How to solve discord fatal javascript error? Discord is an excellent platform for communities, whether you want to play your favorite games, make friends, organize meetups, or share ideas with like-minded individuals. Discord can be used in your web browser, but you may occasionally encounter a fatal JavaScript error if you’re using the Discord desktop app.
There are several reasons why this error may appear, ranging from corrupted Discord configuration files to overactive antivirus software preventing it from loading. Here’s how to fix a Discord JavaScript error on Windows 10.
What Causes a Discord Fatal JavaScript Error?
A fatal JavaScript error in Discord isn’t always obvious what caused it. However, in most cases, the problem results from a corrupted Discord installation or another app or service (like your antivirus software) that prevents it from running correctly.
It is most likely that repairing or reinstalling the Discord app will fix the problem, but if a third-party app or service is causing the issue, you will need to dig deeper and ensure that Discord can load and run properly.
In that case, you’ll need to troubleshoot Discord using the steps below. You can still access your servers using the Discord website or Discord mobile app if the Discord app on your PC or Mac isn’t working.
How to Resolve Discord Fatal Javascript Error?
Remove and Regenerate the Discord AppData Folder
If you’re using the Discord desktop app, the app will store files on your PC to run correctly. This includes configuration settings, usage logs, cached thumbnails, and other data that it uses to load when you reopen the app quickly.
Discord may not function if this data is corrupted. If you want to regenerate your Discord configuration (and delete any temporary files), you can delete Discord’s AppData folder.
- To do this, open Windows File Explorer. Type %appdata% in the navigation bar at the top and press Enter. The AppData folder for your Windows account can be found by clicking on this.
- In the AppData folder, locate the Discord folder. Right-click the folder, then select Delete. Before you do this, you’ll need to ensure that Discord isn’t running (including checking for the discord.exe process in Windows Task Manager).
- The Discord AppData folder will be placed in your recycle bin. On your desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin icon and select the Empty Recycle Bin option to ensure the files are entirely removed from your PC.
Discord will automatically regenerate a new set of configuration files once the Discord AppData folder is removed, forcing you to sign in with your Discord account again. This should resolve the issue for many users, but you’ll need to try one of the additional steps below if it doesn’t.
Remove and Reinstall the Discord Desktop App
Whenever Discord is experiencing a fatal JavaScript error (or any other type of Discord error), the next step is to remove and reinstall it completely. Any corrupted files shouldn’t interfere with Discord’s ability to run.
- You can remove Discord by going to the Windows Settings menu. To do this, right-click the Start menu and select Settings.
- In the Windows Settings menu, select Apps > Apps & features. Use the search bar to find Discord or scroll down until you see it listed. Select Discord in the list, then select Uninstall > Uninstall.
- Allow the Discord removal process to complete. Once it has, head to the Discord website and downloads the latest version of the desktop app for your platform.
- After the Discord installer has been downloaded, run it and follow the on-screen instructions (if necessary) to complete the installation.
Discord will replace existing files, but it may not remove any lingering temporary files, such as a corrupt AppData folder. If you’re still having trouble after reinstalling Discord, ensure that the AppData folder has been removed before trying the reinstallation process again.
Run Discord as an Administrator
It could be a problem with user privileges if Discord does not run. Although Discord should run on standard Windows user accounts, enabling administrator privileges won’t harm your PC.
- To do this, open Windows File Explorer and use the navigation bar to open the C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Discord folder, replacing the username with your user profile folder.
- You may see numbered folders in the Discord folder (for instance, app-0.0.3.308). Folder numbers correspond to available versions of the Discord desktop application. Open the folder with the highest number (or the latest Date Modified date).
- In the folder you selected, right-click Discord.exe and choose the Properties option.
- To save the changes, select the Run this program as an administrator option in the Compatibility tab of the Properties window.
- Once you’ve enabled Discord’s administrative privileges, double-click Discord.exe in Windows File Explorer to run it; you may need to accept the User Access Control pop-up to allow Discord to run by pressing the Yes option. If you currently use a standard user profile, you may also need to provide the username and password for a Windows administrator account.
If another app or service prevents Discord from running correctly, running it with administrative privileges should help fix the problem. However, if you have an antivirus installed, it might prevent Discord from running in a sensitive user folder (such as your AppData folder).
Check Your Antivirus Isn’t Blocking Discord
As opposed to typical desktop applications, the Discord desktop app runs from within the AppData folder. Each version of Discord is treated as temporary, and an update file (update.exe) runs first to ensure that the latest version of Discord is automatically installed.
As a protected system folder, your AppData folder may be subject to additional restrictions when a third-party antivirus is installed on your PC. Antivirus protection can sometimes prevent a new installation of Discord from working.
Because third-party antivirus software settings can vary, you should double-check your antivirus settings directly to ensure this isn’t the case. Add Discord to the “allowed” list of your antivirus software if it is blocking it so that Discord can run uninterrupted.
Using Discord on Windows 10
Once you’ve fixed a Discord fatal JavaScript error on your PC, you can begin to take advantage of its features. You can start by creating your Discord server to build your community, expanding it with Discord bots to add games, moderation features, and music capabilities.
As long as you’ve connected to Discord successfully, of course. Depending on your use case, you may prefer to use a Discord alternative such as Teamspeak or Slack instead.
