10 Little-Known Discord Features You Should Be Using

Discord is great for gaming, chatting, and building communities, but most of Discord’s best features are hidden in plain sight. Since you’re probably only using these basic features, you’re missing out on useful tips that make the app better, hiding right in front of your eyes. Whether you’re running a large server or just chilling with friends, these lesser-known Discord features are worth checking out to enhance your experience. Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty!

Table of Contents

• 1. Create your own chat shortcuts
• 2. Start a side chat
• 3. Plan your team meeting
• 4. Mute noisy servers
• 5. Hide secret messages
• 6. Quick edit with up arrow
• 7. Mark chat as unread
• 8. Hide muted channels
• 9. Calm the chaos
• 10. Showcase your game

1. Create your own chat shortcuts

Ever wish you could customize your chat shortcuts with the slash command and let Discord do all the work for you?

Go to Server Settings , click Integrations and create your slash command. You don't need to write code or have a bot; this is just a simple setup. Alternatively, you can use the built-in slash commands by pressing the / key .

You can try /hello to say hello to your friends, /roll to roll the dice if you like board games, or /wave to wave to your team. This simple Discord feature is fun and adds personality to your chat.

2. Start a side chat

A busy server can quickly become chaotic and messy. Threads are the solution to keep things organized.

Right click on any message, tap the three dots -> Create Thread and you will have a secondary chat. This feature is perfect for throwing out random chat or gaming strategy without clogging up the main channel.

This feature keeps everything organized. This is definitely one of the best Discord features for staying organized.

3. Plan your team meeting

Tired of typing “meet at 8” and hoping everyone sees it? Skip it and use Discord’s built-in scheduler.

Using the host drop-down menu, select Create Event and set the date, time, and type (voice, stage, or even external link). Your group will then be notified.

Planning a game night or movie streaming? Use this Discord feature and stop sending reminders. You can also combine this with Discord Go Live for a seamless movie party.

4. Mute noisy servers

We've all been on a server that pings @everyone and it can be annoying, especially if the information isn't up to par. So you can turn that noise off without stress.

Navigate to User Settings -> Notifications and enable Suppress @everyone and @here for that server.

This is a lifesaver when you are in dozens of groups but only active in a few. One of the best Discord features that helps you get less distractions and peace.

5. Hide secret messages

How about revealing a surprise without spoiling it? Use spoiler tags in Discord. Just add || before and after your text, like ||birthday party at 8|| . This will hide the message until someone clicks on it.

Players can tease you with quest hints or sneaky plans, or you can be coy about birthday plans. It's a fun way to explore one of Discord's best features and add a little mystery to your chats.

6. Quick edit with up arrow

Have you ever had to delete an entire message just to find that typo? Next time you mess up a message, just hit the up arrow on your keyboard for a quick fix. It will pull up the last text and you can change "teh" to "the" without any effort.

Stop fumbling around with menus and use this shortcut to save time. A great hidden Discord feature for quick editing.

7. Mark chat as unread

Have you ever tried to review a message that you scrolled through to find information but couldn't seem to find it? You can use this Discord feature to do just that.

Whenever you come across a message you need to review, just right-click it and click Mark Unread . This will make the message pop up in your sidebar as a little reminder.

One of the best Discord features for marking friend invites or rule updates that you'll need to deal with later.

8. Hide muted channels

If you're a server moderator or creator, you can mute chaotic channels. But did you know you can take it a step further and hide muted channels?

Once muted, go to the server menu, click Hide Muted Channels and voila – that channel is gone from your list. This is to keep your sidebar clean and clutter-free.

Meanwhile, you can learn how to set up a Discord server for more control tips if you're just starting out.

9. Calm the chaos

GIFs and animations can easily turn a relaxing conversation into a flashing mess. If you find yourself with too many, go to User Settings , navigate to Accessibility and turn off Play Animated Emojis or  Autoplay GIFs .

While they still work if you click on them, the autoplay chaos and spam will stop. This is a relaxing Discord tweak to tone down the hyperactivity and have a calmer chat.

10. Showcase your game

Are you playing something interesting and want Discord to show it to you? Go to User Settings -> Activity Settings and turn on Share your detected activities with others .

Your status will automatically show what you're playing, no manual updates required. It's a simple conversation starter and status booster. If you want to automate more fun things to show off, try creating a Discord bot.

These hidden gems are some of the best Discord features that can upgrade the way you use the app. They’re all free, built-in, and ready to use. Try them out and you’ll see why they’re worth it. Do you have your own favorite Discord tips? Share them in the comments below!