Learn how to format text in Discord chat with simple markdown language. Master Discord text formatting to create clear, engaging messages.
Ever seen bold, italic, or underlined text on Discord and wondered how people do that? That’s because Discord has Markdown built right into the app — a simple formatting language that lets you style your text in seconds. Whether you want to emphasize a point, organize your messages with headers, or make your chats look better, learning a few text tricks can make a big difference. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to format text on Discord like a pro: bold, italic, underline, headers, and more!
To make your message stand out in Discord, you can use bold formatting to highlight important words or phrases. To make text bold in Discord, add two asterisks (**) before and after the text. This works on both desktop and mobile versions of Discord.
Alternatively, on the desktop app, you have two more quick options:
Highlight the text and click the B icon in the formatting toolbar.
Pressing Ctrl + B on Windows or Cmd + B on Mac to bold selected text automatically.
Italic text is useful when you want to emphasize a word or show something subtle in Discord conversations. To make text italic in Discord, add one asterisk (*) or one underscore (_) before and after the text.
To make it easier, you can highlight your text and click the I icon when you’re on the desktop. Discord will automatically italicize text for you.
Also read: What Are Nitro & Nitro Basic In Discord?
Underlining text in Discord can help you draw attention to specific words or phrases in a message. To underline text in Discord, simply wrap the text with two underscores (__) at the beginning and end.
Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + U (Windows) / Command + U (Mac) in areas that support text formatting.
To cross out text in Discord, surround the text you want to strikethrough with double tilde symbols (~~). Ensure there are no spaces between the tildes and the text, and it works in any Discord chat, including text channels, DMs, or your profile bio, across all platforms (PC, mobile, web).
A code block in Discord is an ideal tool for presenting code snippets, commands, or technical content in a clean and easy-to-read format, rather than mixing them into regular text. Discord supports two types of code formatting: inline code and multiline code blocks.
To create inline code, simply wrap the text with a single backtick (`).
To create a multiline code block, use three backticks (```) before and after the text you want to format.
On the desktop version of Discord, you can also format code blocks more easily by clicking the (><) on the formatting toolbar.
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Sometimes, you might just want to quote a sentence or a message to clarify your point or keep the conversation flowing smoothly. In such cases, a quote block in Discord is a simple way to make your referenced content more visible and easier to follow in the chat thread.
To create a quote block in Discord, simply add the greater-than symbol ( > ) at the beginning of the line. Use Shift + Enter to continue quoting on the next line and make sure it stays in a block. If you hit Enter alone, the message will be sent. If you want to separate them into two distinct quote blocks, leave a blank line between paragraphs and add the > symbol before the new paragraph.
On the desktop, you no need to type greater-than symbol manually, just click the quote icon in the formatting toolbar.
To create header text in Discord, use the hashtag (#) symbol before your text. For example, typing "# Header" will display "Header" as a large, bold header.
Use one # for the largest header, ## for a medium header, and ### for a smaller header. Ensure a space follows the hashtag(s) before entering your text for the formatting to work correctly.
To add subtext to a Discord chat message, place (-#) which consist of hyphen, hashtag and space before your text. This formatting, introduced in July 2024, is ideal for asides or clarifications and works on both desktop and mobile.
Ensure a space follows the # and start the subtext at the beginning of a new line in order for it to work.
To spoiler messages on Discord, wrap your text with double vertical bars (||). For example, typing ||secret message|| will hide "secret message" until clicked. Alternatively, to use the eye icon, highlight the text to be hidden, click the eye icon in the formatting toolbar, and the text will be marked as a spoiler. Both methods conceal the text, making it ideal for sensitive content or surprises.
To create a bulleted list in Discord, use a hyphen (-) or asterisk (*) followed by a space for main list items. For sub-list items, indent with two spaces before another hyphen or asterisk. Ensure each item starts on a new line for proper formatting.
Also read: How Does Discord Make Money? Exploring Its Revenue Model and PlaySwap’s Role in the Ecosystem
Discord doesn’t offer built-in commands for colored text, but you can use code blocks with syntax highlighting to achieve color effects. Here’s how to format colored text in Discord using markdown.
To create colored text, wrap your message in a multi-line code block with three backticks and specify a language for syntax highlighting. Type the first line followed by the language, the message on the second line with required characters, and close with (```) on the third line. Use Shift+Enter to move between lines without sending. This works only on the desktop app, not mobile. Below are examples for common colors:
Green text: ```diff
+ [Your text here]
Blue text: ```fix
[Your text here]
Purple text: ```asciidoc
.[Your text here]
Embed links in Discord and turn them into clickable hyperlinks. To do so, simply enter the syntax [Custom Text](URL) in the message input. Ensure no space exists between the brackets and parentheses, and include the full URL.
Using text formatting in Discord helps your messages stand out and become easier to read. Choose the style that best fits your message—or mix and match formats to communicate more effectively. Don’t hesitate to experiment! These formatting tricks can help you create eye-catching posts and keep your Discord community engaged.
