Sometimes Discord servers no longer suit your needs, and it’s time to move on. Leaving a Discord server is a simple process that can be completed in a few clicks on both desktop and mobile devices. Whether you’re cutting down on digital clutter or departing from a community that no longer interests you, this guide will walk you through the steps to leave any Discord server quickly and easily.
Discord allows users to join numerous servers, but there’s no requirement to stay in all of them forever. If you want to stop receiving notifications from a specific server or simply wish to clean up your server list, you can leave a Discord server without affecting your other connections. Server owners need to take one extra step before departing – they must transfer ownership to another member first.
Leaving a server doesn’t mean you can’t return later. If you change your mind, you can rejoin the server at any time using an invitation link, assuming the server is still active and accessible. This flexibility makes it easy to manage your Discord communities without permanent consequences.
Leaving A Discord Server
Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide on how to leave a Discord server—whether you’re on desktop or mobile:
✅ How to Leave a Discord Server (Desktop & Mobile)
Leaving a Discord server is quick and easy. Follow these steps:
💻 On Desktop (Windows, Mac, or Web App)
- Open Discord
Launch the Discord app or go to discord.com and log in. - Find the Server You Want to Leave
On the left sidebar, you’ll see a list of all your servers. Click on the one you want to leave. - Click the Server Name
At the top of the channel list, you’ll see the server’s name. Click it to open a dropdown menu. - Select “Leave Server”
Scroll down the dropdown and click “Leave Server”. - Confirm
A confirmation popup will appear. Click “Leave Server” to confirm.
📱 On Mobile (iPhone & Android)
- Open the Discord App
Tap to launch Discord and log in if necessary. - Tap the Server Icon
On the left-hand side, tap the icon for the server you want to leave. - Open the Server Menu
Tap the three dots⋯in the top-right corner next to the server name. - Tap “Leave Server”
Scroll down and tap “Leave Server”. - Confirm
Confirm your choice by tapping “Leave Server” again on the popup.
⚠️ A Few Things to Keep in Mind:
- Once you leave, you won’t see the server in your list anymore.
- You won’t get notifications or messages from that server unless you rejoin.
- If you’re the owner of the server, you’ll need to transfer ownership before you can leave.
Key Takeaways
- You can leave Discord servers on desktop or mobile with just a few clicks through the server menu.
- Server owners must transfer ownership to another member before they can leave their own server.
- Leaving a server is reversible, and you can rejoin later using a valid invitation link.
Understanding Discord Navigation
Discord’s user interface is designed with simple elements that allow users to move between different sections. The server list appears on the left side of the screen in both mobile and desktop versions. Users need to understand how to access server settings and find the leave option to manage their Discord experience effectively.
Navigating to Server Settings
On a desktop computer, users can access server settings by right-clicking on the server icon in the left sidebar. This action opens a context menu with various options. Alternatively, users can click on the server name at the top of the channel list and then select the dropdown arrow next to it.
For mobile users, the process is slightly different. They need to:
- Tap on the server icon in the server list
- Swipe left to reveal the channel list
- Tap the three dots (⋮) next to the server name at the top
The Discord mobile app makes server navigation straightforward with a tap-based interface. Each server appears as an icon in the left-side menu, and users can switch between them with a single tap.
Locating the Leave Server Option
After accessing server settings, finding the leave option is the next step. On desktop, the “Leave Server” option typically appears at the bottom of the context menu when right-clicking the server icon. It’s highlighted in red to indicate it’s a significant action.
Mobile users will find the “Leave Server” option by:
- Tapping the three dots next to the server name
- Scrolling down through the menu options
- Selecting “Leave Server” near the bottom of the list
The option is intentionally placed at the bottom of the menu to prevent accidental clicks. Discord will always display a confirmation dialog before finalizing the action, asking users to confirm by clicking “Leave Server” again. This two-step verification helps prevent users from accidentally leaving servers they wanted to stay in.
Leaving a Discord Server
Leaving a Discord server is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few clicks. Users can exit any server they no longer wish to participate in, which will remove them from the member list and stop all notifications from that server.
Step-by-Step Process to Leave a Server
To leave a Discord server on a desktop computer, first locate the server in the left sidebar of the Discord app. Click on the server name to select it. Next to the server name, click the down arrow icon (on desktop) or the three-dot button on mobile.
From the dropdown menu that appears, select “Leave Server”. This option is typically found near the bottom of the menu. The process is similar whether using Windows, Mac, or the web version of Discord.
For mobile users, the steps are nearly identical. Open the Discord app, tap on the server you want to leave, then tap the three dots next to the server name and select “Leave Server” from the options.
If a user is the owner of a server, they must transfer ownership to another member before leaving. This can be done by going to:
- Server Settings
- Members
- Clicking the three-dot menu next to the desired new owner
- Selecting “Transfer Ownership”
Confirming Your Decision to Leave
After selecting “Leave Server,” Discord will display a confirmation popup to ensure the user truly wants to exit the server. This safeguard prevents accidental departures from servers. To finalize the process, click or tap the “Leave Server” button in this confirmation dialog.
Once a user leaves a server, several changes take effect immediately. The server will be removed from their server list, and they will no longer receive any notifications or messages from that server.
Any roles or permissions the user had in that server will be deactivated. If they wish to rejoin in the future, they’ll need a new invitation link from a current member.
Keep in mind that leaving a server does not delete any messages the user has already sent. Their past contributions will remain visible to other server members.
Special Considerations for Server Owners
Server owners have unique responsibilities when leaving Discord servers. They must either transfer ownership to another user or delete the server completely, as simply leaving isn’t an option while maintaining ownership.
Options to Transfer Ownership
To transfer ownership of a Discord server, owners need to follow a specific process. First, they should click on the server name and select “Server Settings” from the dropdown menu. Then, in the left sidebar, they need to navigate to “Members.”
From the members list, the owner should locate a trusted user who will become the new owner. After selecting the member, they can click on the three dots next to their name and choose the “Transfer Ownership” option. Discord will ask for confirmation before completing this irreversible action.
Some important considerations before transferring ownership:
- Choose wisely: The new owner will have complete control over the server
- Communicate clearly: Inform the new owner about their responsibilities
- Update roles: Review admin permissions before leaving
This process allows owners to leave their Discord server without deleting it, which is ideal if the community should continue.
How to Delete a Server
If maintaining the server is no longer desired, owners can permanently delete it. The process starts by clicking on the server name and selecting “Server Settings.” At the bottom of the left sidebar, they’ll find the “Delete Server” option highlighted in red.
Discord implements safety measures to prevent accidental deletions. The system will ask owners to enter their password and confirm their decision. Once confirmed, the deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.
Before deleting a server, owners should consider:
- Backup important information: Save any valuable conversations or resources
- Notify members: Give advance warning about the server’s closure
- Consider alternatives: Transferring ownership might be better than deletion
For personal reasons or management changes, deleting a server completely removes all channels, roles, and messages associated with it.
Impact of Leaving a Server
When you exit a Discord server, it affects both the community and your connection to its members. The departure changes the server’s member count and may trigger notifications to others depending on the server’s settings.
Effect on Server Membership
Leaving a Discord server immediately removes you from the member list and reduces the server’s total user count. For small communities, your departure might be more noticeable as it could impact the server’s activity level.
Large servers with thousands of members will barely feel the impact of a single member leaving. However, if you were an active contributor, your absence could affect discussions and community dynamics regardless of server size.
If you held special roles or permissions, your departure might create gaps in server management. Server owners cannot leave without first transferring ownership to another member.
Once you leave, you’ll lose access to:
- All server channels and messages
- Server-specific emotes and stickers
- Role-based privileges
- Voice channels and ongoing calls
Notification to Other Members
When you leave a Discord server, the visibility of your departure varies based on server size and settings. In most cases, Discord does not broadcast a public announcement when someone exits a server.
Server administrators and moderators can see member join and leave events if they have set up an audit log channel. This feature tracks membership changes and displays who left and when they departed.
Some servers use special bots that can be programmed to announce member departures in designated channels. These notifications might display your username and when you left the community.
If you were actively chatting before leaving, regular members might notice your sudden absence. In tight-knit communities, people are more likely to recognize when familiar members disappear from discussions and voice channels.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes leaving a Discord server isn’t as straightforward as it should be. Technical glitches and server configurations can create obstacles that prevent users from exiting servers when they want to.
Server Leave Button Not Working
One of the most common issues Discord users face is when the “Leave Server” option doesn’t respond. This problem typically stems from temporary client bugs or server-side restrictions. Users should first try refreshing Discord by closing and reopening the application.
If refreshing doesn’t work, clearing the Discord cache might resolve the issue. On desktop, this involves navigating to %appdata%/Discord and deleting the Cache folder, while mobile users can clear cache through their device’s app settings.
Some servers have configuration settings that prevent members from leaving, especially those designed for controlled environments. In such cases, users should contact the server administrator directly. The admin might need to modify server permissions or manually remove the user.
As a last resort, updating Discord to the latest version can fix bugs affecting the Leave Server function. If problems persist, reaching out to Discord support is recommended.
Server Not Visible in Server List
Sometimes users can’t leave a server because they can’t find it in their server list. This often happens when the server list is too long or the server icon has changed.
To address this problem:
- Use the server search function – Click on the server discovery compass icon and search for the server by name
- Check for server reorganization – Look in server folders where it might have been categorized
- Verify your internet connection – Poor connectivity can prevent servers from displaying properly
In rare cases, server visibility problems occur when a server has been deleted or you’ve been removed but the client hasn’t updated. Logging out and back into Discord forces a server list refresh, potentially resolving the visibility issue.
If the server was previously muted or hidden, check the muted servers section at the bottom of your server list. Some users forget that servers can be moved to different categories, making them harder to locate.
