How to fix a discord fatal JavaScript error
Tips and Tricks

How to fix a discord fatal JavaScript error

Discord is a great platform for communities, whether it’s to play your favorite games, make friends, host meetings, and share ideas with like-minded people. You can use Discord in your web browser, but if you are using the Discord desktop app, you may occasionally see a fatal Discord JavaScript error.

There are several reasons why this error can appear, from corrupted Discord configuration files to hyperactive antivirus software blocking loading. To fix a fatal Discord JavaScript error in Windows 10, here’s what to do.

What causes a fatal Discord JavaScript error?

When you get a fatal Discord JavaScript error, it’s not immediately obvious what caused it. However, in most cases, it is caused by a corrupted Discord installation or another application or service (such as your antivirus software) that is preventing it from running properly.

For most users, repairing or reinstalling the Discord app will fix the problem, but if another third-party app or service is causing a problem, then you’ll need to dig deep and make sure that Discord can load and run properly.

If that’s the case, you’ll need to fix the Discord issue by following the steps below. Don’t forget that if the Discord app on your PC or Mac isn’t working, you can still use the Discord website or the Discord mobile app to access their servers.

Delete and regenerate the Discord AppData folderHow to fix a discord fatal JavaScript error

If you are using the Discord desktop app, the app will store files on your PC to allow it to run properly. This includes configuration options, usage logs, cached thumbnails, and other data that you use to quickly load when you reopen the app.

If this data is corrupted, then Discord may stop working. To help regenerate your Discord settings (and delete any temporary files), you can delete the Discord App Data folder.

  • To do this, open Windows File Explorer. Using the navigation bar at the top, type % application data% and press the Enter key. This will take you to the AppData folder of your Windows user account.
  • In the Application Data folder, locate the Discord folder. Right-click on the folder, then select the Delete option. You will need to make sure that Discord is not running (including checking for the discord.exe process in Windows Task Manager) before doing this.
  • This will put the Discord AppData folder in your recycle bin. On your desktop, right-click on the Recycle Bin icon and select the Empty Recycle Bin option to make sure the files are completely removed from your PC.

Once the Discord AppData folder has been deleted, Discord will automatically regenerate a new set of configuration files, forcing you to log in with your Discord user account again. This should solve the problem for many users, but if it doesn’t, you will need to try one of the additional steps below.

Remove and reinstall the Discord desktop app

When Discord has a problem with a fatal JavaScript error (or indeed any other kind of Discord error), the next step is to completely remove it and reinstall it. This should ensure that corrupted files don’t interfere with Discord while it tries to run.

  • To remove Discord, you will need to head to the Windows Settings menu. Right-click on the Start menu and select Settings to do this.
  • In the Windows Settings menu, select Applications> Applications & Features. Scroll down until you find Discord in the list or use the search bar to find it. Once you find Discord, select it from the list, then select the Uninstall> Uninstall buttons.
  • Allow the Discord removal process to complete. Once you’ve done that, head over to the Discord website and download the latest version of the desktop app for your platform.
  • Once downloaded, run the Discord installer and follow the additional instructions on the screen (if necessary) to complete the installation.

A fresh installation of Discord will replace any existing files. But may not remove any lingering temporary files, such as a corrupted AppData folder. If you continue to have problems after reinstalling Discord. Make sure the AppData folder has been removed before trying the reinstallation process again.

Run Discord as administrator

If Discord doesn’t run, it could indicate a problem with the user’s privileges. While Discord should run under standard Windows user accounts. Trying to run Discord with administrator privileges will not 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 username with your user profile folder.
  • In the Discord folder, you can see multiple numbered folders (for example, app-0.0.3.308 ). These folder numbers refer to the available versions of the Discord desktop app. Open the folder with the highest number (or Last Modified Date).
  • In the folder, you selected, right-click Discord.exe and select the Properties option.
  • In the Compatibility tab of the Properties window, select the Run this program as administrator option, then select the Okay button to save.
  • Once you have enabled Discord administrative privileges, double-click Discord.exe in Windows File Explorer to run it. You may need to accept the User Access Control Popup to allow Discord to run by pressing the yes option. You may also need to provide the username and password for a Windows administrator account if you are currently using a standard user profile.

If another application or service is preventing Discord from running correctly, running it with administrative privileges should help fix the problem. However, the exception to this is if you have an antivirus installed that could prevent Discord from running in a sensitive user folder (like your AppData folder).

Check that your antivirus is not blocking discord

Unlike typical apps, the Discord desktop app runs from the AppData folder itself. Each version of Discord is treated as temporary, with an update file ( update.exe ) running first to ensure the latest version of Discord is installed automatically.

However, as a protected system folder, the AppData folder may have additional restrictions when third-party antivirus is installed on your PC. Although rare, virus protection can sometimes block a new Discord installation from running properly.

Because third-party antivirus software settings may vary. You will need to double-check your antivirus settings directly to make sure this is not the case. If your antivirus software is blocking Discord, be sure to add it to the “allowed” list to ensure Discord can run without interference.

Using Discord in Windows 10

Once you’ve fixed a fatal Discord JavaScript error on your PC, you can start taking advantage of its features. You can start by creating your own Discord server to build your own community. Expanding it with Discord Bots to add games, moderation features, and music capabilities.

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