Whether you are uploading an image directly to Discord or sharing an image link, Discord typically provides an image preview for convenience. But all of a sudden, my Discord server stopped showing the previews. So, I have to download the image file or open the link just to view it. If you also experience this problem on Discord, here are solutions to fix Discord images showing as files or links on your server.
Table of Contents
1. Ensure Image and Link Previews are Enabled
The most common reason for previews not showing is that you might have accidentally disabled them. Follow these steps to check:
- Open the Discord server, go to User Settings > Chat.
- Under Display images, videos, and lolcats, ensure the toggles next to When posted as links to chat and When uploaded directly to Discord options are enabled.
2. Check Image File Format
Discord supports specific file formats like PNG, JPG, JPEG, and GIF. If the image is in a different format (e.g., SVG), Discord won’t show a preview and will display it as a file instead.
To get the preview, the only way is to convert the image file format before sending.
3. Enable Embed Links Permission
Several servers are very strict about the kind of images you can share and thereby tweak the permissions. So when images aren’t visible on your servers, it might be due to role permissions:
- Open the Discord app, go to Server Settings > Roles > [Your Role] > Permissions.
- Ensure Embed Links is turned on.
If you can’t access server settings, ask a server moderator or admin for help.
4. Check for Discord Bots Interfering With Messages
Some Discord bots can access your entire account, not just a specific server. These bots are automatically installed to your account when you add them to any server. Make sure none of these bots are interfering with previews.
- In the Discord app, go to User Settings > Authorized Apps to see all the bots installed on your account.
- Deactivate each bot one by one and check if the issue is resolved.
5. Check Browser Extensions (Web)
Some browser extensions can interfere with how web pages display content, including images and links.
Disable any browser extensions that might be interfering with Discord, especially ad and Javascript blockers or privacy tools. Check Discord after disabling each extension to identify the culprit.
6. Disable VPN or Firewalls
VPNs and firewalls can sometimes block or interfere with the loading of images and other content. Turn off any VPNs or firewalls temporarily to see if this resolves the issue. If it does, you may need to adjust the settings of your VPN or firewall.
7. Check Internet Speed and Stability
A slow or unstable internet connection can prevent images from loading properly. Ensure your internet connection is stable and fast enough to load images. You can use online tools to check your internet speed and troubleshoot any issues with your connection.
8. Disable Hardware Acceleration (on Desktop only)
Hardware acceleration means using your GPU instead of CPU. This can sometimes cause display issues, depending on your hardware and drivers.
- Launch the Discord app, then go to User Settings > Advanced > Hardware Acceleration.
- Turn off the toggle and restart Discord.
If you are using Discord on the web, you can disable hardware acceleration on the browser. Go to browser settings > System and disable the hardware acceleration or graphics acceleration option. Some browsers may not have Hardware Acceleration support.
9. Update or Force Restart Restart Discord App
Temporary glitches can easily get fixed by updating the app or by force restarting. If there is an update, you will see it at the top-right corner of the app on the desktop. On Android and iOS, you can check for updates from the Play Store and App Store respectively.
If there’s no update available, try force-restarting the app.
- Windows: Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), select Discord, and click End task.
- Mac: Right-click on Discord in the dock and select Quit.
- Web: Close and reopen the Discord tab.
- Android and iPhone: Remove Discord from recent apps and reopen.
10. Reinstall the Discord App
Restarting the app should fix many minor glitches. If the issue still persists, you can try reinstalling the app. Note that when you uninstall, many app files stay on your system and can cause issues even after reinstallation. So you need to uninstall the app along with the data it stored on the system.
On Windows
- Uninstall Discord from the Start menu.
- Press Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open Run dialog box, type %appdata% in it, hit Enter to open the File Explorer, and delete the Discord folder.
On Mac
- Open Finder, go to Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
- Type the following command and drag the Discord app location into Terminal before you press Return.
sudo uninstall file://
On Android
- Long-press the Discord app, go to App Info > Storage and cache, and tap Clear Data.
- Uninstall the app.
On iPhone
- Long-press the Discord app and tap the cross icon.
- Select Uninstall.
After that, you can install the app again from the App Store, Play Store, or Microsoft Store on their respective platforms.
See Image Previews on Discord
By following these steps, you can fix the issue of Discord showing images as files or links. These will broadly get the images working on your Discord server and app.
