Discord Markdown: Every Chat Formatting Code in One Guide

Discord markdown is the set of typed symbols that turn plain chat into bold text, headers, lists, quotes and code. You add a few characters before and after your words, send the message, and Discord renders the styling for everyone in the channel.

This wiki lists every chat formatting option that Discord documents in its help centre, plus the timestamp codes from its developer documentation. It also covers keyboard shortcuts, mobile notes, and the places where formatting does not apply.

Where Discord has not documented something, this guide says so plainly.

At a glance - Text styles: *italics*, **bold**, __underline__, ~~strikethrough~~, and combinations of them. - Structure: #, ## and ### headers, -# subtext, - or * lists, and > or >>> quotes. - Code: single backticks for inline code, three backticks for a multi-line block. - Links: [text](URL) makes a masked link. - Timestamps: <t:UNIX_SECONDS:STYLE> shows a time in each reader's own time zone. - Shortcuts (desktop): Ctrl or ⌘ plus B, I or U for bold, italic and underline.

📋 Discord Markdown Quick Reference

Type the code in the left column exactly as shown. Headers, subtext, lists and quotes must start a new line, and each needs a space after its symbol.

If you would rather click than memorise, our Discord text formatter tool builds the codes for you, ready to paste into chat.

✍️ Text Styles: Bold, Italic, Underline and Strikethrough

Discord's Markdown Text 101 article documents four basic styles. Wrap the words you want to change with the symbols on both sides.

• Italics: one asterisk or one underscore on each side.
• Bold: two asterisks on each side.
• Underline: two underscores on each side.
• Strikethrough: two tildes on each side.

Combining styles

Styles stack. Three asterisks give bold italics, and wrapping any of those in double underscores adds an underline. The help centre lists every combination shown in the table above, up to __***underline bold italics***__.

Keyboard shortcuts

Discord's Commands, Shortcuts and Navigation Guide lists formatting shortcuts for the desktop app. Highlight text in the message box, then press:

The same guide also lists Ctrl + Shift + M as the shortcut for muting your microphone, so the inline code shortcut may not behave the same on every setup. Typing the backticks yourself always works.

📰 Headers and Subtext

Headers turn the first line of a message into a title. Put one, two or three hash signs at the start of a new line, add a space, then your text.

The three header sizes as they appear after sending. Image: Discord.

Discord only documents three header levels. A fourth hash sign is not covered in the help centre.

Subtext is the opposite of a header. Start a line with -# (a hyphen, a hash and a space) and the text appears small and grey, which suits footnotes, rules reminders or credits. Like headers, it only works at the very start of a line.

A header and subtext used together in one announcement. Image: Discord.

This header and subtext pairing is handy for server updates. Our guide to writing Discord announcements shows how to structure them.

📝 Lists and Block Quotes

Lists

Start each line with - or * and a space to create a bulleted list. Add two spaces before the symbol to indent an item underneath the one above it.

An indented list made with two leading spaces. Image: Discord.

The help centre's note on lists names "1." alongside - and * as list markers, but its examples only show bullets. Numbered lists are not explained further in the article.

Block quotes

Put > and a space at the start of a line to quote that single line. To quote several lines in one block, start the first line with >>> and everything after it in the message joins the quote.

A block quote in a reply to another message. Image: Discord.

💻 Code Blocks and Syntax Highlighting

Wrap text in single backticks for inline code, which shows the words in a monospaced font with a shaded background. Use three backticks before and after for a multi-line code block.

A multi-line code block, with the typed version in the message box below. Image: Discord.

Code blocks keep your line breaks and spacing in a monospaced font. Discord's help centre also confirms that a code block cancels a spoiler.

Syntax highlighting

Discord's help centre does not document how to choose a programming language for colour highlighting. Many users add a language name straight after the opening three backticks, such as py or js, and Discord colours the code.

Discord has not published a list of supported languages, so test your language before relying on it. Its older chat box notes do mention one quirk: highlighting turns off on the last line if the closing backticks are not on a line of their own.

🔗 Masked Links, Spoilers and Timestamps

Masked links

A masked link shows friendly text instead of a raw URL. Put the display text in square brackets and the address in round brackets right after it: [This is Google](https://google.com/).

Server owners who want control over which links get posted can set up AutoMod to filter unwanted messages.

Spoilers

Two vertical bars on each side, like ||this||, hide text until a reader clicks it. Spoilers have their own options for images, links and channels, which we cover in a separate Discord spoiler tags wiki.

Timestamps

Timestamps are not in the help centre's formatting article. Discord's developer documentation lists them under message formatting, and they work in normal chat.

Type <t: then a Unix time in seconds, an optional style letter, and >. Each reader sees the time in their own time zone and locale.

For example, <t:1618953630:R> shows a countdown or "time ago" label. Exact output depends on the reader's language settings.

🧩 Escaping, Mobile and Where Formatting Fails

Escaping with a backslash

Discord's formatting article does not explain how to show symbols without triggering markdown. A backslash before a symbol, such as \*not italic\*, is a widely used way to keep it as plain text.

Discord's own patch notes confirm backslash escaping for mentions. The October 6, 2026 notes fixed a desktop bug where \@username still pinged the member.

Mobile notes

The help centre does not give separate markdown instructions for iOS or Android, and the syntax is typed the same way. The keyboard shortcuts above are listed for the desktop app only.

Recent patch notes include Android fixes for inline code blocks inside lists and reply previews, which shows code formatting renders in the Android app.

Where Discord markdown does not apply

• Inside code blocks: spoiler bars do not hide anything.
• Mid-line headers and subtext: # and -# only work at the start of a line.
• Missing spaces: headers, subtext, lists and quotes need a space after the symbol.
• Slash commands in the box: Discord notes that /spoiler and /me do not preview their styling before sending.

Formatting does reach some places outside chat. Discord's Custom Profiles article says the About Me section supports markdown text and links within its 190 character limit.

Markdown file previews

Since Discord's October 22, 2026 update, uploading a Markdown (.md) file shows it rendered, including tables and formatting, instead of raw symbols. That makes sharing a README in chat far easier to read.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Does Discord markdown work in DMs?

The help centre describes markdown as part of everyday text chat and does not limit it to servers. The same codes are typed in DMs and server channels.

How many header sizes does Discord markdown support?

Three. Discord documents #, ## and ###, each smaller than the last.

Can I change the font or text colour?

Discord says it does not have built-in font commands. Its help centre does not document a coloured text option.

Why didn't my header or quote format?

Check that the symbol is the first thing on the line and that a space follows it. Both rules appear in Discord's own notes.

How do I show a timestamp in everyone's time zone?

Use <t:UNIX_SECONDS:STYLE>, such as <t:1618953630:F>. Discord converts it for each reader automatically.

Summary

Discord markdown covers text styles, three header sizes, subtext, lists, quotes, inline code, code blocks, masked links and spoilers, all documented in Discord's help centre. Timestamps come from the developer docs and work in normal messages.

Some popular tricks, such as language tags for syntax highlighting and backslash escaping, work in practice but are not fully documented. Keep the quick reference handy, and use the text formatter when you want the codes built for you.

Sources

1. Markdown Text 101 (Chat Formatting: Bold, Italic, Underline), Discord Help Centre.
2. Discord Commands, Shortcuts, and Navigation Guide, Discord Help Centre.
3. API Reference: Message Formatting, Discord Developer Documentation.
4. Spoiler Tags!, Discord Help Centre.
5. [Known Issues] New Chat Text Box, Discord Help Centre.
6. Custom Profiles, Discord Help Centre.
7. Discord Patch Notes: October 6, 2026, Discord Blog.
8. Discord Update: October 22, 2026, Discord Blog.