Quick Summary
A 500 Internal Server Error on Discord indicates a problem on Discord's servers, not your device or internet connection. This generally means Discord's server encountered an unexpected condition that prevented it from fulfilling your request.
Common Causes
- Server Overload: Discord's servers might be experiencing high traffic volumes and struggling to process all requests simultaneously.
- Code Bugs or Glitches: A recent update or change to Discord's server-side code may have introduced bugs that lead to internal errors for users.
- Database Issues: Discord might be experiencing problems with its databases, preventing them from retrieving or updating information correctly. This could manifest as a '500' error.
- Third-Party Integrations: Problems with linked applications, bots, or APIs that interact with Discord's servers can sometimes trigger internal server errors.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Check Discord Status Page Show Steps ↓
Step 1: Visit the official Discord Status page (status.discord.com) in your web browser.
Step 2: Look for any reported outages or incidents that might explain the 500 error. If Discord is actively investigating an issue, be patient and wait for their fix.
Method 2: Restart Discord Show Steps ↓
Step 1: Close the Discord application completely.
Step 2: If Discord is running in the system tray (near the clock), right-click the icon and select 'Quit'.
Step 3: Reopen Discord and try again. This can sometimes resolve temporary glitches.
Method 3: Clear Discord Cache (Desktop App) Show Steps ↓
Step 1: Close Discord completely, including from the system tray.
Step 2: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 3: Type %appdata%\discord and press Enter.
Step 4: Delete the 'Cache', 'Code Cache', and 'GPUCache' folders. Do not delete the 'Local Storage' folder or the 'settings.json' file!
Step 5: Restart Discord.
Method 4: Try Discord in a Web Browser Show Steps ↓
Step 1: Open a web browser (like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge).
Step 2: Go to the Discord website (discord.com) and log in to your account.
Step 3: See if the error persists in the web browser version. If it works in the browser, the problem might be with the desktop app, and reinstalling the app may be needed. (See below)
Method 5: Reinstall Discord (Desktop App) Show Steps ↓
Step 1: Uninstall Discord from your computer through the Control Panel (Windows) or Applications folder (macOS).
Step 2: Download the latest version of Discord from the official website (discord.com).
Step 3: Install Discord and try again.
Step 4: Test the app to see if this solved the issue.
Method 6: Check Your Internet Connection Show Steps ↓
Step 1: Verify that you have a stable internet connection.
Step 2: Try restarting your router or modem.
Step 3: A weak or intermittent internet connection can sometimes indirectly cause errors that appear server-related. While a 500 error is typically a server issue, a flaky connection might obscure the true cause and hinder recovery.
Method 7: Wait and Try Again Later Show Steps ↓
Step 1: If none of the above steps work, it is likely a problem on Discord's end that they need to resolve.
Step 2: Wait a few minutes or hours and try again later. The issue might resolve itself as Discord's team addresses the problem.