What this article covers:
This feature is currently an experiment and not available to all users.
What is a Language Filter?
The Language Filter allows you to hide certain words from messages you receive on Discord, now in DMs, GDMs, and in servers. This filter can help you reduce exposure to offensive or unwanted language, giving you a more comfortable experience on Discord. It works by redacting detected keywords with asterisks (****) from a pre-selected library of words.
The filter is opt-in, and allows you to turn it on and off whenever you’d like. This filter only runs on your Discord client locally, meaning, this automatic filtering does not happen on Discord servers and Discord does not read your messages to power this filter.
How to Enable/Disable the Language Filter
This feature is available on desktop, browser, and mobile.
1. To enable or disable this feature, tap on User Settings by selecting the cogwheel button [] in the bottom-left of the app.
2. Navigate to the Privacy & Safety tab.
3. Scroll down until you see Enable language filter setting toggle. Press the toggle button to the right of this setting, you can enable or disable the setting.
- Check mark means the setting is enabled
- X means the setting is disabled
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Discord reading my messages with this filter?
A: No, Discord does not read your messages with the language filter. The filter works directly on your device, so your messages stay private and are not sent to Discord’s servers for filtering.
Q: What types of keywords are filtered?
A: The filter uses the same keyword list as Automod, which filters words from a preset list selected by Discord of commonly flagged words in the following categories:
- Insults and Slurs: Personally insulting material, including terms that may be considered slurs or hate speech.
- Sensitive Content: Sexually explicit language.
- Severe Profanity: Egregious forms of profanity, while still allowing for mild forms of cursing or swearing.
Q: Can I add my own keywords to this list?
A: No, the filter is not customizable.
Q: Can I turn off or disable the language filter?
A: Yes, the filter is opt-in and can be enabled or disabled in the Privacy & Safety tab in your User Settings at any time. This setting is disabled by default.
Q: Can I view the blocked word in the message without having to turn the filter off?
A: No, you will have to disable the filter to view blocked words.
Q: When will we support other languages besides English?
A: We’ll explore options for supporting other languages in future versions.
Q: Where will the filter work?
A: The filter works in DMs, GDMs (group messages), or in servers where server moderators have not enabled Automod.
Q: Will the language filter apply to all devices I use Discord on?
A: Yes, the filter setting will apply across all devices you use Discord on.
Q: What should I do if I find a word that should be filtered, but isn’t?
A: There is no way to provide feedback on specific requests, but we’ll continue to evolve the keyword list overtime.