Your Rights Over Your Discord Data
You have the right to access and delete the personal data Discord collects about you. These rights are protected by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a European privacy law. Even if you're not in Europe, Discord extends these rights to all users.
Under GDPR, you have two main rights:
- Right to access — Request a copy of all the data Discord has collected about you
- Right to erasure — Request that Discord deletes your personal data
This guide walks you through both processes step by step.
In November 2022, France's data protection authority (CNIL) fined Discord €800,000 for GDPR violations including data retention issues. This shows these regulations have real enforcement behind them.
How to Request a Copy of Your Discord Data
Discord lets you download a full copy of your data directly from the app. You can follow along with Discord's official guide or the steps below.
On Desktop or Browser
- 1
Open User Settings
Click the cogwheel icon in the bottom-left corner of Discord, next to your username and avatar.
- 2
Go to Data & Privacy
In the left sidebar, scroll down and select Data & Privacy under the User Settings section.
- 3
Find the Request Data Section
Scroll down to the Request all of my Data section. You'll see a button labeled Request Data.
- 4
Select Your Data Categories
Click Request Data. A window will appear letting you choose which types of data you want. You can select specific categories or request everything.
- 5
Submit Your Request
Click Request My Data to confirm. Discord will send a download link to your email within 30 days.
On Mobile
- 1
Open Your Profile
Tap your avatar in the bottom-right corner of the Discord app.
- 2
Access Settings
Tap the cogwheel icon in the top-right corner to open Settings.
- 3
Open Data & Privacy
Scroll down and tap Data & Privacy.
- 4
Select Your Data and Submit
Tap the Request all of my Data button. A page will appear where you can select which data categories you want. Make your selections and confirm your request.
Your Discord account must have a verified email address before you can request your data. If you haven't verified your email yet, do that first in Settings > My Account.
What's Included in Your Discord Data Package
Your Discord data package is a downloadable ZIP file containing JSON files organized by category. Discord sends this file to your email after you request a copy of your data. According to Discord's official documentation, here are the main categories:
| Category | What's Included |
|---|---|
| Account | Username, email, phone number, account creation date, settings, connected accounts (Spotify, Twitch, etc.), friends list, blocked users, and payment information |
| Activity | Analytics events, session data, login history, and IP addresses |
| Activities | Data about Discord Activities (embedded games and apps in voice channels like Poker Night, Watch Together, etc.) |
| Messages | All your DMs and server messages, including timestamps and attachment metadata |
| Servers | List of servers you're in, your roles, and join dates |
| Ads | Information about advertisements you've interacted with |
| Support Tickets | Your Discord support ticket history |
The data package can be large if you've been on Discord for years. The JSON files are plain text, so you can open them with any text editor or use a JSON viewer for easier reading.
How to Request Data Deletion (Right to Erasure)
If you want Discord to delete your data, you have two options: delete your entire account or request selective deletion.
Option 1: Delete Your Account
This is the most straightforward way to remove your data from Discord. You can follow Discord's official account deletion guide or the steps below.
- 1
Transfer or Delete Your Servers
Before you can delete your account, you must transfer ownership of any servers you own to another member, or delete those servers entirely. Discord will block the deletion until this is done.
- 2
Access User Settings
Click the cogwheel icon in the bottom-left corner of Discord.
- 3
Go to My Account
Select My Account in the left sidebar.
- 4
Delete Your Account
Scroll to the bottom and click Delete Account. Discord will ask you to confirm by entering your password.
- 5
Confirm Deletion
Follow the prompts to confirm. Your account will be scheduled for deletion.
After confirming deletion, you have 15 days to change your mind. Simply log back in during this period to restore your account. After 15 days, the deletion is permanent and recovery is impossible. Download your data first if you want to keep a copy.
Option 2: Request Selective Deletion
If you don't want to delete your entire account but want specific data removed, you can contact Discord directly. This isn't a documented self-service feature, but Discord is required to handle GDPR erasure requests, and users have reported success with this approach.
- 1
Prepare Your Information
Gather your Discord username, user ID (found in Settings > Advanced > enable Developer Mode, then right-click your name), and the email address linked to your account.
- 2
Write Your Request
Compose an email clearly stating you're making a GDPR Article 17 data erasure request. Specify exactly what data you want deleted.
- 3
Send to Discord's Privacy Team
Email your request to privacy@discord.com. This contact is listed in Discord's Privacy Policy. Include all the information from Step 1.
- 4
Wait for Confirmation
Under GDPR Article 12(3), Discord has 30 days to respond. They may ask for identity verification before processing your request.
Example email:
Subject: GDPR Data Erasure Request
Hello,
I am writing to request the deletion of my personal data under GDPR Article 17 (Right to Erasure).
My account details:
- Username: @yourusername
- User ID: 123456789012345678
- Email: your.email@example.com
Please delete [specify what data you want removed, or "all personal data associated with my account"].
Thank you.
Important Limitations to Know
GDPR gives you strong rights, but there are some limitations to be aware of:
What Happens to Your Messages After Account Deletion
When you delete your account, your messages in servers are anonymized, not removed. They'll appear as sent by "Deleted User" but the content remains visible to other server members.
Discord doesn't offer a bulk message deletion feature in the app. If you want specific messages deleted from servers, your main option is to manually delete them one by one before closing your account.
Some users have reported success contacting Discord's privacy team with specific channel IDs and message IDs to request bulk deletion. Results vary, and some users have had to escalate through their national data protection authority to get results.
Data Retention for Legal Reasons
As outlined in Discord's Privacy Policy, they may retain some data even after a deletion request if they're legally required to keep it. This includes data needed for:
- Fraud prevention
- Legal disputes
- Compliance with law enforcement requests
Your Account Must Be Active
If you disable or delete your account before receiving your data package download link, it cancels your request. Make sure to wait for your data before taking any action on your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
You have the right to know what data Discord collects and to request its deletion. Here's a quick recap:
- To get your data: Settings > Data & Privacy > Request Data
- To delete everything: Settings > My Account > Delete Account (after transferring server ownership)
- For selective deletion: Email privacy@discord.com with your request
Discord must respond within 30 days under GDPR. If you don't hear back or have issues, you can escalate through your country's data protection authority.
Official Discord resources:
