Most users would agree that Discord’s user interface and design are simple, intuitive, and easy on the eyes. However, Discord is default set to use its light theme/background.
Some users find the light theme too bright, particularly when using Discord during nighttime.
If you want to enjoy a darker version of Discord, you will be pleased to learn that it is simple to change the background.
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Changing Discord Background
There is no feature available that allows you to freely customize Discord’s visuals or add a unique background image.
However, there is an alternative to modify its color scheme from bright to somber (or vice versa).
Follow the steps below to switch to the dark theme:
- Open User Settings and go to the Appearance tab.
- By default, the Light Theme should be selected. You can now select the Dark Theme.
That’s everything you have to do to switch the background from bright to dim.
With the limited settings available, there isn’t much about Discord’s appearance you can adjust.
However, there are some customizations you can add outside of the application. These require some extra work, but you will gain more freedom when adjusting the background and other features.
BetterDiscord
BetterDiscord is an open-source alternative to Discord. It is based on the original application but with a few excellent changes to certain features.
One of these changes is the ability to use CSS coding to add plugins and different themes. Effectively, this means you can change the background of your Discord to anything you want.
Follow this easy-to-follow guide to modify your theme.
First, visit the official BetterDiscord website and obtain the application. If you want the latest version of BetterDiscord, it’s best to acquire it from GitHub.
Once downloaded, launch the installer and complete the installation process. It is important to note that you must already have Discord installed on your device; otherwise, you won’t be able to install BetterDiscord.
Launch Discord as you normally would, and you should see a pop-up window for BetterDiscord patch notes. This means you have successfully installed the custom app.
BetterDiscord is now ready to use. To add a custom theme, you first need to download one.
There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can either use a website such as BetterDiscordLibrary, a library of CSS themes created for the BetterDiscord app, or join its official Discord server and check out the #theme-repo channel.
Once you have chosen and downloaded a theme you like, head back to the Discord app and follow these steps:
Adding Theme To BetterDiscord
- Go to User Settings and look at the bottom of the menu on the left to find the Themes tab under Bandaged BD settings.
- From here, click the blue Open Theme Folder button at the top.
- The folder will open in Windows Explorer. You need to add the .css theme file you downloaded.
- Head back to Discord and enable the theme you have added.
- Once enabled, the entire application should switch to the new theme.
That’s it! Your Discord will continue using this theme for as long as you don’t delete BetterDiscord.
The only other way to change the background or theme is by adding your CSS code manually. That method is not recommended because the app will reset to its default appearance every time you open it.
We hope you find this guide useful and that you can enjoy this new design of Discord!
