Fix “Messages failed to load” error. Discord is no fun if you can’t read what others are saying. Here’s how to fix the “messages failed to load” error for Discord for Windows.
Is Discord showing you the “Messages Fail to Load” error when you navigate through a channel? It occurs when Discord is unable to load messages. Most of the time, this happens when you aren’t connected to the internet or blocked from a channel. In rare cases, the app itself or an IP address block might be to blame.
In this article, we will demonstrate how to troubleshoot the error and make your messages accessible again.
1. Make Sure Discord Isn’t Down
Before you start tweaking any settings, ensure Discord isn’t down first. Check the Discord status page for any reported problems, and keep an eye out for server connection issues. If other Discord users have reported a similar issue, there might be a problem on the backend.
If the problem is with Discord’s servers you can’t do much about it until the developers resolve the server issues. Once they’re is done, Discord should return to normal operation.
2. Rule Out Any Internet Issues
A weak or unstable internet connection could be the cause of this error. Therefore, ensure you have an active internet connection when you try to access Discord. You can also run other apps on your device to ensure your internet is working.
If other apps are not loading correctly and the issue is consistent throughout the operating system, then the internet is to blame. In that case, we recommend checking out a guide on fixing network access issues when connected to Wi-Fi on Windows.
However, if other apps do work, try closing bandwidth-hogging apps on your PC. Double-check if any devices on your network are soaking up bandwidth, too. Once you’ve freed up some space, try running Discord again.
3. Give Discord a Fresh Start
Sometimes, just giving Discord a fresh start is enough to knock it out of its issues. Log out of your account, close Discord, restart the app, and log back in. Check to see if messages are loading correctly this time.
4. Check for Channel-Specific Issues
After confirming that Discord systems are operational, the internet is working fine, and there is no temporary glitch, you should rule out channel-specific issues. For that, try switching to another channel on the same server. If the problem occurs across all channels on the same server, check that you haven’t been banned.
5. Make Sure You Are Not Temporarily Banned From Discord
If the message appears on every server and every channel, there’s a small chance you may have been temporarily banned from Discord. This usually happens when you overload the Discord API with repetitive actions, such as spamming reactions.
When this happens, Discord cuts you off from using their API, which also handles grabbing messages from servers; hence the error. Don’t fret, however; these bans typically don’t last longer than a day, and they won’t “add a mark” to your Discord rap sheet.
Unfortunately, the API ban is based on your IP address, not your account. As such, making a new account won’t get around the ban.
6. Enable or Disable a VPN
If you encounter the error when accessing Discord for the first time from a new location, Discord might be blocked in that area. Likewise, you may encounter the error under discussion if your IP address is banned by Discord.
To test for this, boot up a VPN. There are plenty of totally free VPNs you can download, and once you turn it on, any connections you make will see your VPN’s IP address instead of your own. This will let you surpass any IP blocking in place.
If you’re using Discord while you have a VPN enabled and you get this error, the IP assigned by the VPN might have been blocked by Discord. Therefore, temporarily disable the VPN to resolve the issue. You could also try connecting to other servers via your VPN and see if any of them work better.
7. Update Discord
Discord automatically checks for new updates the moment you launch it. If Discord finds an update that’s ready to download, it’ll install it before showing you the login screen.
If you have disabled automatic updates, there might be a backlog of updates waiting for you. As such, it’s a good idea to ensure that Discord is up-to-date.
Click on the green download button (downward arrow) in the top-right corner to check for updates or press CTRL + R to force Discord to check for updates. Check if installing updates made any difference if updates were pending.
8. Switch to a Different Discord Client
If none of the fixes have worked, you should try loading messages on a different Discord client. You can access Discord in several ways, including a PC client, a mobile app, and a web version you can use in your browser.
To double-check if the problem lies within your chosen client or not, try connecting to Discord via a different one. If it doesn’t work in one client but works in another, you should uninstall Discord from your device and install it again to fix the problem. If the problem is with the web version, try clearing the cookies and cache and see if that fixes the issue.
9. Report the Problem to Discord Support as a Last Resort
If none of the fixes work, contact Discord support as a last resort. For that, you can reach out to them via email at support@discordapp.com. If you don’t hear back, you can submit a request via the request form on the Discord website. If that also fails, you can reach out to Discord via Twitter.
“Messages Fail to Load” Error, Fixed
Hopefully, the solutions mentioned in this article will help you resolve the Discord “Messages Failed to Load” error. This way, you’ll be able to access your messages again. You can try all of these fixes first, but if they don’t work, you may need to contact Discord customer support.
Have you ever struggled to join the best Discord servers? You can find the ideal home in many ways, such as using Discord server directories.