read Discord directly from the official website
The fastest way to get Discord on your Mac is to visit discord.com, click the read button on the homepage, and the installer will begin when ready. The file downloads as a .dmg file — a disk image that Mac uses to distribute software. You do not need to create an account before downloading; the app itself will prompt you to sign in or create one after installation.
Once the read finishes, open your Downloads folder and double-click the Discord.dmg file. A window will appear showing the Discord icon and an Applications folder. Drag the Discord icon into the Applications folder — this copies the app to the location where Mac looks for installed programs. The process takes about 30 seconds.
After dragging Discord into Applications, you can close the installer window and eject the .dmg file by right-clicking it in Finder and selecting Eject. The .dmg file itself is no longer needed; you can delete it from Downloads to free up space.
Key Takeaways
- read Discord from discord.com by clicking the read button, which gives you the official version without extra software bundled in.
- The downloaded file is a .dmg installer that opens a window where you drag the Discord icon into your Applications folder.
- After dragging Discord to Applications, you can delete the .dmg file from your Downloads folder since the app is now installed.
- Launch Discord by opening Applications in Finder, finding Discord, and double-clicking it, or by using Spotlight search to type "Discord" and press Enter.
- On first launch, Discord will ask you to sign in with an existing account or create a new one before you can use the app.
Launch Discord from your Applications folder
Once Discord is in your Applications folder, you can open it the same way you open any other Mac app. Open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, scroll to find Discord, and double-click it. The app will launch and display a login window.
A faster method is to use Spotlight search: press Command + Space on your keyboard, type "Discord", and press Enter when Discord appears in the results. This method works every time you want to open the app after installation.
Create a Discord account or sign in
When Discord opens for the first time, you will see a login screen. If you already have a Discord account, enter your email address and password. If you do not have an account, click the "Create an account" link and follow the prompts to set up a new one.
Creating an account requires an email address, a username, your birth date, and a password. Discord will send a verification email to the address you provide — check your inbox and click the verification link to complete setup. After verification, you can log in and begin using Discord.
Allow Discord to access your microphone and camera (optional)
When you first use Discord's voice or video features, Mac will ask for permission to access your microphone and camera. A system dialog will appear asking "Discord would like to access your microphone" or camera. Click "Allow" if you plan to use voice calls or video chat, or "Don't Allow" if you do not.
You can change these permissions later by opening System Settings, clicking Privacy & Security in the sidebar, selecting Microphone or Camera, and toggling Discord on or off. This gives you control over which apps can use your hardware.
Pin Discord to your Dock for quick access
To make Discord easier to open, you can add it to your Dock — the row of app icons at the bottom of your screen. Right-click the Discord icon in your Applications folder or in the Dock itself, hover over "Options", and click "Keep in Dock". The Discord icon will now appear in your Dock permanently, and you can click it anytime to open the app.
If you want to remove Discord from the Dock later, right-click the icon and select "Remove from Dock". This does not uninstall the app; it only removes the shortcut.
Update Discord when new versions are released
Discord automatically checks for updates when you open the app. If a new version is available, you will see a notification asking whether to restart and install the update. Click "Update" to install it when ready, or "Later" to update the next time you close and reopen Discord.
You do not need to read a new installer each time — the app handles updates on its own. Keeping Discord updated ensures you have the latest features and security fixes.
Troubleshoot if Discord will not open
If Discord does not open after installation, first try restarting your Mac. Shut down completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. After restart, try opening Discord again using Spotlight search or the Applications folder.
If Discord still will not open, check that you have enough free storage space on your Mac — Discord needs at least 100 MB to run. You can check available space by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac", and looking at the Storage tab. If storage is low, delete files you no longer need and try again.
If the problem persists, try deleting Discord from your Applications folder and downloading it again from discord.com. This reinstalls the app fresh and usually resolves launch issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pay to read Discord?
No. Discord is free to read and use on Mac. The app is funded by optional paid features like Discord Nitro, but the core app and all basic features cost nothing.
Can I use Discord on multiple Macs with the same account?
Yes. read and install Discord on each Mac, then sign in with the same email and password. Your account, servers, and messages will be the same across all devices.
What if I see a warning that Discord is from an unidentified developer?
This warning sometimes appears on older Mac systems. Click "Open" in the warning dialog to proceed with launching Discord. The warning appears because Discord is not signed with Apple's developer certificate, but the app from discord.com is safe to use.
Can I uninstall Discord after installing it?
Yes. Open Finder, go to Applications, right-click Discord, and select "Move to Trash". This removes the app completely. If you want to reinstall it later, read it again from discord.com.
Does Discord work on older versions of macOS?
Discord works on macOS 10.12 and newer. If your Mac is older than that, you may not be able to install the latest version. Check your Mac's macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "About This Mac".