Does Discord Automatically Know What Game You’re Playing?
Yes, Discord can automatically detect what game you are playing on your computer. This is a built-in feature designed to enhance user experience by allowing you to share your gaming activity with friends and fellow server members. Discord achieves this through its “Game Activity” feature, which scans your running processes to identify games. However, the extent to which Discord displays this information, and how it’s managed, is ultimately in your control.
Understanding Discord’s Game Detection
Discord’s ability to detect games isn’t magic; it relies on identifying running processes and matching them against a database of known games. This allows Discord to display a rich presence, showing your friends exactly what you’re up to in the gaming world. This feature not only displays the game’s name but can also integrate with the game itself, allowing you to share details like the specific level you’re on or your current score if the game supports Discord’s Rich Presence API.
The “Automatically Detect Games” Feature
The core of this functionality lies within the “Automatically Detect Games” setting. When enabled, Discord actively monitors your system for running applications it recognizes as games. Once a game is identified, Discord updates your status, making it visible to your friends and others on the server.
Customizing Your Game Activity Status
While automatic detection is convenient, Discord also allows you to manually add games or software that it may not automatically recognize. This feature allows you to show off any application as your current activity, even if it’s not technically a game. You can add these by clicking the “Add it!” link within the “Game Activity” tab.
Privacy Considerations and Control
While this feature is useful, it’s important to understand the implications for your privacy. Some users might be concerned about Discord constantly monitoring their running processes. Fortunately, Discord provides ample control over this functionality.
Disabling Automatic Game Detection
If you prefer not to share your gaming activity automatically, you can easily disable the “Automatically Detect Games” feature. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open Discord and go to User Settings by clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left corner.
- In the User Settings menu, navigate to the “Game Activity” tab on the left sidebar.
- Under the “Game Activity” tab, toggle the “Automatically Detect Games” option to the off position.
Hiding Specific Games
Even with automatic detection enabled, you can choose to hide specific games from being displayed in your status. This is useful if you want to keep certain gaming activities private while still enjoying the convenience of automatic detection for other games. You can hide a specific game by hovering over it within the “Game Activity” tab, and then clicking the eye icon.
Discord and Your Data
It’s also important to consider how Discord uses the information it gathers about your activity. According to Discord’s privacy policy, the company collects and stores information such as your IP address, device ID, and your activities within the Services. This data is used to improve Discord’s services, understand user behavior, and personalize your experience.
If you have questions about learning through games and how these technologies are evolving, visit the Games Learning Society website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Discord and its game detection capabilities:
1. How do I manually add a game to Discord if it’s not automatically detected?
To manually add a game, open Discord, go to User Settings > Game Activity. If the game is running, it should appear at the top of the screen and you can click “Add it!”. If it is not running then start the game, wait a couple of minutes, then go back to the Game Activity tab, and it should appear at the top of the screen. You can then click “Add it!”. If the game still does not show up, it is likely the game is not compatible with the Discord “Game Activity” feature.
2. Can Discord see what websites I’m browsing?
No, Discord does not track or display what websites you are browsing. Its activity detection is primarily focused on identifying running applications, particularly games and software.
3. Does Discord monitor my overall computer activity?
Discord’s monitoring is primarily related to identifying running applications and activities within the Discord app itself. It collects data like your IP address and device ID, but it doesn’t generally monitor your overall computer activity beyond what’s necessary for its core features.
4. Will disabling “Automatically Detect Games” prevent Discord from collecting any data about my activity?
Disabling “Automatically Detect Games” stops Discord from actively scanning for and displaying your gaming activity. However, Discord still collects other data as outlined in its privacy policy, such as your IP address, device ID, and how you use the Discord service itself.
5. Can Discord see my video calls?
According to the provided text, Discord does not record or monitor video or voice calls.
6. Can Discord server owners see my phone number?
No, Discord server owners cannot see your phone number. This information is kept private by Discord.
7. What does it mean when Discord shows me as “Idle”?
The “Idle” status (yellow moon) appears when you have the Discord application open, but you haven’t interacted with your desktop or the Discord app itself for a certain amount of time (usually around 5 minutes on desktop and 10–15 minutes on web).
8. Can I stop Discord from showing me as “Idle”?
Yes, setting your status to “Do Not Disturb” will prevent your status from changing to “Idle”.
9. Can Discord detect Netflix or YouTube activity?
While Discord doesn’t directly detect Netflix, you can stream Netflix using the screen share feature. For YouTube, you can use a browser extension to show what you’re watching as a custom status on your Discord profile.
10. How long does Discord stay “Idle”?
On the Discord web or desktop app, your status will change to “Idle” about 10–15 minutes after you stop interacting with the app.
11. Can police track a deleted Discord account?
Yes, deleting your Discord account doesn’t erase all your information. Discord can provide user information, including your IP address and login history, to law enforcement when they receive enforceable legal process.
12. Are my Discord conversations monitored?
Direct messages are considered private and can’t be viewed by others outside the channel. However, if a message is reported, Discord admins will have access to the chat to investigate.
13. Can Discord staff see deleted DMs?
If a message was deleted by someone else, the audit log will indicate that a message was deleted, but it won’t show the content. Discord staff can not view the contents of deleted messages without special third-party bot logging.
14. What is the difference between “Idle” and “Invisible” on Discord?
“Idle” means you’re online but haven’t interacted with Discord for a while. “Invisible” means you appear offline to other users, even though you’re still logged in.
15. Why does Discord go “Idle” even when I’m playing a game?
Discord can go to “Idle” status if it has been left in the background, regardless of whether you are actively using other programs on your computer. GamesLearningSociety.org studies show that active engagement in a particular Discord server will prevent the idle status.
By understanding how Discord detects games, how to manage your privacy settings, and the types of data Discord collects, you can make informed decisions about your Discord experience and tailor it to your specific needs and preferences.