Quick Summary
The "Discord fatal javascript error" indicates a critical problem within Discord's code, preventing it from functioning correctly. This error typically arises from corrupted files, conflicting applications, or issues within Discord's installation itself.
Common Causes
- Corrupted Discord Files: Damaged or incomplete files within the Discord installation directory can lead to Javascript errors.
- Conflicting Applications: Other applications running on your system, particularly overlays or programs that interact with Discord, can interfere with its Javascript execution.
- Outdated Discord Version: Using an outdated version of Discord can sometimes lead to incompatibilities and cause Javascript errors.
- Hardware Acceleration Issues: Hardware acceleration, while intended to improve performance, can sometimes cause instability and Javascript errors due to driver incompatibilities.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Method 1: Restart Discord and Your Computer
Step 1: Close Discord completely. Ensure it's not running in the system tray.
Step 2: Restart your computer.
Step 3: After the restart, open Discord again to see if the issue is resolved.
Method 2: Run Discord as Administrator
Step 1: Locate the Discord executable file (usually in C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Discord).
Step 2: Right-click on the Discord.exe file.
Step 3: Select "Run as administrator". This grants Discord elevated privileges, which may resolve permission-related errors.
Method 3: Clear Discord's Cache and Roaming Data
Step 1: Close Discord completely.
Step 2: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
Step 3: Type %appdata% and press Enter.
Step 4: Locate and delete the Discord folder.
Step 5: Press the Windows key + R again.
Step 6: Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
Step 7: Locate and delete the Discord folder.
Step 8: Restart Discord. It will reinstall with fresh data.
Method 4: Disable Hardware Acceleration
Step 1: Open Discord.
Step 2: Go to User Settings (gear icon near your username).
Step 3: Click on "Appearance" under the App Settings section.
Step 4: Scroll down to the "Advanced" section and disable "Hardware Acceleration".
Step 5: Restart Discord.
Method 5: Reinstall Discord
Step 1: Close Discord completely.
Step 2: Open the Control Panel (or Settings app in Windows 10/11).
Step 3: Go to "Programs" -> "Programs and Features" (or "Apps" -> "Apps & features").
Step 4: Find Discord in the list and uninstall it.
Step 5: Download the latest version of Discord from the official website (discord.com).
Step 6: Install Discord.
Method 6: Update Graphics Drivers
Step 1: Determine your graphics card manufacturer (Nvidia, AMD, or Intel).
Step 2: Visit the official website of your graphics card manufacturer.
Step 3: Download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card.
Step 4: Restart your computer after the driver installation.