Discord’s message forwarding feature is a welcome addition, bringing it in line with other popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram. This handy tool simplifies communication by allowing you to quickly share messages across different channels and direct messages without the hassle of copy-pasting. However, you might be asking, “why can’t I forward messages on Discord?” If you’re encountering this issue, you’re not alone.
This guide will delve into the reasons why you might not be able to forward messages on Discord and provide step-by-step instructions on how to use this feature once it’s available to you. We’ll cover common roadblocks and ensure you can smoothly share information across your Discord communities.
Understanding Discord Message Forwarding
Before we troubleshoot, let’s quickly understand what message forwarding on Discord is. In essence, it allows you to take a message, whether it’s text, an image, or a video, and send it to another user, group chat, or server channel. The forwarded message is clearly marked with a “Forwarded” label, indicating its origin without revealing the original author’s name in the new location.
This feature, rolled out starting July 2024, aims to improve user experience by making it easier to share relevant information and conversations within Discord. Now, let’s address the main concern: why you might not be seeing this feature yet.
Why Can’t You Forward Messages on Discord?
If you’re trying to forward a message and can’t find the option, or it simply isn’t working, here are the most likely reasons:
1. Feature Rollout is Still in Progress
Discord often releases new features gradually to ensure stability and gather user feedback. The message forwarding feature was initially rolled out to a small percentage of users before becoming widely available. If you’re among those who haven’t received it yet, the most probable reason you can’t forward messages is simply that the feature hasn’t been enabled for your account yet.
Discord has been progressively expanding access to this feature. Keep in mind that feature rollouts can take time to reach all users globally across different platforms (desktop, web, iOS, and Android).
2. Outdated Discord Application
Another common reason for missing features is using an outdated version of the Discord app. Message forwarding is a relatively new feature, so you need to be running a recent version of Discord to access it.
To resolve this, ensure your Discord application is up to date:
- Desktop/Web: Usually, the Discord desktop app updates automatically upon restart. You can also try closing and reopening Discord or pressing
Ctrl+R(orCmd+Ron Mac) to refresh the application. For the web version, ensure you refresh your browser. - Mobile (iOS & Android):
- App Store (iOS): Go to the App Store, search for “Discord,” and tap “Update” if available.
- Google Play Store (Android): Open the Play Store, search for “Discord,” and tap “Update” if there’s an update button.
Updating your app is a crucial step to ensure you have the latest features and bug fixes.
3. Potential Temporary Bugs or Glitches
While less common, there’s always a possibility of temporary bugs or glitches, especially during a feature rollout. If you’ve confirmed your app is updated, and the feature should be available, but you still can’t forward messages, it could be a temporary issue on Discord’s end or a minor bug within your app instance.
In such cases, try these troubleshooting steps:
- Restart Discord: Completely close and reopen the Discord application (both desktop and mobile).
- Restart Your Device: Sometimes, a simple device restart can resolve temporary software glitches.
- Check Discord Status: Visit the official Discord Status page (status.discord.com) to see if there are any ongoing server issues or outages reported.
- Reinstall Discord (Mobile/Desktop): As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Discord application. This can sometimes clear out corrupted data and resolve persistent issues.
If none of these steps work, and you believe the feature should be available to you based on general rollout timelines, it’s best to wait a bit longer. Discord’s features usually become available to everyone eventually.
How to Forward Messages on Discord (When You Can)
Once the message forwarding feature is active for your account, using it is straightforward. Here’s how to forward messages on both desktop and mobile:
Forwarding Messages on Discord Desktop
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Hover or Right-Click: Hover your mouse over the message you want to forward. You’ll see a context menu with reactions and options appear to the right of the message. Alternatively, you can right-click directly on the message.
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Find the “Forward” Button: Look for the “Forward” button – it’s represented by a speech bubble icon with an arrow inside.
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“Forward To” Window: Click the “Forward” button. A “Forward To” window will pop up.
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Select Recipients: In the “Forward To” window, you can search for users (DMs), group chats, or server channels. You can select up to five destinations to forward the message to simultaneously.
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Send: After selecting your recipients, click the Send button at the bottom right of the window. The message will be immediately forwarded.
Forwarding Messages on Discord Mobile
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Long Press: Press and hold on the message you wish to forward. This will open the message context menu on your mobile device.
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Tap “Forward”: In the context menu, tap the “Forward” option (the same speech bubble with an arrow icon).
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“Forward To” Screen: You’ll be taken to the “Forward To” screen.
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Choose Destinations: Similar to the desktop version, search for and select up to five users, group chats, or server channels to forward the message to.
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Send: Tap the Send button, usually located at the bottom right of the screen, to forward the message.
Forwarding to Different Servers or Users
The process for forwarding messages to another server channel or a direct message with a user is the same as described above. In the “Forward To” window or screen, simply search for the server channel (identified by the # symbol) or the username of the person you want to send the message to.
Message Forwarding FAQ
Q: Can I use the message forwarding feature yet?
A: The message forwarding feature is being rolled out to all Discord users. If you don’t see it yet, it’s likely still in the process of becoming available for your account. Keep your app updated and check back soon.
Q: Why can’t I see the forward buttons on Discord?
A: The primary reasons are: 1) The feature hasn’t been rolled out to your account yet, or 2) You are using an outdated version of the Discord app. Ensure your app is updated to the latest version.
Q: Is there a limit to how many places I can forward a message?
A: Yes, you can forward a message to a maximum of five different places (users, group chats, or server channels) at once.
Q: Does message forwarding cost anything?
A: No, the message forwarding feature is free for all Discord users and does not require a Nitro subscription.
Q: Will people know I forwarded a message from them?
A: No, forwarded messages do not display the original author’s name in the new location. However, they do include a “Forwarded” label to indicate that the message was shared from elsewhere.
Q: Can I stop others from forwarding my messages?
A: Currently, there is no setting to prevent other users from forwarding your messages on Discord.
Q: Do I need special permissions to forward messages?
A: No, message forwarding doesn’t require any specific permissions beyond the ability to view messages in a channel or DM.
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