How to Solve Notification Sound Problems in Discord?

When using the Discord app, you might notice that you aren’t hearing the notification sounds. This can lead to communication problems since many people keep the Discord app open in the background. With this issue, you won’t be able to hear the discord messages sound, even if you have that sound enabled.

The main problem often lies with the direct message notification sound, but you might also experience issues with other sounds, such as tag sounds or the notification sound for when someone joins your channel, etc. In some cases, users might not hear anything at all from the app.

There are several potential causes for this issue. The most common is incorrect settings — for example, having the sound (or some other setting) turned off. It’s also common for a recent app update to introduce new bugs, which are typically resolved in subsequent updates. Problems can also stem from audio drivers.

Lastly, though it’s uncommon, a Windows Update can sometimes introduce a bug that causes apps to misbehave.

If you’re experiencing this problem, there are a variety of solutions to try. Below are methods to address the issue.

1. Set Output Device

Sometimes the issue might simply be related to your output device. If you aren’t hearing any or most of the sounds from Discord, then the Discord settings might be set to a different output device. Changing the settings to use your intended output device will often solve this issue.

1. Open the Discord app.
2. Click on User Settings, found on the bottom left next to your avatar. Look for a gear symbol.
   
3. Click on Voice & Video.
4. Select your output device from the drop-down menu in Output. You can either select your specific device or the Default device.
5. Click the X button in the top right corner to close settings.
   

Your settings are now updated, and you should hear Discord sounds correctly.

2. Turn off Streamer Mode

Streamer Mode in Discord is designed for streamers or those who are streaming. It hides personal information and has options like disabling sound, disabling notifications, etc. If Streamer Mode is enabled, you won’t hear notifications or sounds from Discord. Disabling Streamer Mode will fix this issue.

Note: Streamer Mode can automatically enable itself if the app detects you’re running streaming software like OBS/XSplit, even if you haven’t manually turned it on. It’s advised to check this setting regardless.

1. Open Discord.
2. Click on User Settings, symbolized by a gear icon next to your avatar.
   
3. Select Streamer Mode under the App Settings section.
4. Check if the Enable Streamer Mode option is on. If it is, toggle the switch to turn it off.
5. Click the X button to close settings.
   

After disabling Streamer Mode, your Discord audio should work as intended.

If disabling Streamer Mode didn’t solve the problem, this workaround might help. Sometimes toggling Streamer Mode on and off can resolve the audio issue. Follow the steps from Method 2 to navigate to Streamer Mode settings.

Once there, turn the Enable Streamer Mode option on and then off again. Make sure to close and reopen the User Settings between toggling to ensure changes are applied.

3. Change Server Settings

If you’ve had this sound issue since installation, the problem might be the server settings. The default option is to be notified only when someone mentions you. If you wish to receive notifications for every message, you’ll need to adjust the settings.

1. Open Discord.
2. Right-click on the server icon from the left panel. This should be the server where you’re experiencing issues. If you want message sounds from all servers, you’ll need to repeat these steps for each one.
3. Choose Notification Settings from the drop-down menu.
4. Select the All Messages option under Server Notification Settings.
   
5. Click Done.

Perform these steps for each server to receive audio notifications for all messages.

4. Update Discord and Windows

If other methods don’t resolve your issue, it might be due to a bug in the current version of Discord or Windows. If the problem started occurring after an update, checking for new updates could help.

Update Windows:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings.
2. Select Updates & Security.
   
3. Click Check for updates.
   

To update Discord:

1. Ensure Discord is open and in focus.
2. Press Ctrl + R to refresh the app and prompt it to download available updates.

While you may not see any explicit notifications or visual changes during minor updates, check to see if the sound issue is resolved after refreshing Discord. If the problem remains, it could also be due to outdated audio drivers. Make sure your audio drivers are up to date by visiting the website of your audio device’s manufacturer and downloading the latest driver version.

If none of the above methods solve your issue, consider testing the audio output with other applications to ensure that there is no hardware problem with your audio setup. If all else fails, seeking support from Discord’s official help channels may provide a solution tailored to your specific situation.