If you’ve been using Discord for a long period of time, then you may be familiar with a common error that appears from time to time. This particular error deals with Discord being stuck during the start of the application on the Windows or Mac operating system. The most annoying factor of this issue is that though it runs in the background but fails to open. 

Unfortunately, if you are one of those users who are facing this Discord stuck on starting issue, then it is advisable to first get a clear idea of what actually triggers the issue. Furthermore, you can go through the simple solutions mentioned here to resolve the Discord Stuck on Starting issue. 

Also Read: Discord Awaiting Endpoint

A Brief Introduction on Discord:

Discord is actually an application that serves the purpose of Voice-over-Internet Protocol. In simpler terms, with this application, you can use the data or the internet and send voice data, be it live or recorded. It basically works like an online chat media application. 

The features of the Discord application are smooth and highly secured for you to use such as protecting the IP address or presenting a secure encrypted platform for chatting. 

Why Discord gets Stopped at Start?

There could be a lot of various reasons why Discord gets stuck on the Start screen. Among many reasons, one possible reason could be background applications. If you have more than one application running in the background, then you may likely face this Discord error.

Another likely scenario would be the involvement of antivirus. If you are using antivirus for the system, then you should be aware that it could stop some applications from working. This is because some security protocols stop the application from starting for unknown reasons. 

And lastly, in some cases, synchronizing games with the Discord application could sometimes stop this application from starting. And that is most likely due to corrupted files.  

Tried and Tested Ways to Resolve Discord Stuck on Starting Issue:

In this section, you’ll find some relevant content about the methods that you can apply to fix the Discord stuck on starting screen issue.

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Way 1: Close All the Background Apps

To close all the applications running in the background, perform the following steps:

  • Go to the “Start” menu on the desktop and then type “:Settings” in the search bar. From there, go to the option called “Privacy”. Now in “Privacy”, click on the “Background apps” option.
  • Here, you’ll find a section called “Let app run in the background”. Toggle the bar to switch it off. Now, you won’t have applications running in the background when you minimize them. 
  • Then go to “Discord” and open the application. Check if you get the same Discord not opening Windows 10 issue or not.

Way 2: Open Discord from Source File

If you see that quitting background apps was not a useful method, then you can do this:

  • At first, you need to find the executable file folder for Discord. Simply open “This PC” or “My Computer” and then go to the “Local C Driver”. From there, go to the “Program Data” section. Now, go to “Username” and then go to “Discord”. 
  • Or you can simply go to This PC” and type the following on the address bar:
  • “C:\ProgramData\%USERNAME%\Discord”.
  • Now in the file folder of Discord, click on the “discord.exe” file which is the executable file. Check if you are able to open it without facing the issue.

Way 3: Upgrade Discord Service to its Latest Version

Many Discord users have reported that upgrading the application to its latest version often solves the issue. Thus, it is advisable to upgrade the application right away. 

  • Open any web browser and go to the official website of Discord. You’ll find many updates available for the application. You can either perform the update process based on the version you have or you can get the newest update to avoid any other issue.
  • Nonetheless, choose the update and install it. Once the update is done, open Discord and check if it gets stuck on the Start screen or not. 

Way 4: Quit Discord Using Command Prompt

If Discord is already working as a background application, then most likely, it will get stuck on Start. For that, you need to quit the session using Command Prompt. 

  • Launch the “Run’ box using the “R” and the “Windows” button on the keyboard. Then type “cmd” in the box and hit the “Enter” button. Now when you’re in Command Prompt, type in the following command and then hit the “Enter” key. 
  • “Taskkill /F/IM discord.exe”
  • Once the application has been closed by Command Prompt, launch it from the desktop menu and check if you get the same Discord not starting error or not 

Way 5: Quit Discord from Task Manager

If the above-mentioned solutions were not helpful, then you can quit the Discord session using the Task Manager as an alternative. For that, perform the following steps:

  • Launch “Task Manager” using the “Ctrl”, “Esc” and “Shift” key. Now go to the “Processes” section and scroll to locate the file called “discord.exe”. Then, click on it and choose the “End Process“ option from the bottom. 
  • You’ll see that Discord will not start afresh without any previous session. However, if it doesn’t, perform the next solution. 

Way 6: Fix the Corrupted Files Using SFC Scan

If the system consists of files that are damaged or corrupted, then most likely, Discord will fail to open and show the stuck on start error. For this reason, it is essential to allow the system to repair them for you.

The system has an in-built function called “System File Checker Scan” which goes through all the system files within the system. If any is found, it will get resolved automatically by the system itself. Here’s how you can do that:

  • First, visit the “Start” section and then open “Command Prompt” by typing “cmd” in the search bow. Now before you open it, make sure you are opening it with Administrative privileges. 
  • Simply right-click on it and choose the “Run As Administrator” option. Now, type “sfc/scannow” and then hit the “Enter” button.
  • If there are any corrupted files in the system, then this scan will detect and resolve it. Wait until the scan is done and then restart the system. Now, open Discord and start using the app. 

Way 7: Clear Cache Files from Local AppData

As you keep using the applications, cache files become accumulated and that in return may be the cause of the problem. You can choose to uninstall the application but the best option would be to flush out the cache. 

  • First, open the “Run” box with the help of “Ctrl” and the “R” key. Then type “%appdata%” in the blank field of the Run box and hit the “Enter” button. Now that you’re in the “Local AppData Folder”, go through the list of folders and click on the “Discord” option. 
  • Now, right-click on it and choose the “Delete” option. After that, simply restart the system and open Discord as a new application from the beginning. 

Way 8: Change Network & Security Settings

Oftentimes, using a proxy server from the Network & Security setting can resolve the issue, based on user reports. To do that, here are the steps that you should follow:

  • Launch the “Run” box using the “Windows” and the “R” button and then type the “control panel’ in the blank field. Hit the “OK” button after that. Now go to the “Network and Internet” option and click on the “Internet Options” option. 
  • Now, under the “Connections” tab, click on the “LAN Settings” option. Go to the section that says “User a proxy server for your..” under the “Proxy Server” field. Tick on the box and click on the “OK” button. 
  • Now exit and restart the application. Now you’re good to go and Discord will no longer get stuck on Start.