How to Fix Messages Failed to Load Error on Discord

Do you see a ‘messages failed to load’ error on Discord?

Many users switch to Discord for its free services that allow you to manage an entire server based on your needs. 

While it is mainly designed for voice chats, many Discord users send tons of messages back and forth. 

Therefore, not being able to read these messages due to chats refusing to load can be an annoying experience.

messages failed to load error on discord

Today, we will show you what to do when you encounter the ‘messages failed to load’ error on Discord. 

Let’s get started!

1. Check Discord Status. 

The first thing you should check when messages fail to load on Discord is the servers. Being an online platform, you’ll likely encounter issues if Discord’s servers are down. 

Luckily, Discord provides a dedicated page where you can view the current status of its services. 

messages failed to load error on discord

If there’s an ongoing issue with the platform, the best thing to do is wait it out. 

On the other hand, you can head to the next solution if everything is in order on their end. 

Related: How to Fix Search Not Working in Discord


2. Check Your Network Connection. 

A slow or unstable network is usually the culprit for the ‘messages failed to load’ error on Discord. 

To confirm this, perform a test on your network using Fast.com to measure its bandwidth. 

Fast.com

If the test indicates a problem with your connection, restart your modem or router. This should refresh the connection with your ISP’s servers, resolving any temporary issues. 

  1. Find the power cable of your modem or router. 
  2. Now, disconnect the power cable from the outlet. 
  3. After 5 to 10 seconds, reconnect the power cable. 
Restart Router

Once your router has initialized, rerun the test to check if the problem is solved. If not, contact your provider and ask them to fix their service. 

3. Restart Your Device. 

If you still encounter the ‘messages failed to load’ error on Discord, you can try restarting your device. 

This should ensure that Discord’s resources are properly loaded on your system. Restarting your device should also resolve any temporary errors that may have occurred during use. 

If you are using a Windows computer, follow the steps below: 

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu
  2. Access the Power Options tab. 
  3. Click on Restart
Restart PC

For Mac users, see the guide below to restart your device: 

  1. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner to open the Apple Menu
  2. Now, select Restart from the drop-down menu. 
  3. Confirm your action by clicking Restart in the dialog box. 
Restart Mac

On iPhone X, 11, 12, 13, 14, or later, follow the guide below to restart your device: 

  1. Hold down the Volume Down button and Side button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt appears. 
  2. Now, drag the slider to the right and wait for 30 seconds. 
  3. Press the Side button afterward to turn on your device.
Restart iPhone

For older iPhone models, here’s how you can restart them: 

  1. Locate the Power button on your device. 
  2. Now, hold the button until the ‘Slide to Power Off’ prompt shows up.
  3. Drag the slider to the right and wait for 30 seconds before turning on your device. 
messages failed to load error on discord

If you’re using an Android device, follow the steps below to restart it: 

  1. Press and hold the Power button of your Android device. 
  2. Release the Power button once the options menu appears. 
  3. Tap on Restart
Restart Android

Go back to your server to confirm if the problem is solved. 

4. Allow Discord on Your Network or Mobile Data. 

Discord may not be allowed to access the internet on your device. This explains why your messages are not loading. 

To fix this, make sure that Discord is not blocked from your network or allowed to access your cellular data. 

For Windows users, here’s what you need to do: 

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to access the Start Menu
  2. Now, look for ‘allow an app through Windows Firewall’
  3. Click Open to access your Firewall settings
  4. In the upper right corner of the window, click on Change Settings
  5. Find Update from the list. 
  6. Make sure that it is allowed to access your public and private networks. 
messages failed to load error on discord

If you’re using an iOS device, follow the steps below: 

  1. Open the Settings app on your device. 
  2. Next, tap on Cellular Data
  3. Scroll down and find Discord
  4. Make sure that the toggle switch beside it is enabled. 
messages failed to load error on discord

On Android devices, here’s how you can manage mobile data: 

  1. Go to your home screen and open Settings
  2. Now, tap on Connections or Network & Internet
Connections tab
  1. Access the Data Usage tab. 
Data Usage
  1. Open the ‘Allowed Networks for Apps’ option. 
messages failed to load error on discord
  1. Tap on Discord and ensure that it’s allowed to use your mobile data. 
messages failed to load error on discord

Once done, go back to Discord and check if the problem is solved. 

5. Update Discord (Mobile). 

If you are using the mobile app, check if there’s an available update for Discord. There might be an issue with the version you’re using, explaining why messages are not loading. 

For Android users, here’s how you can update Discord: 

  1. Open Google Play Store on your device. 
  2. Now, tap on your Profile in the upper right corner. 
messages failed to load error on discord
  1. Tap on Manage Apps & Device
messages failed to load error on discord
  1. Access the Updates Available tab. 
messages failed to load error on discord
  1. Locate Discord from the list and tap the Update button. 
messages failed to load error on discord

If you’re using an iOS device, here’s what you need to do: 

  1. Launch the App Store on your iPhone. 
  2. Next, tap on your Profile icon in the upper right corner. 
  3. Scroll down and find Discord
  4. Tap the Update button beside the app. 
messages failed to load error on discord

Go back to your server after the update to check if you can now view messages. 

6. Update Network Driver (Windows). 

Another way to resolve this issue is to update your network drivers. A faulty or corrupted driver can prevent your network controller from functioning, causing network problems on your system. 

Follow the steps below to update your network drivers: 

  1. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu
  2. Look for Device Manager and click Open
  3. Expand the Network Adapters tab. 
  4. Right-click on your network controller. 
  5. Choose Update Driver and follow the prompts.
messages failed to load error on discord
  1. Restart your computer to apply the changes. 

Go back to Discord to check if the problem is solved. 

Related: How to Fix Cannot Connect Steam to Discord


7. Mark Messages As Read. 

For unknown reasons, marking messages as read on your text channel can resolve the ‘messages failed to load’ error. 

If you haven’t tried this, here’s how the process goes: 

  1. Open Discord on your device. 
  2. Now, go to your server. 
  3. Right-click on your text channel and select Mark As Read
messages failed to load error on discord
  1. Restart Discord. 

Try accessing your channel afterward to check if you can now view messages. 

8. Clear Discord Cache. 

App caches can also be the reason for the ‘messages failed to load’ error on Discord. Although they can improve Discord’s performance, caches accumulate over time and get corrupted. 

For Android users, here’s how you can clear Discord’s cache: 

  1. Locate the Discord app from your home screen. 
  2. Press and hold its app icon until the options menu appears. 
  3. Tap on App Info and access the Storage tab. 
Android App Storage tab
  1. Now, tap on Clear Data
Clear Discord Cache

If you’re using a Windows PC, follow the steps below: 

  1. Press Windows + R on your keyboard to open the Run Command
  2. Now, type ‘%appdata%\discord’ and click OK
Run Command
  1. Inside Discord’s folder, find these folders and delete them: 
  • Cache
  • Code Cache
  • GPUCache
messages failed to load error on discord

Once done, try viewing your messages to check if the problem is solved. 

9. Contact Discord. 

If none of the solutions above worked, the last thing you can do is seek help from the experts. 

Head to Discord’s support page and look up the issue you’re experiencing. You should see various threads and articles related to your problem where you can possibly find solutions. 

messages failed to load error on discord

You can also submit a request if you can’t find viable solutions to ask for assistance from Discord’s team. 

That ends our guide on how to fix the ‘messages failed to load’ error on Discord. If you have questions, drop a comment below, and we’ll do our best to answer them. 

If this guide helped you, please share it.

Author

  • John Sixto

    John is a staff writer at Saint and comes from a SAP ABAP development background. He has a Bachelors in IT and has been writing since 2018, with over 500 posts published. He loves to build PCs and has a deep curiosity in understanding how different components and configurations work. John spends hundreds of hours at a time, researching and testing the software and apps, before he proceeds to write about it. LinkedIn X (Twitter)

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