How To Ban (or Unban) Someone On Discord?
Discord is a messaging application that is widely popular among gamers across the world. Its advanced features and high level of customisability have also led more mainstream users and teams to catch onto it. So much so, that these days you’ll find a Discord ‘server’ - i.e., chat group - for just about any topic you can imagine, with hundreds of like-minded members.
Since it is an open API, Discord lets developers tweak a lot its appearance and functionality to virtually create their own versions of the app. Even for less tech-savvy users, it offers extensive customisation options via built-in appearance themes, markup-based text formatting options, and much more.
However, one key feature that makes Discord stand out from the rest, is the high degree of control it grants to server moderators. Discord lets moderators kick out or ban members who have violated the server’s rules of engagement - for offences like spamming, trolling, etc. Further, any user who violates Discord’s own policies gets IP-banned by the platform.TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Types of bans on Discord
- How can someone get banned on Discord??
- How to ban someone on Discord
- How to kick out someone on Discord
- How to unban someone on Discord
- FAQs
Types of bans on Discord
Note that there are two ways someone can get banned on Discord:
- Server ban
- A server ban is enforced by a server’s administrator, wherein access to the server will be revoked from the banned member.
- They can no longer visit the server, send messages, or join voice channels within that server.
- Further, the server ban is based on the banned member’s device’s IP address, so they can’t just create a new account to come back.
- If users violate Discord’s policies, Discord gives them a permanent system-wide ban. Meaning, they can no longer connect to any servers on the platform.
- Further, like the server ban, the system-wide ban by Discord is also based on their device’s IP address.
- However, they can still create a new account on another device/ internet connection, or use a VPN as a workaround to a system-wide ban.
- This method of punishment is not a ban, but a mere removal from a server. Similar to a server ban, only administrators have the power to kick out members of their server.
- Sending spam messages on the server or DMs
- Sharing pornographic content
- Spreading negativity or chaos
- Sending inflammatory or derogatory messages
- Posting content that is abusive, violent, self-harming
- Behaviour that is discriminatory in any way, or hate speech
- Leaking private messages
- Any other illegal activity
How can someone get banned on Discord?
There are many reasons why someone could end up getting banned on Discord:
Note that there are several other reasons why someone might get banned by their server administrators. It depends on the server’s rules of engagement and Discord’s own policies.
How to ban someone on Discord
Note: As mentioned, only server administrators or owners can ban members from a server.
Here’s how to ban someone on Discord on the desktop, web, or mobile apps, by following simple steps:
How to ban someone on Discord web or desktop app (Mac & PC)
- Go to the server on Discord
- From the right panel, right-click on the member you want to ban
- Choose the ‘Ban’ option in the menu to ban someone on Discord
Step 1. Head over to the required server on Discord
Step 2. In the right sidebar on the screen, right-click on the member you wish to ban
Step 3. Click on ‘Ban’
Step 4. In the dialog box that pops up, select the desired option under ‘Delete Message History’, and specify (optional) the reason you want to ban that member
Step 5. Click on ‘Ban’, and they will be banned from your server
How to ban someone on Discord mobile app (iOS & Android)
Step 1. Navigate to the required server from the left sidebar
Step 2. In the channel screen, tap on the icon at the top-right corner
Step 3. Tap on the member you want to ban
Step 4. Tap on ‘Ban’ > choose the desired ‘Delete Message History’ option and enter the reason for the ban, if required
Step 5. Tap ‘Confirm’ to ban that member from the server
How to kick out someone on Discord
Only server administrators or owners can kick out someone from a server. To kick someone out from your server, just follow the above steps, but choose ‘Kick’ instead of ‘Ban’.
However, note that if you kick someone on Discord, they will be able to rejoin your server again with a new invite. But if you ban them, they won’t be able to do so.
How to unban someone on Discord
As with banning a user, you can only unban someone on Discord if you’re a server administrator. Here’s how to unban someone on Discord while on the desktop, web app, or mobile app:
How to unban someone on Discord web or desktop app (Mac & PC)
Step 1. Go to the server from where you want to unban someone
Step 2. In the left sidebar, click on the down arrow next to the server name
Step 3. In the drop-down menu, select ‘Server Settings’
Step 4. Scroll down to and click on ‘Bans’ at the bottom left of the page menu
A list of banned members will now appear on the right.
Step 5. Click on the member you wish to unban
Step 6. In the pop-up dialog box, click on ‘Revoke Ban’
Note: If there are a lot of banned members, you can search for the user in the search box to then unban them.
That’s it, after you’ve unbanned the member, they will be granted access to use the server again.
How to unban someone on Discord mobile app (iOS & Android)
Step 1. Navigate to the required server using the left sidebar
Step 2. Tap on the three-dot icon in the left sidebar next to the server name
Step 3. Tap on ‘Settings’ (the gear icon)
Step 4. Scroll down and tap on ‘Bans’
Step 5. Tap on the member you want to unban from the server
Step 6. In the dialog box that pops up, tap on ‘Unban’
That’s it, the member will now be able to access your server again.
FAQs
How long do Discord bans last, and are bans permanent?
A Discord server ban is permanent unless the server administrators decide to unban the member. Hence, bans can last anywhere from a few minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months. It all depends on the server administrator. However, not that a system-wide ban by Discord for policy violators is a permanent ban on that account.
Also, note that members can’t just create another account to log back in and join the server again, as Discord bans their IP address.
What happens if you ban someone on Discord?
If server administrators ban a particular member on Discord, then that member will no longer be a part of that server. They won’t be visible on the server members list and will lose access to the server - meaning they can’t post messages on that server’s channels, see messages, send, or get voice chats.
Further, banned members won’t be able to see other users of that server. If they try to re-enter the server via an invite link, they’ll be shown a message that the link has expired.
How can I get unbanned on Discord?
There is no way to get unbanned on Discord unless the server’s administrator decides to unban the member. So, a banned member will have to request the administrator to unban them, by reaching out to them via direct message and apologising for their actions. It will still be up to the administrator whether or not to unban the member.
However, if the server administrator has also blocked that member, the banned member can’t send direct messages to them. They’ll have to reach out via other platforms.Can you ban someone again after unbanning them?
Yes, it is possible to ban someone on Discord again even if they’ve been banned and unbanned before.
What happens when you unban someone on Discord?
When you unban someone on Discord, that member will regain access to the server - they can post on the server’s channels, send and receive messages, enter voice channels, and will be listed as a member of that server.
Further, an unbanned member will be able to qualify for the role of administrator, moderator, or any other roles within the server.