode in Discord

Another reason why Discord may keep stopping on Windows is if your audio device is incompatible with Discord’s audio subsystem. To avoid such problems, you may configure Discord’s audio subsystem to operate in legacy mode. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open the Discord app settings and head to the Voice & Video tab.

Step 2: Scroll down and click the drop-down menu under Audio Subsystem to select Legacy.

Audio Subsystem in Discord

Step 3: Click Okay to apply the changes.

Change Audio Subsystem in Discord

Fix 4: Clear Discord Cache

Outdated or corrupt drivers on your PC can cause Discord to crash on your Windows PC. It’s a good idea to clear existing Discord cache data if the app is still not working right.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog box. Type %appdata%/discord in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: In the File Explorer window that opens, select the Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache folders. Then, click the trash icon at the top to delete them.

Delete Discord Cache on Windows

Fix 5: Update Device Drivers

Problems with your PC’s drivers can also cause apps like Discord to malfunction. You need to ensure that your device drivers are updated to their most recent version, and using Windows Update is the simplest way to accomplish this.

Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app. In the Windows Update tab, click the Check for updates button.

Check for Windows Updates

Install all the pending updates and then restart your PC. After this, Discord should run smoothly on Windows.

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Last updated on 10 July, 2024

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for the page. Did’t help me though. Discord starts up, shows me the update logo and then crashes silently without any (event) logging. This happened after using it for years and forced me to do my gaming on a Macbook since audio in a browser isn’t great.

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