You probably open Discord more than any other app. But most of us use it the same way every day: scroll, type, react, repeat. Meanwhile there's a whole layer of Discord tricks sitting right there, built in, that make chatting faster and your messages look a lot better.
So let's make this a game. Below are 20 tricks, all official Discord features. Keep Discord open in another window, try each one as you go, and keep count of how many you already knew.
Your score is waiting at the end. No cheating.
How to play - Open any channel or DM where you can type (a DM to a friend, or your own test server) - Try each trick when you see 👉 Try it now - Count how many you already used before today - Check your rank in the scorecard at the bottom
✍️ Formatting Tricks (1 to 7)
1. Hide spoilers with double bars
Wrap text in two vertical bars on each side, like ||the twist ending||. It shows as a black box until someone clicks it.
👉 Try it now: send ||this is a secret|| to a friend.
2. Add tiny subtext
Start a line with -# and a space. The text shows up small and grey, perfect for footnotes, credits or "edited" notes.
Subtext at the bottom of a message. Image: Discord.
3. Use headers
Start a line with #, ## or ### and a space for big, medium or small headings. Great for announcements and event posts.
Three header sizes. Image: Discord.
4. Hide long links behind words
Type [click here](https://discords.ai) and only "click here" shows as a link. No more ugly, long URLs.
5. Quote several lines at once
A single > quotes one line. Put >>> at the start and everything after it becomes a quote, which is handy when replying to a long message.
A block quote in a reply. Image: Discord.
6. Post a time everyone sees in their own time zone
This is the one most people don't know. Type <t:1761235200:R> and Discord shows a time like "in 2 hours" or "3 days ago", adjusted for every reader.
- The number is a Unix timestamp in seconds. Any Unix time converter will give you one.
- Swap the last letter to change the style:
tfor a short time,Dfor a long date,Ffor the full date and time,Rfor relative time.
👉 Try it now: post your next game night time with :F at the end. Nobody has to do time zone maths again.
7. Share code or text cleanly
Put three backticks (the key above Tab) on the line before and after your text for a code block. It keeps spacing exactly as typed and stops Discord from formatting it.
Running a server? Our Discord announcements guide shows how to combine these into clean, readable posts.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts (8 to 15)
These are Discord's desktop shortcuts for Windows. Mac has its own list, which you can find in Discord's help centre.
Discord's official shortcut chart. Image: Discord.
8. Jump anywhere with Ctrl + K
Press Ctrl + K to find or start a DM, or jump to a server or channel by typing its name. It's the fastest way around Discord.
👉 Try it now: press Ctrl + K and type the first few letters of a friend's name.
9. Clear unread dots in one tap
Press Esc to mark the current channel as read, or Shift + Esc to mark the whole server as read.
10. Hop between unread channels
Alt + Shift + Up or Down jumps straight to the next unread channel. Add Ctrl to jump only to channels where you were mentioned.
11. Jump to the oldest unread message
Back after a few hours away? Shift + Page Up takes you to the oldest message you haven't read.
12. Open your mentions
Ctrl + I opens your mentions, so you can catch up on pings without scrolling through every channel.
13. Check the pins
Ctrl + P opens the channel's pinned messages, where rules, links and important info usually live.
14. Mute and deafen without the mouse
Ctrl + Shift + M toggles mute, and Ctrl + Shift + D toggles deafen. Perfect when someone walks into the room mid-call.
15. See every shortcut
Press Ctrl + / to open the full list of keyboard combos inside Discord.
👉 Try it now: press Ctrl + / and find one shortcut you didn't know.
🆕 Brand-New Tricks From October 2026 (16 to 19)
Discord shipped these in its October patch notes and updates, so few people know them yet.
16. Move a server into a folder with a right-click
No more dragging. Right-click a server, choose Move To..., and pick the folder. It works for moving channels between categories too.
Illustration
17. Upload a Markdown file and read it in chat
Upload a .md file and Discord now shows it formatted, with headings and tables, instead of raw symbols. Great for sharing guides and notes.
18. Grab a GIF link without sending it
In the GIF picker, Shift + click a GIF to drop its link into your message without sending it. Right-click a GIF to copy its link.
19. Choose how spoilers work on mobile
Discord added a Show spoiler content setting on mobile, so you can decide whether spoilers stay hidden.
Want an even tidier sidebar? Learn how to pin channels and DMs so your favourites stay at the top.
♿ Comfort Trick (20)
20. Calm down the animations
Busy servers can be full of animated nameplates and effects. Turn on Enable Reduced Motion under User Settings > Accessibility to tone them down.
While you're in settings, our Discord privacy settings guide covers the other options worth checking.
🏆 Your Discord Tricks Scorecard
Count how many of the 20 tricks you were already using before today.
| Score | Your rank | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 | 🌱 Casual Chatter | You're here for your friends, not the settings. Start with tricks 6 and 8 |
| 6 to 10 | 💬 Server Regular | You know the basics. Shortcuts 9 to 13 will save you real time |
| 11 to 15 | ⚡ Power User | You're fast. Try the new October tricks to stay ahead |
| 16 to 20 | 🧙 Discord Wizard | You probably taught your friends half of these. Respect |
Your challenge for today: use one trick you've never tried, like posting your next event time with a timestamp (trick 6). Then send this list to the friend who still drags servers around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Discord tricks for beginners?
Start with spoilers (||text||), Ctrl + K to jump anywhere, and Esc to mark a channel as read. They're easy and you'll use them daily.
How do I make a timestamp on Discord?
Type <t:UNIX:STYLE>, replacing UNIX with a Unix timestamp in seconds and STYLE with a letter like R for relative time or F for the full date.
How do I make small text on Discord?
Start a line with -# followed by a space. The line shows as small grey subtext.
Do Discord shortcuts work on mobile?
No. Keyboard shortcuts are for the desktop app and browser. Formatting tricks like spoilers, headers and timestamps work everywhere.
How do I see all Discord keyboard shortcuts?
Press Ctrl + / on Windows to open the full list of keyboard combos.
🎮 The Bottom Line
The best Discord tricks aren't hidden in Nitro or a bot. They're already in your app: a few symbols for formatting, a handful of shortcuts, and some brand-new October features that make everyday chatting faster.
Pick two or three, use them for a week, and they'll become habit.
So what was your score, and which trick surprised you most? Tell us below.
Sources
- Discord Help Center: Markdown Text 101, updated 23 April 2025
- Discord Help Center: Discord Keyboard Shortcuts
- Discord Developer Docs: Message Formatting and Timestamp Styles
- Discord: Discord Update: October 22, 2026, 22 October 2026
- Discord: Discord Patch Notes: October 6, 2026, 6 October 2026
- Discord Help Center: Nameplates FAQ, updated 27 February 2026
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation
Sign inNo comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!