Discord Account Settings Guide: Everything You Can Customize

Discord's account settings let you personalize your experience, protect your privacy, and secure your account. Here's a complete guide to every setting that matters.

How to Access Account Settings

Click the gear icon (⚙️) at the bottom-left of the Discord app
You'll see the User Settings menu on the left

My Account

Username & Discriminator

Your display name and unique username. Click "Edit" to change either. Note: username changes are now without the old #0000 tag system.

Email Address

Keep this up to date — it's used for account recovery. Always verify your email.

Password

Change your password regularly. Use a unique, strong password not used anywhere else.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Highly recommended. Enable 2FA via an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) or SMS. See our 2FA guide.

Phone Number

Optional but useful for account recovery and some server verification requirements.

Profiles

Avatar — Upload a profile picture (Nitro allows animated GIFs)
Display Name — Your nickname shown to others (separate from your username)
Banner — A header image on your profile (Nitro required)
About Me — A short bio with up to 190 characters
Profile Theme — Customize accent colors (Nitro)

Privacy & Safety

Direct Messages

Control who can DM you: everyone, friends only, or no one
Enable "Safe Direct Messaging" to auto-filter explicit content in DMs

Friend Requests

Limit who can send you friend requests

Activity Status

Toggle whether others can see what you're playing or doing

Notifications

Choose between All Messages, Only @Mentions, or Nothing for each server
Enable or disable notification sounds and desktop pop-ups
Set a "Do Not Disturb" schedule

Appearance

Light/Dark Mode — Personal preference
Compact Mode — Shows more messages on screen
Font Size — Adjust text readability
Saturation — Tweak color intensity

Voice & Video

Set default input/output devices
Adjust microphone sensitivity
Enable noise suppression and echo cancellation
Configure video camera settings

Advanced Settings

Developer Mode — Enables right-click "Copy ID" for users, messages, and channels. Useful for bot development.
Streamer Mode — Hides personal information when streaming

Tips

Always enable 2FA for maximum security
Use a unique email and password for Discord
Review privacy settings every few months
Explore community-wide best practices on Discords.ai