Discord receives a constant stream of updates with bug fixes and new features, so it will try to update every time you open it. When a Discord update fails, it’s usually due to an internet issue, but it can also be due to corrupt files. Since Discord won’t open when it’s not updating, we’ve put together a troubleshooting procedure to get you back online and chatting as quickly as possible.

When a Discord update fails, you'll usually see something like this:

The most common cause of Discord update errors is internet connectivity issues. If you try to launch Discord without a working internet connection, you will see the message Update failed. Similarly, you will see this message if your internet goes out while you are using Discord.

Likewise, anything that interferes with the Discord app’s ability to connect to the Discord servers will also cause this error. Antivirus programs, firewalls, and other related things can all cause this error.