Discord mainly runs in the background of other programs, which is beneficial, especially in a gaming session.
That way, you can remain on a call or receive instant notifications while on another program.
Having Discord run in the background has disadvantages, including lagging your computer.
Discord automatically starts on system boot, and if you are looking for a way to stop Discord from running in the background, you are in the right place.
Open Discord and click the user settings icon at the bottom. Next, scroll down and click the “Windows Settings” option. Toggle off the option for “Minimize to Tray” on the right. That’s it. Discord will stop running in the background once you close it. To stop Discord from opening automatically on startup, toggle off the “Open Discord” option.
We will begin by understanding how and why Discord runs in the background. Next, we will see the steps to stop Discord from running in the background. Still, we will discuss the overlay feature on Discord and the steps to disable Discord from starting up whenever you start your computer.
Does Discord Run in the Background?
Discord is a platform that mainly facilitates gaming and communication via chat and calls. You don’t have to remain in the Discord window when on a call.
Discord has an overlay feature, making it run on top of other apps. That way, you could enjoy your video game while on a call with fellow gamers.
Therefore, Discord runs in the background when using it and when not using it. That way, you get to notice new notifications or receive calls from friends.
Discord running in the background ensures you don’t miss out on notifications or updates.
The only drawback is that Discord running in the background can make your system lag depending on its memory and affect the performance of other apps.
How To Stop Discord from Running in the Background
When you realize that Discord running in the background negatively impacts your computer, stopping it makes sense.
Even after exiting Discord, it still runs in the background unless you disable it from running in the background.
Here’s how to stop Discord from running in the background on your computer:
- Open the Discord app on your PC.
- Click the settings icon at the bottom.
- From the listed user settings, click the “Windows Settings” option.
- Locate the “Minimize to Tray” option and toggle it off.
That’s it. Once you’ve disabled the feature, Discord won’t run in the background again.
If you were on a call and exit Discord, your call would get terminated, but you will remain in the voice channel until you appear idle or inactive, and that’s when Discord will remove you.
Stopping Discord from running in the background will make you re-load the app the next time you open it, as no data sync in the background as it did earlier.
However, you now control your system’s performance by closing background running apps.
Discord Running in the Background on Mobile
On mobile, Discord only runs in the background once you open it. Besides, if you have the overlay feature enabled, you will get a notification and can use Discord on top of other apps.
The overlay feature comes in handy when playing games. Discord is disabled from running in the background on mobile unless you’ve enabled the overlay feature.
You can enable the overlay feature using the below steps:
- Open the Discord app on your phone.
- Go to your profile by tapping the profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Scroll down, locate “Voice,” and tap on it.
- Scroll down and toggle on the “Enable Mobile Voice Overlay” option.
- Your device system permissions will open.
- Tap on Discord.
- Enable the “Allow display over other apps” option.
- Go back to the “Voice” option on your settings and toggle the “Enable Mobile Voice Overlay” option.
The above steps turn on Discord to run in the background on your phone.
Therefore, when you want to stop Discord from running in the background, disable the voice overlay by following the above steps and toggling off the options we’ve enabled.
Otherwise, Discord running in the background can quickly lag your phone.
How To Disable Discord from Automatically Opening on Startup
Discord automatically opens when you start your computer. You don’t have to put up with this feature.
The below steps guide you on disabling the automatic opening of Discord on computer startup:
- Open the Discord desktop app.
- Click the settings icon at the bottom.
- Click on “Windows Settings” on the left.
- Locate the “Open Discord” option and toggle it off.
That’s it. Discord won’t open automatically whenever you start your computer unless you open it from your applications. Besides, it won’t run in the background until you start it.
Conclusion
Discord is an excellent instant messaging platform.
You can quickly connect with your friends via your voice channel and communicate.
For gamers, having Discord running in the background facilitates staying updated with notifications and remaining in a voice call even when in on another window.
To disable Discord from running in the background, toggle off the “Minimize to Tray” option on your “Windows settings.”
