A Step-by-Step Guide to Signing Up and Using Discord

Noah Lowry
3 min readMay 3, 2023

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Image made using MidJourney

Discord is a popular communication platform designed for gaming, communities, and friends.

It offers voice, video, and text chat, along with features like servers, channels, and direct messaging.

If you’re new to Discord and want to learn how to sign up and use it, follow our step-by-step guide below.

Step 1: Create a Discord Account

Open your preferred web browser and visit the Discord website at https://discord.com/

Click on the “Get Started” button located at the top right corner of the page.

Enter your email address, desired username, password, and date of birth.

Check the box to confirm that you agree to Discord’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Click on “Continue” to complete your account registration.

Step 2: Download and Install the Discord App

Visit the Discord download page at https://discord.com/download.

Choose the version that matches your device (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS).

Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the Discord app.

Once installed, launch the Discord app and sign in using the account you created in Step 1.

Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with the Discord Interface

On the left-hand side of the app, you’ll find the Server List. This is where you’ll see the servers you join and create.

Below the Server List, you’ll see a “+” icon. Click on it to create or join a server.

The main window is where you’ll interact with other users within the server’s text and voice channels.

The right-hand side displays the list of members within the current server.

In the lower-left corner, you’ll find your profile picture, username, and microphone, speaker, and video settings.

Step 4: Join or Create a Server

To join an existing server, click on the “+” icon in the Server List and select “Join a Server.”

Enter the server’s invite link or code, and click “Join.”

To create a new server, click on the “+” icon in the Server List and select “Create a Server.”

Choose a server name, upload an optional server icon, and select your server’s region.

Click “Create” to complete the process.

Step 5: Navigate Channels and Send Messages

Within a server, you’ll see categories and channels on the left side of the app.

Click on a text channel to view its messages and send your own.

To send a message, type your message in the text box at the bottom of the channel and press Enter.

Use “@” followed by a username to mention another user in your message.

Step 6: Utilize Voice and Video Chat

Click on a voice channel to join it.

Adjust your microphone and speaker settings using the icons in the lower-left corner of the app.

To use video chat, click on the video camera icon next to your username.

To leave a voice channel, click on the phone icon with an “X” in the lower-left corner.

Step 7: Manage Your Account and Settings

Click on the gear icon located in the lower-left corner to access your User Settings.

Customize your account, privacy, and notification settings as desired.

Access server-specific settings by clicking on the server name located in the upper-left corner of the app.

Now that you’ve learned how to sign up for and use Discord, you’re ready to explore the platform and connect with others.

With its wide range of features and possibilities you won’t be disappointed!

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