[Fixed] Discord Search Not Working on PC and Mobile‍

Written by: Hrishikesh Pardeshi, Founder at Flexiple, buildd & Remote Tools.
Last updated: Sep 03, 2024

Discord is a popular VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) chat application that is loved by gamers. Although the game was originally used by gamers, more and more non-gamers have started using the platform as a collaboration and team chat application.

The app has many standout features like custom servers, voice channels, and many app integrations. The versatility and customization feature that Discord offers make it one of the best apps to virtually hang out with your friends.

The platform has many brilliant features and one of those is the amazing in-built search bar that allows you to search effectively by adding filters to the search function results. But unfortunately, many Discord users have faced the Discord search function not working issue. This can be very frustrating if you urgently need to locate an old message on Discord.

So to help you fix the Discord search broken issue, in this article, we have written all the possible solutions you can try out so that you can search seamlessly on Discord. We have solutions for both PC and Mobile phone users, so keep reading to know more.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

How to fix Discord Search not Working on your Mobile Phone?

How to use the Discord Search feature?

The Discord search feature is easily accessible on the application. You can locate the search bar also known as the Quick Switcher in the top left corner of the screen. You can start searching by either clicking on the search bar or pressing the “Ctrl + K” keys to open the Quick Switcher.

This not only works as a search bar but is also an effective navigation tool to switch between personal chats, servers, and channels, hence the name Quick Switcher.

The pop-up will have a search bar with the text “Where would you like to go?”. You can start searching using the symbols @, #, !, * to narrow down the search result. These symbols essentially work as a filter where each particular symbol helps search a category. For example, @user, #channel, !voice channel, and *server. You can optimize your search using the symbols and track the right message without breaking a sweat.

On your mobile application, you’ll find the search button in the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen. Simply click on the “Magnifying Glass” icon to start searching. Here you can also find a filter button where you can choose between users, text channels, voice channels, and servers to start searching.

Why is the Discord Search not working?

There can be several reasons why the Discord search not working issue might occur. Before we go on to talk about the possible solutions to the Discord search broken matter, let’s first understand why the Discord search is not working.

The Discord server is down.
Slow or low bandwidth internet connection can also cause this problem. The Quick Switcher bar won’t load for you in that case.
Older versions of Discord are not compatible with this new feature. So an outdated Discord application might be one of the reasons.
Discord cache can also cause this problem as the cache might use up all the resources which won't allow the Discord search bar to load.
If Discord users are using Discord on Streamer mode, there is a possibility that it might interfere with the functionality of the search bar.
Better Discord can also be one of the reasons why the issue “Discord search not working” might occur.

Now that you know the reasons behind this issue, let's dive into the possible solutions for the Discord search broken matter. You can try them out to check if the solution works for you.

How to fix Discord Search not Working on PC?

1. Check Discord Outage Status for Server Errors

Before you proceed to check for any other issues, it’s better you first check the Discord running status. If the Discord servers are down you’ll not be able to access the search bar. So if the server is down, you’ll have to wait until the app is functioning as usual again to see if the Discord search broken error is resolved.

2. Replace or Fix Poor Internet Connection

If you are using Discord on your computer, you will notice that high-speed internet is essential to load the application and to ensure its proper functioning.

Low bandwidth or unstable internet might be the reason why the Discord search not working error might occur on your PC. So you can first quickly perform a speed test for your internet.

After the speed test if you think your internet speed might be the cause for the error then try switching to an alternative connection and check if Discord search is working.

3. Update Discord

Another reason why the “Discord Search not working” error might occur is when you are using an older version of Discord. So updating the application to the latest version should fix the issue.

The app looks for recent updates every time the application is launched on your computer. So gamers who never shut down their PCs might face this issue. As the app never gets a chance to update, it's always running in the background.

If that’s the case you can simply try to restart your computer and launch Discord. Or you can right-click on the Discord icon on the taskbar to close the window and restart it. The app will update itself after the restart. Check if the Discord search broken issue is resolved. If the issue persists, keep reading to find out about the other solutions.

4. Clear Discord Cache

You can try to clear the Discord cache files to fix this issue. The cache files build up over time and can hoard all your resources. This might cause the Discord search not working error. Keep reading the instructions below to know how to clear the Discord cache on your computer to fix the Discord search broken matter.

Click on the Start button and type in the text “%appdata%” in the search bar.

Here, search for the Discord folder, double click to open it.

Locate the cache file. Select the file and click on delete.

After clearing the cache files, restart Discord and check if the issue is resolved.

5. Disable Discord Streamer Mode

You can try disabling the Streamer Mode first to fix this issue. Many users have found this method useful so it should work out for you if you usually use the Discord Streamer Mode.

Launch Discord on your computer.
Go to the settings menu by clicking on the gear icon.

In the sidebar, select the Streamer Mode option.
Disable the Streamer Mode by clicking on the toggle button at the end of the Enable Streamer Mode option.

Check if the ”Discord search not working” issue is resolved.

6. Re-install Discord

If none of the other solutions have worked out for you to fix the Discord search broken issue, as a last resort you can try to uninstall and reinstall the Discord app on your computer. Here’s how you can reinstall the app.

Press the “Windows + R” key on your keyboard

Type the text “appwiz.cpl” to go to the Programs and Features in the Control Panel.
Select the Discord app and click on the Uninstall button.
After the app is uninstalled, you can follow the usual process to download the Discord setup file and install it.

7. Uninstall Better Discord

If you are using Better Discord along with the Discord app, uninstalling Better Discord might help resolve the Discord search not working problem. Many users have found this fix to be helpful so you can try this out.

How to fix Discord Search not Working on your Mobile Phone?

If you are using Discord on your Mobile phones you can try the following solutions to fix the Discord search broken error.

1. Check your Internet Connection

If your internet connection is slow it might cause an error. So check your internet connection or switch to a different network, to resolve Discord search errors.

2. Update Discord App

To update the Discord app on your mobile phone, you can simply go to the play store and search for Discord. If there are any latest updates, you’ll find the Update button. Click on the said button to update the application. Once the app is updated check if the problem persists.