Discord Keeps Crashing? Try the 10 Best Fixes

If you are wondering why Discord keeps crashing during an intense gaming session or a critical call, you are not alone. This frustrating error can result from various reasons, including hardware limitations, software conflicts, or corrupted cache files. In this guide, we will provide you with actionable, step-by-step solutions to restore stability to your Discord.

Fix 1. Clear the Discord Cache Files to Fix Discord Keeps Crashing

Over time, the app stores images, videos, and scripts that can conflict with new updates. Follow these steps:

• Completely close Discord. Check your system tray (located in the bottom right corner) to ensure it isn’t running in the background.
• Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard > open the Run dialog box.
• Type %appdata% into the field and hit Enter > opens the Roaming folder.
• Locate the folder named Discord. Open it and find the folders titled Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache.
• Select all files within these three folders and delete them. Do not worry; the app will regenerate fresh, clean versions next time you log in.

Fix 2. Disable Hardware Acceleration

By default, the app uses your GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to handle heavy tasks. While this usually speeds things up, it is a frequent cause when Discord keeps crashing on mid-range or older PCs, especially when running a game at the same time.

Here’s how:

• Open the app and click the User Settings (gear icon) near your username.
• Scroll down the left-hand sidebar to the App Settings section and select Advanced.
• Locate the Hardware Acceleration toggle.
• Switch it to Off. A warning will appear saying that turning this off will relaunch the app.
• Click Okay to confirm. This forces the app to use your CPU for rendering, which is often more stable.

Fix 3. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Since this platform relies on modern rendering techniques for video calls and streaming, outdated drivers cause massive conflicts. If Discord cannot communicate with your hardware normally, it will simply quit.

• Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
• Expand the Display adapters section.
• Right-click your dedicated graphics card (NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel) and select Update driver.
• Choose Search automatically for drivers.
• Alternatively, visit the official manufacturer’s website (like NVIDIA GeForce) to download the latest “Game Ready Driver” manually.

Fix 4. Turn Off Discord Overlay

The “Overlay” feature allows you to see who is talking while you are inside a full-screen game. However, this feature hooks into your game’s engine and can cause a system-level error where Discord keeps crashing every time a notification pops up.

• Go to User Settings.
• Under the Activity Settings category, click on Game Overlay.
• Toggle the Enable in-game overlay switch to Off.
• If you only want it off for a specific game, go to Registered Games and click the monitor icon next to that specific title to disable it.

Fix 5. Switch to Legacy Audio Subsystem

If the app specifically closes the moment you join a voice channel or pick up a call, then your audio hardware is likely incompatible with the latest “Standard” audio engine. Here’s how to switch:

• Navigate to User Settings > Voice & Video.
• Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.
• Find the dropdown menu under Audio Subsystem.
• Change it from Standard to Legacy.
• Click Okay on the confirmation prompt. This uses an older, more compatible method for processing your microphone and speakers.

Fix 6. Check for Windows System File Corruption

Sometimes, the reason Discord keeps crashing may not be the app’s fault, but rather a corrupted Windows DLL file.

• Type cmd in the Windows search bar.
• Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
• Type the command sfc /scannow and press Enter.
• Wait for the system to scan and repair any broken files. This process may take 5–10 minutes.
• Restart your computer once the scan reaches 100%.

Also Read: How to Fix Discord Update Failed (Loop) Error – 10 Ways

Fix 7. Disable Beta “Experiments” or Plugins

Many power users install BetterDiscord(https://betterdiscord.app/) or participate in the Public Test Build (PTB). These versions are unstable by nature. If you are using a modified version, the official updates will often break the code.

If you are using BetterDiscord, run the installer and choose the Uninstall option. If you are on the PTB or Canary version, switch back to the Stable build downloaded from the official homepage. Avoid using custom CSS themes for a few days to see if the crashes stop.

Fix 8. Reset Voice and Video Settings

The software may not be able to start the audio engine if your settings are too complicated, such as having many Krisp noise suppression filters and echo cancellation. Follow these steps to reset settings:

• Go to User Settings > Voice & Video.
• Scroll to the bottom.
• Click the big red button that says Reset Voice Settings.
• Reconfigure your microphone input and output devices one by one.

Fix 9. Reinstall Discord Properly

When a simple update fails, a deep clean is necessary to fix the crashing loop. A standard uninstallation often leaves behind broken configuration files.

• Open Control Panel > Uninstall a Program and remove the app.
• Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and delete the Discord folder.
• Press Win + R again, type %appdata%, and delete the Discord folder there as well.
• Restart your PC.
• Download a fresh installer from the Discord official website and run it as an Administrator.

Fix 10. Turn Off Compatibility Mode

Compatibility mode is designed for software from the 90s. Running a modern Electron-based app in compatibility mode for Windows 7 or 8 will cause it to trigger false errors and close.

• Right-click the shortcut icon on your desktop.
• Select Properties and click the Compatibility tab.
• Ensure that the box “Run this program in compatibility mode for” is unchecked.
• Click Apply and try launching the app again.

Final Words

If Discord keeps crashing, it’s often due to cache errors, hardware acceleration, outdated drivers, or unstable settings. Applying the fixes above can quickly restore app stability and prevent repeated crashes.