How to Install Vencord: A Complete Setup Guide
Vencord is one of the most popular Discord client mods available today, offering a wide range of customization options, plugins, and themes that the standard Discord client doesn't support. If you're looking to personalize your Discord experience — from custom CSS themes to quality-of-life plugins — Vencord is worth understanding. Here's everything you need to know about how it works and how to install it.
What Is Vencord?
Vencord is an open-source Discord client modification (client mod) that injects custom code into the Discord desktop app. Unlike bots or browser extensions, it modifies how the Discord client itself behaves and looks on your machine. It runs locally, meaning no data is routed through external servers beyond Discord's own infrastructure.
Vencord is built on a plugin-based architecture, so users can enable or disable features individually. Common uses include:
- Custom themes using CSS
- Plugin-based features like message translation, always-on-top mode, or compact layouts
- Enhanced privacy settings not available in the default client
- Developer-oriented tools for inspecting Discord's internal workings
It's important to note that Vencord modifies a third-party application. While it's widely used, it operates outside Discord's official Terms of Service. The practical risk for casual users has historically been low, but this is a factor worth understanding before you proceed.
What You Need Before Installing
Before starting, make sure you have the following:
- Discord desktop app installed (not the web version — Vencord patches the desktop client)
- A Windows, macOS, or Linux machine
- Basic comfort with running an installer or terminal commands
- An internet connection to download the installer
Vencord does not work with the Discord mobile app, and it cannot be installed as a browser extension for the Discord web client.
How to Install Vencord on Windows
The most straightforward method for Windows users is the graphical installer:
- Visit the official Vencord website or GitHub repository and download the latest VencordInstaller.exe
- Run the installer — Windows may show a SmartScreen warning since it's not a signed Microsoft application; this is common for open-source tools
- The installer will automatically detect your Discord installation
- Select your Discord variant — standard Discord, Discord PTB (Public Test Build), or Discord Canary
- Click Install and wait for the process to complete
- Relaunch Discord
Once Discord restarts, you'll see a Vencord settings tab in your Discord settings panel, where you can manage plugins and themes.
How to Install Vencord on macOS
The process on macOS is nearly identical:
- Download the VencordInstaller binary for macOS from the official source
- You may need to allow the app through Gatekeeper (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Open Anyway)
- Run the installer, select your Discord variant, and click Install
- Relaunch Discord
Some macOS users encounter permission issues depending on how Discord was installed. If the installer can't find Discord automatically, it may prompt you to locate the app manually.
How to Install Vencord on Linux
Linux installation offers two paths depending on your comfort level: 🐧
Option 1 — GUI Installer: Download the Linux binary from the official Vencord GitHub releases page, make it executable (chmod +x VencordInstaller), and run it from the terminal.
Option 2 — Terminal/Script Method: Vencord provides an install script that can be run directly in the terminal. This method is common among users who prefer command-line control or are installing on systems without a desktop environment.
Linux installations can vary depending on whether you installed Discord via .deb, .tar.gz, Flatpak, or Snap. Flatpak and Snap versions of Discord present known compatibility challenges because of how they sandbox application files — the installer may not be able to patch them directly. Users on these package types often need to switch to a native Discord install for Vencord to work reliably.
Enabling Plugins and Themes After Installation 🎨
Once Vencord is running, open Discord and navigate to User Settings. You'll find a new Vencord section in the left sidebar with:
- Plugins — toggle individual features on or off; each plugin has its own description and sometimes configuration options
- Themes — paste in a CSS file URL or upload a local
.cssfile to apply visual customizations - Updater — check for and apply Vencord updates without reinstalling
- Vencord Cloud (optional) — a sync feature for settings across devices, which requires a separate opt-in
Plugins range from simple UI tweaks to more complex functionality. Some interact with Discord's internal APIs more deeply than others, so it's reasonable to review what each plugin does before enabling it.
Keeping Vencord Updated
Discord updates frequently, and those updates can break Vencord's patches temporarily. The Vencord team typically releases compatibility updates quickly after Discord pushes changes, but there may be brief periods where things don't behave as expected.
You can update Vencord from within the Discord settings (via the Updater tab) or by re-running the installer over your existing installation. Neither method requires uninstalling Discord first.
Variables That Affect Your Experience
How smoothly Vencord installs and runs depends on several factors:
| Variable | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Discord variant (Stable/PTB/Canary) | Each is patched separately; Canary updates most frequently |
| Package type on Linux | Flatpak/Snap may require workarounds |
| macOS security settings | Gatekeeper may block unsigned binaries |
| Discord update timing | Recent Discord updates can temporarily break patches |
| Number of active plugins | More plugins = more potential for conflicts |
Your specific operating system version, how Discord was originally installed, and which plugins you want to use all shape whether the standard installer works out of the box or requires extra steps. What's seamless for one setup can require troubleshooting on another.