Creating a Discord account takes about five minutes and requires only an email address and a password

Discord is a free messaging platform where you can join communities called servers, chat with friends in text or voice channels, and share files and links. To use Discord, you need an account. The process is straightforward: you visit Discord's website or open the app, enter your email and a password you choose, verify your email, and you're done. You don't need a credit card, and you can start using Discord immediately after verification.

This guide walks you through creating an account on a computer or phone, what to do if you run into problems, and how to set up your profile so other people can find you.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a working email address and a password you haven't used elsewhere to create a Discord account.
  • Discord will send a verification email to the address you provide — check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox within a few minutes.
  • After you verify your email, you can immediately join servers and start messaging, though you may want to add a profile picture and username first.
  • If you forget your password later, you can reset it using the email address attached to your account.

Creating an account on a computer

Go to discord.com in your web browser. In the top right corner, click the Login button. On the page that appears, look for the link that says Don't have an account? and click it. This takes you to the signup form.

Fill in the form with the information Discord asks for: your email address, a username (this is what other people will see), your date of birth, and a password. The password should be something you don't use on other websites. Discord will tell you if your password is too weak — if it does, add numbers or special characters like ! or # to make it stronger. Once all fields are filled, click Continue.

Discord will send a verification email to the address you provided. Open your email inbox and look for a message from Discord. If you don't see it after a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder — sometimes email filters catch it by mistake. Click the verification link in the email. Your account is now active, and you can close the email.

Creating an account on a phone or tablet

Open the Discord app if you have it installed, or download it from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). When you open the app for the first time, you'll see a login screen. Tap Don't have an account? at the bottom.

Enter your email address, choose a username, enter your date of birth, and create a password. Tap Continue. Discord sends a verification email to your inbox. Open your email app, find the Discord message, and tap the verification link. The app will recognize the verification and activate your account automatically.

What to do if you don't receive the verification email

Check your spam or junk folder first — email filters sometimes block Discord's messages by mistake. If the email is there, mark it as not spam and click the verification link.

If the email isn't in spam, wait a few more minutes. Discord's verification emails usually arrive within five minutes, but can take up to 15 in rare cases. If more than 15 minutes have passed, go back to Discord's login page, click Resend or Didn't receive your code?, and ask Discord to send the verification email again. Use the same email address you signed up with.

If you still don't receive it, check that you typed your email address correctly during signup. If you made a mistake, you may need to create a new account with the correct email address. Discord doesn't have a way to change the email on an unverified account.

Setting up your profile after verification

After you verify your email, you can start using Discord right away. However, adding a profile picture and filling in a bio makes it easier for friends to recognize you and helps you look more established in servers you join.

On a computer, click your username in the bottom left corner and select User Settings. Click Edit Profile and upload a profile picture by clicking the camera icon. You can also add a bio, which is a short description of yourself that other users can see. On a phone, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, then tap the pencil icon to edit your profile.

You don't have to do this right away — you can update your profile anytime, and other people can still message you and invite you to servers without a picture or bio.

Joining your first server

Once your account is verified, you can join servers. A server is a community organized around a topic — gaming, a TV show, a hobby, or a friend group. To join a server, you need an invite link. Friends can send you links, or you can find public servers on websites like Disboard or by searching Discord communities online.

When you click an invite link, Discord opens and shows you the server's name and a list of channels. Click Join to become a member. You can now see the channels in that server and start reading and sending messages. Most servers have a rules channel and a welcome channel — read those first to understand how the server works.

Resetting your password if you forget it

If you forget your password, go to discord.com and click Login. On the login page, click Forgot your password? Enter the email address attached to your account. Discord sends a password reset link to that email. Click the link, enter a new password, and you can log in with the new password immediately.

Make sure you use the email address you signed up with. If you don't remember which email you used, you won't be able to reset your password — you would need to create a new account instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my username after I create my account?

Yes. On a computer, click your username in the bottom left, go to User Settings, and click Edit Profile. On a phone, tap your profile icon and tap the pencil icon. You can change your username anytime. Other users will see the new name immediately.

Do I need to give Discord my phone number?

No. Discord only requires an email address to create an account. You can add a phone number later in your account settings if you want two-factor authentication, which adds extra security, but it's not required.

What if someone already took the username I want?

Discord usernames don't have to be unique — two people can have the same username. What makes you unique is your discriminator, a four-digit number that appears after your username (like username#1234). If someone has the username you want, you can still use it; Discord will assign you a different discriminator number.

Can I create multiple accounts with the same email address?

No. Each Discord account needs its own email address. If you want a second account, you need a different email address. You can use a free email service like Gmail to create a new address quickly.

Is Discord safe for kids?

Discord itself is a platform, not a service for kids specifically. Parents should know that Discord servers are created by users, not moderated by Discord staff, so content varies widely. Discord has a safety center with resources for parents and young users about staying safe online.