If you're new to Discord, you may be overwhelmed by the multitude of features and options it offers. Discord uses various symbols and icons to differentiate between different functions and make them easier to find. However, deciphering these icons can be a challenge. Don't worry, though. We're here to help you understand what each symbol and icon means on Discord and how to use them effectively.
Discord Server Bar
The server bar is the first thing you'll notice when you open Discord. It's located on the left side of both the desktop and smartphone app. This bar displays all the servers you've joined, along with some server-related features.
Plus Icon
The plus icon on the server bar allows you to create your own server on Discord. By clicking on this icon, you can choose the genre of your server and give it a name. Once created, you can set up different channels and invite people to join.
Compass Icon
Clicking on the compass icon opens the Discover page, where you can find servers you might be interested in joining. You can search for specific servers by name or explore servers in categories like gaming, music, education, and entertainment. To join a server, simply click on it and then click the Join Server button in the top bar.
Download Icon
The download icon is only available on the Discord web app. It allows you to download the Discord app instead of using it in a browser. The app offers additional features, such as displaying the game you're currently playing and enabling push-to-talk functionality even when the app is minimized.
Discord Home Page
On the home page of Discord, you'll find personal direct messages from your friends. At the top, there are two options called Friends and Nitro.
Plus Icon Next to Direct Messages Option
Clicking on the plus icon opens a small pop-up with a list of your Discord friends. Select a contact from the list to start messaging them. You can also select multiple contacts and create a group conversation.
Cross Icon
When you hover over any direct message, you'll see a cross (X) icon. Clicking on it removes the chat from the Direct Messages list. However, it doesn't delete the entire chat; it simply hides it. To restore the chat, click on the plus icon and select the contact.
Status Dots on Avatars
On Discord, you'll notice different colored dots on top of avatars (profile pictures). Each color represents the user's current online status. A green dot means the user is online, a yellow moon icon indicates idle status, a red icon means Do Not Disturb, purple signifies that the user is streaming, and grey means offline. Sometimes, you may also see additional icons like a green phone, indicating that the user is online on their smartphone.
Username Bar
In the bottom left corner of Discord, you'll find your avatar and username. Alongside them, there are a few icons.
Green Dot
The green dot next to your avatar indicates that you're online. Clicking on it allows you to change your status to idle, do not disturb, or invisible.
Microphone Icon
Discord has voice channels where groups of people can chat. Enabling the microphone icon allows others to listen to your voice immediately. You can click on it to disable the microphone, requiring you to manually enable it when joining a voice channel. This also applies to voice calls in direct messages.
Headphone Icon
The headphone icon, also known as the Deafen icon, blocks all sound on Discord. Whether it's from voice or video calls, voice channels, music, or even YouTube playback on Discord, enabling this icon provides instant silence. Disabling the headphone icon also mutes your microphone, so others can't hear you.
Cog Icon
Clicking on the cog icon opens the user settings, where you can configure everything from your avatar to notifications, nitro subscription, connected apps, privacy settings, and more. The user settings page allows you to log out, disable or even delete your account.
Server Page
When you open a server from the server bar, you'll find the server page with various options.
Arrow Icon Next to Server Name
The arrow icon next to the server name at the top right corner provides quick access to a list of server features. Each option has its own icon and name. For example, the diamond icon represents Server Boost, which enhances server features like custom emojis. The server settings option opens the server settings menu, where you can create channels, categories, and events.
Hashtag Icon
The hashtag icon next to a channel name indicates that it's a text channel, where users can send messages, commands, images, gifs, and other types of files.
Volume Icon
The volume icon next to a channel name denotes that it's a voice channel, which you can use for voice communication with other users.
Phone with Cross Icon
The crossed phone icon appears below the left sidebar when you're in a voice channel. Clicking on this icon allows you to exit the voice channel or end a voice or video call in a direct message.
Announcement Icon
The announcement icon represents an announcement channel, used by administrators and moderators to convey important information to server members. Users are not allowed to send messages in this channel.
Person Icon
The person icon with circles around it indicates a Stage channel. In Stage Channels, only a select few users have permission to speak, similar to Twitter Spaces.
Plus Icon Next to Server Category
Clicking on the plus icon next to a server category allows you to create a new channel within that specific category. The channel can be a text, voice, announcement, or Stage channel.
Person with Plus Icon Beside Channel Name
When you hover over a channel, you'll see two options. The person with the plus icon allows you to invite people to the server or directly to that channel.
Cog Icon Beside Channel Name
The cog icon opens the channel settings, where you can configure permissions and integrations. This option is only available to server admins or moderators.
Message Box
The message box in Discord provides several options for communication and interaction.
Plus Icon in Message Box
The plus icon on the left side of the message box allows you to upload files, create new threads, or use slash commands. Threads are subchannels within the main channel, where you can discuss specific topics without disrupting other users. Slash commands enable various tasks, such as controlling bots and using built-in features like emoticons.
Gift Icon
The gift icon on the right side of the message box is used to gift Nitro to any player on the channel. If you don't have Nitro to gift, clicking on the icon will take you to a page where you can purchase Nitro.
GIF Icon
The GIF icon provides access to a collection of cool GIFs that you can add to your chat. Powered by Tenor, you can search for GIFs based on categories like awkward, angry, oops, and more.
Sticker Icon
The sticker icon, represented by a folded paper, allows you to add stickers to your chat, similar to GIFs. Each server can have its own custom stickers, which can only be used within that specific server.
Emoji Icon
The emoji or smiley face icon is used for adding emojis to your messages. Like stickers, each server can have its own custom emojis. However, you can't use server-specific emojis on other servers unless you have a Nitro subscription.
Hovering on Messages
When you hover over a message in Discord, you'll see several options.
Emoji with a Plus Icon
This reaction icon allows you to react to a message with emojis, similar to iMessage and Facebook Messenger.
Back Arrow Icon
The back arrow icon enables you to reply to a message, tagging the original sender and automatically pinging them.
Pencil Icon
The pencil icon represents the edit button, allowing you to edit your message multiple times.
Hashtag with Comment Icon
Clicking on this icon opens a thread based on the selected message. Threads are subchannels within the channel, enabling focused discussions without disturbing other users. Deleting a thread erases all the messages within it.
Three Dot Menu
Clicking on the three-dot menu reveals additional options, such as pinning the message, marking it as unread, copying the message link, speaking the message out loud, or deleting the message.
Header Bar on Messages
The header bar on messages provides additional options and information.
Hashtag with Comment Icon
This thread icon allows you to start a new thread or view existing threads within the specific channel.
Bell Icon
Clicking on the bell icon opens the notification settings. If a channel is busy and you don't want constant notifications for its messages, you can choose to be notified only for mentions or not be notified at all.
Pin Icon
The pin icon displays any messages you've pinned in the channel.
People Icon
Clicking on the people icon opens a sidebar that shows all the admins, moderators, members, and bots in the server. You can also see who's online and who's offline from here.
Inbox Icon
The inbox icon provides a centralized place to view all unread messages from the channels and servers you follow.
Phone Icon
The phone icon appears in the header when you're in a direct message. Clicking on it allows you to call the person you're messaging.
Camera Icon
The camera icon, also visible in direct messages, initiates a video call.
Search Box
The search bar is located in the header on both channel and direct message pages. It allows you to search within a specific channel or direct message.
Clear Icon
Clicking on the clear icon clears the previous searches you've made in that server.
Plus Icon Next to Searches
The plus icon next to previous searches inserts the previous query into the search bar, allowing you to modify it and search again.
Discord Badges
Finally, Discord badges can be found beneath usernames. Popular badges include HypeSquad, Nitro, Server Booster, and Bug Hunter. You can earn these badges through various techniques.
Conclusion
Now that you're familiar with the meaning of each icon and symbol on Discord, you can continue exploring text formatting commands and Discord Easter Eggs to enhance your Discord experience.
