Discord's clip feature lets you record short video moments from voice channels and share them with others

Discord's clipping feature captures the last few minutes of a voice channel conversation as a short video file. When you enable it, a clip button appears in the voice channel interface, letting you save and share moments without recording your entire session. The clips are stored on Discord's servers, and you control who can view them — they don't automatically post to your server or go public.

Clipping is useful if you want to preserve a funny moment, a useful explanation, or proof of something that happened in a call. But like any recording feature, it comes with privacy considerations: the people in the channel may not realize they're being clipped, and the clip persists even after the conversation ends. Understanding how to turn it on, how it works, and what your server members can see is the first step to using it responsibly.

Key Takeaways

  • Clipping is turned on by default in most Discord servers, but your server owner or moderators can disable it in channel settings.
  • When you clip, Discord saves the last 60 seconds of audio and video from that voice channel to your account.
  • You choose whether each clip is viewable only by you, by people you share the link with, or by everyone in the server.
  • Other people in the channel are not notified when you clip them, so you should tell them if the moment is sensitive or personal.
  • Clips are stored on Discord's servers and can be deleted by you at any time, but they may be cached elsewhere once shared.

Check whether clipping is allowed in your server

Before you can clip, your server owner or a moderator with permission must have enabled the feature. Open the voice channel where you want to clip, and look for a small scissors or film icon in the bottom right of the channel interface — if you don't see it, clipping is turned off for that channel.

If clipping is disabled and you want to use it, ask a server moderator or owner to turn it on. They can do this by right-clicking the voice channel, selecting "Edit Channel," going to the "Moderation" tab, and checking the box next to "Allow clips in this channel." Some servers disable clipping for privacy reasons, so respect that choice if they decline.

How to create a clip while in a voice channel

Join a voice channel where clipping is enabled. While you're in the call, look at the bottom right of the voice channel window — you'll see several icons including a microphone, speaker, and camera. The clip button looks like a small film frame or scissors icon and sits near these controls.

Click the clip button. Discord will save the last 60 seconds of that voice channel to your account. A small notification will appear confirming the clip was created. You can create multiple clips from the same conversation, and each one is independent — clipping one moment doesn't affect your ability to clip another.

Set who can see each clip you create

After you clip, a window opens asking you to name the clip and choose who can view it. You have three options: "Only me" (private), "Share link" (anyone with the link can watch), or "Server" (everyone in that Discord server can see it). Choose based on what the clip contains and who should have access.

If the clip contains something personal, embarrassing, or sensitive about someone else in the call, set it to "Only me" or "Share link" so it doesn't appear in the server's public clip gallery. If it's a funny moment everyone will enjoy, "Server" is fine. You can change the privacy setting later by editing the clip.

Find and manage your clips

Your clips are stored in your Discord account, not in a specific channel. To see them, click your username in the bottom left of Discord, select "User Settings," then go to "Clips." You'll see a list of all clips you've created, along with their privacy settings and view counts.

From this page, you can delete a clip, change its privacy level, copy the clip link to share it, or rename it. Deleting a clip removes it from Discord's servers, but if you've already shared the link with others, they may have saved or cached the video elsewhere. Once something is shared, assume it can be copied.

Privacy and consent considerations when clipping

The people in the voice channel are not notified when you clip them. If you're recording a moment that involves someone else's voice, image, or personal information, you should tell them — especially if the clip will be shared beyond "Only me." Some jurisdictions have laws about recording conversations without consent, and even where it's legal, it's a courtesy to ask.

If someone asks you not to clip them or to delete a clip, take that seriously. Clipping is a feature for fun moments and useful information, not for capturing things people want to keep private. If you're unsure whether a moment should be clipped, ask first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can people tell when I'm clipping them?

No. Discord does not notify other users when you create a clip. If you want them to know, you have to tell them yourself. This is why it's important to ask before clipping sensitive conversations or moments involving other people's private information.

How long are clips stored on Discord?

Discord stores clips indefinitely unless you delete them. However, clips set to "Only me" are only accessible to you, and clips set to "Share link" or "Server" can be viewed by others as long as they exist. Deleting a clip removes it from Discord's servers.

Can I clip a voice channel if I'm not in it?

No. You must be actively in the voice channel to create a clip. Discord captures the last 60 seconds of that specific channel's audio and video, so you have to be present to use the feature.

What happens if someone clips me without permission?

If the clip is set to "Only me," only they can see it. If it's shared with a link or the server, you can ask them to delete it or change the privacy setting. There's no built-in way to prevent someone from clipping you, but you can ask your server owner to disable clipping in that channel if it becomes a problem.

Can I edit a clip after I create it?

You can rename a clip and change its privacy setting after creation, but you cannot trim the video or edit the audio. If you need to remove part of a clip, you have to delete it and create a new one from a different moment.