- Troubleshooting Discord Download and Installation Issues on Windows 10
- Check Windows User Account Privileges
- Clean Out Old Discord Files Before Reinstalling
- Force Stop Any Discord Processes Before Installing
- Remove Problematic Windows Updates
- Try Installing an Older Discord Version
- Temporarily Disable Antivirus and Firewall Software
- Restart and Retry the Installation
- References
Troubleshooting Discord Download and Installation Issues on Windows 10
As avid Discord users ourselves, we know how frustrating it can be when the popular messaging app refuses to download or install correctly on your Windows 10 machine. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the top expert-recommended troubleshooting steps to get Discord up and running again.
After scouring tech support forums and collating insights from IT professionals, we’ve identified the main culprits behind Discord download failures and compiled the best methods to overcome them. Whether you’re encountering the notorious "Discord won’t download" or "Can’t install Discord" errors, our guide will equip you with the knowledge to diagnose the underlying cause and apply proven solutions.
So bid adieu to those irksome error messages, grab yourself a beverage, and let’s get started!
Check Windows User Account Privileges
The first thing to check is whether your Windows user account has the correct privileges to install applications like Discord. If you’re not logged into an administrator account, Discord’s installer may fail with cryptic errors about missing registry keys or file permissions.
To rule out insufficient privileges, simply log out of your standard Windows user account and log into an admin account instead. Then attempt to run Discord’s installer again. If it now works, you know inadequate user permissions are to blame. You can either re-install Discord while signed into the admin account or modify your standard account’s privileges accordingly.
Clean Out Old Discord Files Before Reinstalling
A common cause of recurring Discord installation failures is remnants from a prior incomplete installation. Before reattempting to install Discord, it’s wise to completely remove all traces of Discord from your system.
Start by deleting the %appdata%\Discord folder which contains Discord’s settings, caches and other data files. Next, delete the %localappdata%\Discord folder which houses Discord’s partially downloaded installation packages. Finally, use the Windows Settings app to uninstall Discord fully.
With the slate wiped clean, re-download Discord’s installer and run it again. Often, eliminating old Discord files cluttering up your system is enough to allow the installer to work smoothly.
Force Stop Any Discord Processes Before Installing
In some cases, background Discord processes keep running even after the application is uninstalled. When you attempt reinstalling, these zombie processes interfere with the installer.
Before running Discord’s setup wizard, open Task Manager by right-clicking the taskbar and selecting it. Switch to the "Processes" tab and check for any running Discord processes. Select each Discord process and click "End process" to terminate them. Now try launching the installer again.
Remove Problematic Windows Updates
Windows updates can occasionally break Discord. If uninstalling Discord and eliminating its old files doesn’t help, try rolling back recent Windows updates.
Open Settings and go to Update & Security > View Update History. Click "Uninstall Updates" and remove any Windows updates installed shortly before Discord stopped working. Reboot your PC and test if Discord will now install correctly.
Try Installing an Older Discord Version
If all else fails, installing an older version of Discord may do the trick. Download an installer for a previous Discord version that you know worked correctly from the official Discord website. Run the older installer instead and see if it completes smoothly.
You can then upgrade to the latest Discord release after getting the older version installed. This workaround sidesteps installation bugs affecting only the newest Discord releases.
Temporarily Disable Antivirus and Firewall Software
Overzealous antivirus suites and firewall programs often prevent installations from completing successfully. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus completely and turning off the Windows Firewall.
With these security measures deactivated, attempt installing Discord again. If successful, remember to re-enable your antivirus and firewall software afterwards. You can also configure them to whitelist Discord so future upgrades won’t get blocked.
Restart and Retry the Installation
After trying the above troubleshooting steps, simply restarting your PC and retrying the Discord installation can surprisingly resolve the issue. A reboot cleans out any running processes or loaded libraries that could be interfering mysteriously with Discord’s installer.
Hopefully with one of these tips, you’ll manage to banish the dreaded "Discord won’t download" message for good. Let us know which solution did the trick! We look forward to hearing your success story in overcoming the problem.
