Discord notifications not working. Are you unable to get sound notifications from your Discord Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) app?

While the main problem is to do with direct message sound notifications, you may also not get tag sounds or notifications when someone joins your channel. 

As inconvenient as this may sound, a good number of gamers using Discord for communication has had to deal with this problem at some point. The malfunction may be caused by a number of things, ranging from bugs in software updates to incomplete installation of the app. 

Regardless of the case, get to know now how you can troubleshoot and fix the Discord sound notifications not working error. 

What Causes the Discord Notifications Not Working Error? 

Several things have been proven to cause the notifications not to work in error in Android, iOS, and Windows versions of the Discord app.

In most cases, the issue is brought about by the misconfiguration of settings on the Discord app. Here are some of the things that may cause your Discord app to stop producing sound notifications: 

Discord Server Issues 

You may get notifications problems on the Discord application when their servers are down. Just to be sure, check their Status website to know whether the servers are down or are being maintained.

If the Discord servers are experiencing outages, your connection and audio on the app will not work as they should. In such a case, you just have to wait for the servers to come back online. 

Wrong Sound Device Settings 

Check to see whether your microphones, headphones, or speakers are active under Windows settings. If they happen to be unplugged or disabled for some reason, you will not be able to get Discord sound notifications. 

In other cases, the sound on your PC may be toggled mute. If muted/deafened, you will not be able to get sound notifications from your Discord application. 

Outdated/Corrupted Audio Drivers 

Though rare, some users have reported the Discord notifications not working error after updating their audio drivers. If this is the problem in your case, the problem could be a bug in the software. 

How to Fix the Discord Notifications Not Working Error 

As compared to some of the leading VoIP alternatives like Skype, Discord is a preferred voice chat app for gamers around the globe. The App offers multiple integration options and desires an easy-to-use interface. Gamers particularly love the fact that they won’t incur any server costs with Discord.

Despite being a great communication avenue, the App is still plagued by a number of bugs, including the Discord notifications not working in error. If you are experiencing this problem, here are a few methods and procedures you may use to fix it:  

Method 1: Configure the Right Output Device 

If the Discord application is not configured to use the audio output device you are currently using, you will not be able to get sound notifications. To fix the problem, you need to change Discord output settings. 

To do this, open the Discord app and click on the to User settings gear icon, located on the bottom-left as well as on the right side of your avatar. Now click on the Voice &Video and scroll the drop-down menu to select the output device you are currently using.  

Alternatively, you can just select the Default Device from this menu. Once you are done, close the window and launch Discord to check whether the problem has been fixed. 

Method 2: Disable the Streamer Mode

You may have seen the Streamer Mode option in your Discord app. This option is meant to be used while you are streaming. Having been designed to conceal the user’s personal information, this mode features such tools as Disable Notifications, Disable Sound, and Hide Info. 

If the Streamer Mode is enabled on your Discord app, you will not be able to get sound notifications. If this is the problem in your case, you only need to disable the Streamer Mode to restore sound notifications. In this regard, just open the Discord app and navigate to User settings. 

Under the App Settings section, select Streamer Mode. If the mode is on, you should toggle the “Enable Streamer Mode Off” option. Once done, close the window and launch Discord to see whether sound notifications have been restored. 

Method 3: Toggle the Streamer Mode On and Off

In a few cases, users have not been able to fix the Discord notifications not working problem using the above-described steps. If this is your case, you need to go a step further to resolve the issue. The objective of this remedy is to turn the Streamer Mode on, save the Option, and then turn the Streamer Mode back off. 

Launch the Discord app and open User Settings (by clicking on the gear icon situated in the bottom-left corner). Under the App Settings section, select Streamer Mode. If you had applied Method 2, this mode should be off. Turn the Streamer Mode on, and close the window. 

Thereafter, you should navigate to User Settings> App Setting> Streamer Mode. Toggle the Streamer Mode off and close the window. This should fix the audio notification error on your Discord app.  

Method 4:  Update Discord and Windows

As mentioned earlier in this guide, outdated or corrupted software can also cause this error. If you verified that the audio drivers and the Discord app are configured correctly, the problem could be a software glitch. 

This is particularly the case if you started getting audio notification problems after an update to either the Discord app or Windows. The best way to resolve such an issue would be to install the latest versions of both Windows and the Discord app.

The following steps will guide you on how to update your Windows OS and the Discord app:

How to Update Windows 

Press the Windows + I key combination in your keyboard. On the window that opens, select the Updates & Security category. Now click on the “Check for Updates” button. Allow the PC enough time to automatically search for and install Windows updates. 

How to Update the Discord App 

You can command the Discord App to search for updates and install them automatically. With Discord, the app running on your computer screen, press and hold the Ctrl + R key combination. This operation will automatically refresh the Discord app. 

Additionally, it will also authorize the app to search for and download available updates. You may not notice any significant changes in either case, as most updates are just minor fixes. Once done, redress the Discord app and check whether the error has cleared. 

Method 5: Change Server Settings

Have you been having Discord notifications not working issues since you first installed the app? If so, chances are that your server settings are not configured correctly. By default, the standard option is to receive a sound notification whenever another user mentions you. 

If you are looking forward to getting audio notifications for messages and other events, you need to alter the server settings a bit. This procedure will help you calibrate your server sound settings accordingly: 

Step One: Open the Server 

Launch the Discord application on your computer. From the left panel, select the server you are having problems with and right-click on it. From the context menu that pops up, scroll down, and select the ”Notifications Settings” option. 

Step Two: Activate Sound Notifications for Messages 

Under Server Notification Settings, you need to check the “All Messages” option by clicking on it. Thereafter, click on the Done button to apply the changes and close the window. 

If you would like to activate sound notifications for messages on the other servers, you should just follow the above-described procedure on each server. You may also use the same steps to set notification settings for other events as well, such as when someone joins your channel and tag sounds. 

Once you are done, close the window and refresh the Discord app for those changes to take effect. When properly executed, this procedure will ensure that you hear all sounds. 

Method 6: Enable Desktop Notifications for Discord

Have you enabled desktop notifications for Discord on your PC? Failing to do so can prevent the application from sending sound notifications when running in the background. Check to see whether desktop notifications for the Discord app are enabled on your computer. 

To do this, launch the Discord app, and click on the gear-like settings icon. Under the App settings, click on Notifications. Check whether the “Desktop Notifications” option is enabled. If not, you need to toggle it on. A considerable number of users have been able to restore sound notifications on Discord using this simple fix. 

Final Verdict 

Most online gamers use the Discord app for voice chats, and to send text messages to fellow players, friends, and relatives. While it is a great app, users have complained of the sound notifications problem in the past.  

As you have learned throughout this guide, the issue may be caused by several things, all of which call for a different remedy. Nonetheless, fixing the Discord notifications not working problem should not be that hard. This guide has all the information you need to fix the problem on your own.

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