Dealing with Discord update failures can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to connect with friends, colleagues, or gamers. Whether you’re facing error messages, failed downloads, or stalled installations, resolving these issues is essential to enjoy uninterrupted communication and collaboration.
Top Reasons Why Discord Updates Fail
Encountering issues with Discord updates can be frustrating, especially when you’re eager to use the latest features or need a crucial bug fix. Understanding why these updates fail can help you troubleshoot more effectively. Below, we’ll explore the main reasons your Discord app might not update correctly, so you can fix these issues faster.
- Internet connectivity issues are one of the most common causes of failed updates on Discord.
- A slow internet connection may disrupt the update process.
- Discord updates might not be compatible with your device’s operating system.
- Corrupted files in the update download can cause installation issues.
- Other running applications can interfere with the update.
- Antivirus or firewall settings might block the update from completing.
- Discord’s servers may experience issues, affecting updates.
- Outdated device drivers or software can hinder the update process.
- User errors, like interrupting updates or selecting the wrong options, can cause problems.
- Hardware issues on your device could also affect the update process.
Discord Update Failed: How To Fix The Error? (7 Methods)
When attempting to update Discord, you might encounter an error that prevents the update from completing successfully. This can be frustrating, but fortunately, there are several methods you can try to resolve the issue and get your Discord running smoothly again.
1. Check Your Internet Connection
To maintain the latest version of your Discord app, it depends on receiving updates over the internet. A stable internet connection is essential for this process. If your connection is unstable, Discord may struggle to update correctly, resulting in update failures.
To check your internet connection, open a web browser on your computer and attempt to load a webpage. If the website fails to load, it indicates an issue with your internet connection.
You can attempt to resolve connectivity issues by undertaking basic troubleshooting measures like restarting your router, reconnecting to your Wi-Fi network, and adhering to other troubleshooting suggestions.
2. Restart Discord
After confirming your internet connection is working, try restarting your Discord app to resolve update installation issues. Sometimes, minor technical glitches can cause updates to fail.
It’s important to note that simply clicking the “X” in the top-right corner of Discord doesn’t fully close the app on your PC. Instead, it sends it to the system tray. To properly quit the app:
- Click the “X” in the top-right corner of Discord.
- Then, right-click the Discord icon in your system tray.
- Choose “Quit Discord” from the menu.
- To relaunch the app, go to the “Start” menu and select Discord.
3. Run Discord as an Administrator
Running programs as an administrator on Windows can help with updates and system adjustments without needing special permissions each time. Granting Discord administrator permissions can sometimes solve issues with updates.
To run Discord in Administrator Mode:
- Click on the Windows Icon in the search bar.
- Search for Discord and click the right-arrow.
- In the pop-up menu, click Yes.
Note: You must be logged in to the administrator account on your device or have the administrator password to use this method.
4. Rename Discord’s Update.exe File
Our Discord troubleshooting team has identified an issue with the application’s update.exe file. To resolve this and successfully update Discord to the latest version, we suggest renaming the file.
Here are the steps to follow:
Navigate to your AppData folder:
- Press the Windows + R keys on your keyboard.
- Paste in “C:\Users\Username\AppData” (without quotation marks), replacing the Username with your local account username. Alternatively, open File Explorer and go to This PC → C: → Users → Username → AppData.
- Open the Local folder and locate the Discord folder inside.
- Right-click on the Update.exe file and choose Rename.
- Type in UpdateX.exe (remember, this is case-sensitive) and press Enter.
5. Disable Your Antivirus Program
If your computer has another antivirus software installed, consider turning it off temporarily. This will help you check if it’s causing any issues with Discord. After disabling your antivirus program, try to update Discord again. If this works, you’ll need to add Discord to your antivirus’s safe list. Another option is to switch to a different antivirus program. There are many options for both free and paid antivirus software for Windows.
6. Clear Discord’s Cached Data
Discord stores different files to ensure smooth functioning of the app. Occasionally, these files can become corrupted, leading to issues with the app, especially during updates. If you’re facing problems with updates, it could be due to a corrupted cache.
To resolve this issue, you can clear Discord’s cache. Here are the steps to do so:
For Windows:
- Press Windows+R to open the “Run” dialog box.
- Type in the following path: [Path]
- Press Enter.
- In the folder that opens up, look for and delete these subfolders: “Cache,” “Code Cache,” and “GPUCache.”
Once you’ve cleared the cache, relaunch Discord on your Windows computer, and allow it to update as needed.
7. Uninstall and Reinstall Discord
If you have tried the previous solutions without success, your final option is to uninstall Discord and then reinstall it. Here are the steps:
- Go to the Control Panel and choose “Uninstall a Program.”
- Find Discord in the list, right-click on it, and select “Uninstall.”
- To completely remove Discord, press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, type %localappdata%, and press Enter.
- Right-click on the Discord folder and select “Delete.”
- Download Discord again and install it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this cache stores temporary data such as images, videos, and other files to help the app load content faster. Clearing the cache can resolve various issues such as slow loading times, display errors, or outdated content. To clear the cache in Discord, you typically need to go to the app settings, find the option to clear cache or storage, and confirm the action.
Discord might get stuck on updating due to various reasons, including internet connectivity issues, server problems on Discord’s end, conflicts with antivirus/firewall software, or corrupted installation files. These issues can prevent Discord from properly downloading and installing updates, causing it to get stuck in the updating process. Troubleshooting steps such as restarting the Discord app, checking internet connection, disabling antivirus/firewall temporarily, or reinstalling Discord can often resolve the issue.
Yes, Discord updates automatically to ensure users have the latest features, improvements, and security patches without needing manual intervention.
Updating Discord usually takes only a few minutes, but the time can differ based on factors like your internet speed, the update’s size, and server activity. If it’s taking longer than expected, you might want to check your internet connection
Conclusion
We hope these methods helped you fix the Discord update error! If you’re still having trouble, feel free to search online for more specific solutions to your error message.
