How to fix the Discord Update Failed problem on Windows 10?

If you use the Discord application frequently, then you probably recognize it as a Voice over IP (VoIP) application. Many people all over the world use Discord to communicate with their friends or acquaintances. You can chat (using text), voice chat (using audio), and do a lot of other cool stuff in Discord. Having said all that, you must understand that Discord (or the service’s application) is far from flawless.

While opening the Discord app, for example, you might encounter an issue that affects the downloading and installation of updates – and the download screen subsequently refuses to go away. In that case, you will be unable to access or use Discord, even if you leave the app open for hours – because the screen will stay the same. You can try closing the application and then reopening it to see if things get better, but you must not hope for much.

You are hardly the only one who is experiencing the issue with the Discord app where it becomes unusable or inaccessible due to problems with updates. Some users rebooted their systems to get some reprieve, but things remained the same. In other words, the screen in the Discord app will always be there unless you find a way to resolve the problem with updates.

Should one cancel Discord updates?

Given the trouble you are having with Discord updates, you might be wondering whether it is better to cancel them (an action you, unfortunately, cannot take now) or configure the Discord app to have nothing to do with updates in the future. Or perhaps, you even came here to learn how to manually update Discord.

Well, it makes no sense for you to cancel Discord updates. The problem you are struggling with now is closer to an aberration than the norm. Users do not always experience issues with Discord updates, especially those that prevent them from accessing or using the program.

Moreover, in scenarios where there are issues with the Discord app (for whatever reason), you are free to use the web version of the same service. You just have to fire up your browser and head to the Discord site.

Why is Discord struggling to install updates on my computer?

We believe the Discord installer or update handler is the culprit behind the failed installation operations for updates. The program is probably ridden with bugs or inconsistencies. Well, this explains why the same issue does not manifest itself on the Discord web version.

Since the issue in view is down to the Discord installer or update handler being problematic or faulty, you should not experience the same problems with a new or fresh installer. If our assumptions on the program code being bad are proven false, then the failed updated problem is likely to have something to do with inconsistencies or changes in the application files or Windows entries.

If the problem has nothing to do with the Discord installer, its files, or related Windows entries, then external influences or interferences are probably in play. You just have to figure out which system applications or third-party programs have played a role in causing trouble for you – and then you get to act against the bad utilities to make things right.

How to fix issues with Discord updates; How to resolve the Discord installation failed problem

Here, you get to go through the most effective procedures that users have employed or applied to resolve the Discord failing to update problem. To maximize the chances of your problem getting fixed in as little time as possible, we advise that you attempt the solutions in the order they appear below.

1. Reinstall Discord:

This relatively simple operation has worked wonders for an incredible number of users who struggled with the Discord refusing or failing to install updates problem. You can perform the task here quite fast. You do not even have to uninstall the Discord application currently installed on your PC.

We want you to reinstall the Discord app by downloading and running the installer. These are the steps you must follow:

• Open your favorite web browser application. Once the browser window comes up, you have to fill the text box on it with these keywords:

Download discord

• Hit the Enter button on your machine’s keyboard to perform a search operation for the inputted query on Google.

• Once the Google Search results page comes up, you have to click on the first entry on the list (usually the Discord – Downloads link).

• Do what you have to do to get the Discord installer from the site you are on now.

• Once your browser fetches the package, you have to click or double-click on the file to get Windows to run it.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to install the Discord application.

• Once you are done with the installation operations, you have to open Discord to see what has changed within the application.

2. Do a clean install for Discord:

If the basic reinstallation operation failed to deliver the results you were expecting, then you have to reinstall Discord through a more complicated procedure. The clean install process requires you to delete some Discord files or entries manually, for one.

By clean installing Discord, you get to eliminate the faults or inconsistencies (if they exist at all) within the current application packages and fix the issue with the updates. Anyway, here are the instructions you must follow to clean install Discord:

• First, you have to check and confirm that there is no active Discord instance. You will need to verify things in the Task Manager program, which you can quickly open through this keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

• Go through the items under the Processes tab. If you find the Discord app there, you have to right-click on it to see the context menu available and then choose End task.

• You can go a step further to check the items under the Background processes tab. If you see anything related to the Discord app, then you have to right-click on it to see the options available and then choose End task.

• At this point, assuming you are done terminating all Discord processes or components, you can close the Task Manager and proceed to the next phase.

• Open the Run app. You can do it through this keyboard shortcut: Windows logo button + letter R.

• Once the small Run window gets brought up, you have to fill the text box on it with this code:

appwiz.cpl

• Click on OK on the Run window to get your system to run the code (or hit the Enter button on your device’s keyboard for the same outcome).

You will be directed to the Uninstall a program screen or menu in the Control Panel application.

• Go through the list of installed apps, locate Discord, right-click on it to see the available context menu, and then choose the Uninstall option.

The Discord uninstaller (or uninstallation wizard) window will come up now.

• Follow the on-screen instructions and do what is required to uninstall the Discord application.

Now, assuming you are done uninstalling the Discord app through the standard uninstallation process, you must proceed to the phase where you get to delete the application’s packages or entries from your computer. Continue with these steps:

• Use the Windows logo button + letter R key combination to fire up the Run app quickly again. This time, once the program window comes up, you have to input this code into the text box on it:

%appdata%

• As usual, you must click on OK on the Run window to get your system to run the code (or hit the Enter button on your device’s keyboard for the same outcome).

You will be directed to the AppData folder in a File Explorer application window.

• From the items visible in your current location, you have to locate the Discord folder, right-click on it to see its list of options and then select Delete.

Before Windows gets on with the operation, you might have to confirm certain prompts by clicking on the Yes or Delete buttons.

• Hit the Backspace button on your keyboard (once) to navigate one folder backward. In your current location, you must check for the Local folder and then double-click on it to see its contents.

• Locate the Discord folder, click on it to get it highlighted, right-click on it to see some options and then choose Delete.

Here again, you might have to click on the Yes or Delete buttons on dialogs or windows – if they come up to get some form of confirmation for the operation.

• Once you are done with all the file removal operations for Discord files or entries, you have to close the File Explorer window and other programs you opened earlier.

• At this point, you must fire up your web browser and then go to the Download page for the Discord application.

We outlined the instructions on getting to the required page and installing Discord earlier (in the first fix), so we opted to leave out the steps here.

• Assuming your browser has gotten the file, you have to click or double-click on it to get Windows to run it.

The Discord installer (or installation wizard) window will come up now.

• Now, all you have to do is follow the on-screen instructions to install Discord.

• After your computer completes the installation operations for Discord, you have to restart your PC.

• After the recommended reboot, you can fire up the newly installed Discord application to confirm that the Discord updates problem has become a nonfactor.

3. Run Discord as an administrator:

Some users managed to push through the troubled updates by running Discord as an administrator. From their success with that procedure, we can infer that Discord was struggling to execute the update operations because it lacked certain privileges or permissions. Therefore, after the Discord app got granted administrative rights, it acquired all the powers it needed to do everything without blockages or complications.

You too can run Discord as an administrator to provide it with additional powers and see what it makes of them. Follow these instructions:

• First, you have to close the Discord application (regardless of all what you have done before now) and then restart your computer.

• After the recommended reboot, if the Discord application launches itself, you have to close it from your System tray by right-clicking on its icon there and then selecting Quit Discord.

You must then go a step further to terminate its processes or components (if they are active) in the Task Manager application.

• Launch the Task Manager application using the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut. Once the program window comes up, you have to check for Discord and all entries related to this application there.

• If you find any Discord instance, you have to right-click on in to see its context menu and then select the End task option.

Perform that task on all the Discord processes, components, services, or entries you see in the Task Manager app.

• Once you are sure no Discord-related task is ongoing, you must close the Task Manager window and then return to your desktop.

• Check for the Discord shortcut (or application icon) on your desktop, right-click on it to see some options, and then choose Run as administrator.

• Click on the Yes button on the User Account Control (UAC) prompt that comes up to get some form of confirmation for the elevated launch request.

Windows will now bring up the Discord application with it getting administrative rights.

• Be patient. Discord is likely to install its updates successfully this time.

4. Disable Windows Defender Firewall:

A firewall is any program or setup that screens the (incoming and outgoing) connections on a computer. Firewalls in Windows typically pay a lot of attention to the links third-party applications make with the web and sometimes act to block or disrupt them, depending on the existing security rules or settings.

There is a good chance that Discord struggles with its update processes are down to your firewall. Perhaps, the firewall (employed by Windows Defender) on your PC has been working to block or disrupt the Discord application connection to the internet.

To find out the truth and possibly rectify the issue (if your firewall has been involved), you must disable Windows Defender Firewall. These instructions cover everything you need to do:

• First, you have to bring up the Search function on the Windows Start menu or screen. You can use this keyboard shortcut to perform the task here quickly: Windows logo + letter S key.

• Type Firewall and network protection into the text box and run a search operation using those keywords as the query. Once Firewall and Network Protection (System Settings) emerges as the main entry on the results list, you have to click on it to launch the needed program.

• Assuming you are now on the Firewall & network protection menu in the Windows Security application, you have to click on the Network connection with Active next to it.

• On the following screen (under Windows Defender Firewall), you have to click on the toggle to disable the firewall.

The checkbox for the Block all incoming connection, including those in the list of allowed apps parameter must be unchecked. If it is currently ticked, then you have to click on it to deselect it.

• You can close the Windows Security window (since the changes you made have been saved automatically).

• Restart the Discord app and watch how the update processes go this time.

5. Disable your antivirus; uninstall the program:

It is time we told you that firewalls are hardly the only programs or setups that are capable of screening and blocking internet connections, especially those made by third-party applications. Antiviruses do pretty much the same thing or even more, depending on their settings, capabilities, or how they have been configured to protect a computer.

In exceptional cases, antiviruses are known to overreach or do too much, which means they sometimes interfere with operations they have no business disrupting in the first place. If any of the assumptions we described hold true, then you will be able to make things right by disabling or uninstalling your antivirus.

Go through these steps:

• Here, you have to open your antivirus. Once its application window comes up, you must head to its main settings pane or configuration menu.

• Check for a Turn off or Disable button. If you find one, you must use it (to render your antivirus ineffective).

If you do not find a button that allows you to put down your antivirus, then you have to check for controls for the critical components or features that your antivirus uses to do its work. You must then turn those options off or deselect their parameters.

In general, you must do whatever it takes or whatever is required to disable your antivirus or weaken it significantly so that it becomes a nonfactor in your computer’s security setup.

• Once you are done with your work on the settings pane or configuration menu for your antivirus, you have to save the changes you made.

• Close your antivirus and then open the Discord application.

• Allow the Discord app to run the same update operations it struggled with earlier and watch how things turn out this time.

If things do not improve, then you have to uninstall your antivirus – because this is the only way you get to verify its involvement or noninvolvement in the Discord update failed problem. Continue with these instructions:

• Use the Windows logo button + letter R keyboard shortcut to bring up the Run app. Once the application window appears, you have to fill the text field on it with this code:

appwiz.cpl

• Run the code by clicking on OK on the Run window (or by hitting the Enter button on your PC’s keyboard).

• Assuming you have been directed to the Uninstall a program screen in Control Panel, you have to go through the list of installed applications there, locate your antivirus, and then click on it to get it highlighted.

• Right-click on your selection to see the context menu available and then choose the Uninstall option.

Your antivirus uninstaller (or uninstallation wizard) window will come up now.

• At this point, you just have to follow the prompts and instructions as they come up and do what is requested of you to remove the program.

• Once the uninstallation processes reach completion, you have to restart your PC.

• After the recommended reboot, you have to run the Discord app to ascertain the new state of things as regards the failed updates issue.

There is one other problem you have to address, though. By removing your antivirus, you made your computer more vulnerable or susceptible to different kinds of threat – since no security application is actively working or running to protect your PC. You have to fill the gaps by installing a replacement for your antivirus.

You will do well to get Auslogics Anti-Malware. When it comes to providing first-rate protection on a computer to keep out all forms of malicious programs – without interfering with or disrupting harmless processes and operations – the recommended program is as good as it gets. You might even consider this application an ideal replacement, given the reason you got rid of your antivirus in the first place.

Other things you can try to fix the Discord not updating problem

If you still cannot get the Discord application to run and apply its updates (as it is supposed to) – even after you tried all the solutions described in this guide (above) – then you have to attempt the procedures and workarounds on this final list and see what comes off.

6. Rename the update file or package:

Some users managed to make things work within the Discord app by renaming the file used in the update operation. The required file resides in the directory you get into from running the %LocalAppData% code in Run.

You too can try to change the name of the update package from Update.exe to UpdateX.exe or Update1.exe (or whatever you like). After you make the appropriate changes, you must restart the Discord app and then pay attention to the events that play out.

7. Reinstall Discord (again):

Yes, we might have walked you through different reinstallation operations for the Discord app, but we cannot help but recommend another one here. Some users only enjoyed success after they reinstalled the Discord app through unorthodox methods or with certain changes.

For example, you can try to remove the Discord app cleanly and then install it in a new folder (one that does not lie along the path of the previous installation directory). You can also employ a third-party application to execute the removal operations for Discord on your behalf and then install the Discord application appropriately. You have to try out as many variations of the same processes or operations until you find what works for you.