Fix Discord Not Opening on PC: Stuck on Grey Screen or Infinite Loading

Discord is an essential communication tool for gamers, communities, and professionals alike. However, sometimes it refuses to open and gets stuck on a grey screen or infinite loading. Frustrating, right? Don’t worry! This guide will walk you through the best solutions to fix this issue quickly.

Why Does Discord Get Stuck on a Grey Screen?

Several factors can cause Discord to freeze on a grey screen or remain stuck in an infinite loading loop. Here are some common reasons:

• Corrupt application cache or settings.
• Outdated Discord or system files.
• Internet or server connectivity issues.
• Interference from antivirus or Windows Firewall.
• Conflicting background applications.

How to Fix Discord Not Opening on PC

Try the following solutions step by step to resolve the issue.

1. Restart Your Computer

A simple restart can often fix the problem, as it clears temporary glitches with the system processes.

2. Run Discord as Administrator

Sometimes, Discord requires admin privileges to function correctly. Follow these steps:

1. Right-click on the Discord shortcut.
2. Select Run as administrator.
3. Check if the issue is resolved.

3. Kill Discord Processes via Task Manager

If Discord is running in the background but not opening correctly, force-close it:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Find all Discord.exe processes, right-click each, and select End Task.
4. Try reopening Discord.

4. Clear Discord Cache

Corrupt cache files can cause Discord to malfunction. Clearing them might solve the problem:

1. Press Win + R, type %appdata%, and hit Enter.
2. Locate and open the Discord folder.
3. Delete the Cache, Code Cache, and GPUCache folders.
4. Restart Discord.

5. Check Your Internet Connection

Discord might be stuck due to an unstable connection. Ensure your internet is working properly by:

• Restarting your router.
• Switching to a different network.
• Using a wired connection instead of Wi-Fi.

6. Disable Hardware Acceleration

Hardware acceleration can sometimes cause Discord to freeze. If you can access Discord settings, disable it:

1. Open Discord and go to User Settings (gear icon).
2. Navigate to Advanced.
3. Turn off Hardware Acceleration.
4. Restart Discord.

7. Flush DNS Settings

Network conflicts might prevent Discord from loading. Try flushing your DNS:

1. Press Win + R, type cmd, and hit Enter.
2. Type the command: ipconfig /flushdns and press Enter.
3. Restart your computer and try opening Discord again.

8. Temporarily Disable Antivirus & Firewall

Some security programs might block Discord. Try disabling them temporarily:

• Turn off your antivirus and check if Discord launches.
• Allow Discord through Windows Firewall:
• Open Control Panel → Windows Defender Firewall.
• Click Allow an app through Firewall.
• Add Discord to the allowed list.

9. Reinstall Discord

If none of the above solutions work, reinstalling Discord might fix the problem.

1. Press Win + R, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter.
2. Find Discord, right-click it, and select Uninstall.
3. After uninstallation, delete leftover files in %appdata% and %localappdata%.
4. Download and install the latest Discord version from the official website.

Final Thoughts

Discord getting stuck on a grey screen can be annoying, but with the right troubleshooting steps, you can get it working again. If you’re still facing issues, consider reaching out to Discord support for further assistance. Hopefully, one of these fixes helped you resolve the issue and get back to chatting with your friends!