How to Fix the ‘JavaScript Error Occurred in the Main Process’ on Discord?

When the “JavaScript Error Occurred in the Main Process” error appears in Discord, the application typically crashes or fails to open altogether. This error indicates a problem with the main process of the application, often related to a corrupted or missing file within Discord’s installation.

The most common cause of this issue is corrupted Discord files, which can occur due to incomplete installations, interruptions during updates, or conflicts with other software. Other potential causes include issues with permissions, third-party modifications like BetterDiscord, and outdated system drivers.

Now that we know the reasons behind this issue, let’s follow the methods to resolve it.

1. Delete Discord Folders

Deleting the AppData and LocalAppData Discord folders can reset the application’s settings and resolve the JavaScript error preventing Discord from opening.

1. Press the Windows Key + R simultaneously.
2. Type %localappdata% and press Enter.

   

3. In the directory that opens, locate and right-click the Discord folder, then select Delete.
4. Ensure the folders are fully removed. Restart your computer and check if the error persists.

2. Change Startup Type of Service

If qWAVE (Quality Windows Audio Video Experience) is not running, it might cause errors, including the “JavaScript Error Occurred in the Main Process”. Setting it to start automatically ensures necessary dependencies for Discord are always available.

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run utility, type services.msc, and click OK.

   

2. Find the Quality Windows Audio Video Experience service in the list, right-click it and choose Properties.
3. If the service is running (check the Service status), stop it by clicking the Stop button. Then, restart it by selecting Start.

   

4. Set the Startup type in the service’s properties to Automatic. Acknowledge any prompts that appear when changing the startup type.

3. Run Discord Without Administrator Privileges

Administrative permissions can sometimes cause conflicts with system security protocols or other applications. By removing these elevated permissions, Discord operates under standard user privileges, reducing potential errors.

1. Locate the Discord executable, right-click on its icon, and select Properties. In the Properties window, go to the Compatibility tab and uncheck Run this program as an administrator.

   

2. Accept any dialogs that appear to save your changes. Now, try launching Discord to check if the error reoccurs.

4. Reinstall Discord

By downloading and installing the latest version, the app is restored to its default state, eliminating previous bugs or glitches that interfered with its launch.

1. Open the Start menu and open the Control Panel through search, or click the gear icon to open Settings.
2. In Control Panel, set View as: Category at the top right corner and click Uninstall a Program under the Programs section.

   

3. If using Settings, select Apps to display all installed programs on your computer.
4. Scroll to Discord, select it, and click Uninstall.
5. Follow the Discord uninstall wizard, choosing to completely remove Discord, and confirm with Yes.
6. Once the uninstallation is finished, click Finish.

Reinstall Discord by downloading the latest installer from their website, executing it from the Downloads folder, and following the on-screen instructions. The JavaScript error should be resolved.

5. Close all Discord Processes

When Discord’s processes are closed through Task Manager, it ensures that no remnants from previous sessions interfere with a fresh installation or re-launch. This termination of active processes can eliminate conflicting issues.

1. Open Task Manager by pressing Windows Key + R, typing taskmgr, and hitting Enter.

   

2. Locate all Discord processes, select them, and choose End Process.
3. Attempt reinstalling and verify if it resolves the issue.

If some Discord processes cannot be ended, use Command Prompt to terminate them.

1. Find Command Prompt through the Windows Search bar, right-click, and run as administrator.
2. Input the following command and press Enter:

   taskkill /f /im discord.exe

3. Check if the issue is still occurring.

6. Use Discord PTB

Discord PTB, the Public Test Build, is available on the official Discord website. Installing it allows for separate testing and resolves the conflicting issue without affecting the regular Discord installation. Download Discord PTB from here.

It is similar to the regular Discord and functions in the same way.