Do you like to let your friends know when you’re playing a game? Is the Discord game detection failing to detect your game and change your status accordingly?
It’s disappointing, right!
As a gaming enthusiast myself, Discord is my first choice to connect with my buddies and let them know what I’m playing through the Discord game detection and status changing feature.
But, one day, the game detection feature suddenly stopped working. I panicked and immediately started researching. Fortunately, after a couple of hours of exploration, I finally found the solution and fixed the issue.
Why is Discord not detecting the game?
This post will explain why the Discord game detection is not working and show you how to fix it back on track.
So, stay with me till the end and don’t skip any part to fix the Discord game detection issue.
Why is Discord Game Detection not Working
Discord game detection is not working because either it isn’t turned on in Discord settings, or Discord cannot run the game detection process in the background. Also, sometimes Discord cannot detect the game because it’s not on Discord’s database or if the game is on fullscreen mode.
There are several reasons behind Discord’s failure to detect games and change your status accordingly to let your friends know what game you are playing.
I’ve researched all the possible reasons behind this issue and listed them below with a short explanation.
Go through the reasons below to identify the one causing the game detection failure issue on Discord.
Here are the reasons behind Discord game detection not working issue:
Disabled Activity Status on Discord
The most common issue behind Discord’s Game detection not working is disabled activity status settings.
The game detection feature relies on Discord’s activity detection feature, which lets Discord detect your activities besides using the Discord app. If Discord cannot detect what you’re doing, it cannot identify what game you are playing and let your friends know that.
So, if the activity status settings are turned off in Discord settings, then game detection won’t work on your device.
Unsupported Window Orientation
Discord streaming isn’t on the same level as traditional streaming platforms like Twitch or YouTube Live. Discord’s inability to capture a full-screen application or gameplay activity for streaming is a significant example of that.
Discord cannot detect a fullscreen activity on your device, and it can only identify an activity if it’s on a smaller window. No doubt it’s a top-rated social communication platform, but sadly, Discord’s algorithm can still detect a fullscreen activity, although it’s a must for a streaming feature. You won’t feel as much joy as playing a game on a small window than playing it on fullscreen mode.
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Unlisted Game on Discord’s Database
If you’re playing a game that’s not listed on Discord’s database, Discord won’t detect the game. Hence, game detection won’t work for that specific game.
So, Discord has a database of popular games, and it helps Discord identify the game you’re playing easily. But, if you’re playing a game that is not listed on Discord’s database, then Discord will fail to recognize the game and change your status based on that game.
Backdated Discord App
If you’re using a backdated version of the Discord app or somehow postponed the Discord updates, then Discord cannot update the game list and detect your gameplays.
Discord continuously updates it’s game database and push updates to make the game detection even better. But, a backdated Discord app will be missing these features, and the game detection won’t work as an updated app. That’s why a backdated Discord app will cause game detection not to work.
Pirated Version of the Game
If the game you’re playing is a pirated version of the original game, Discord won’t detect it as your activity or change your status based on that.
Discord has a database of popular games, as I told you already. But, that list is based on the actual retail copy of the games, which won’t be the same as the pirated version of those games. If that’s the case, Discord won’t detect your game, and you might think that Discord game detection is not working.
How to Fix Discord Game Detection Not Working
Let’s jump to the reason you’re here for. I’ve bored you enough with my technical jibber-jabber but, now it’s time to fix your Discord game detection not working issue.
I’ve found the reasons why Discord game detection is not working, and after a lengthy research session, fortunately, I’ve found all their solutions. Now, I’m going to hand it over to you so that you can get out of the same gutter I was in a few days ago.
Below are the solutions to fix the issues behind Discord game detection not working with step-by-step guides. Go through them carefully before applying them to avoid any inconveniences.
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Here are the methods to fix Discord game detection not working:
1. Turn on Discord Activity Status
The Activity Status feature of Discord offers automatically detecting your screen activities. With this feature, Discord sets your status according to your activities.
It’s useful for your friends to know about your activities without doing anything in Discord. It’ll help you detect the game you’re playing, and you can instantly stream the gameplay on any channel with the help of this feature.
Follow the steps below to turn on Discord activity status:
- Open the Discord app.
- Go to settings by clicking the cogwheel icon beside your username.
- Scroll down and click on Activity status on the left pane.
- Enable Display current activity as a status message.
Now Discord will automatically pick up your activities and detect what game you’re playing.
2. Play Games on Windowed Mode
I told you that, Discord could not stream apps if it’s on fullscreen mode, and it can only detect a game or app through the activity status feature on a floating window. Otherwise, it won’t detect anything.
So, to make Discord detect a game, you need to resize it from fullscreen to a smaller window.
Follow these steps to fix Discord stream not loading by using apps on windowed mode:
- Open the Discord app.
- Go to settings by clicking the cogwheel icon beside your username.
- Scroll down and click on Activity status on the left pane.
- Enable Display current activity as a status message.
- Open your game.
- Escape fullscreen by clicking the restore down icon beside the close window cross icon on the top-right of the screen.
Hopefully, you won’t face the Discord game detection not working issue anymore.
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3. Add the Game Manually to Activity Status
If Discord fails to detect the game you’re playing, it could be that Discord’s database doesn’t have the necessary info about your game. In that case, you need to add the game to Discord’s activity status manually.
Follow the steps below to add a game to activity status manually:
- Open the Discord app.
- Head over to the settings by clicking the cogwheel icon beside your username.
- Scroll down and click on Activity status on the left pane.
- Enable Display current activity as a status message.
- Click on the Add it! Option.
- Select your game from the drop-down menu.
Discord will automatically detect it whenever you open the game and change your status.
4. Update the Discord App
A backdated Discord app will be missing the latest additions and features delivered from Discord developers. Also, it will be missing the newest game listings to detect them when a user plays them.
That’s why you need to update the Discord app. Although Discord updates itself on the start-up, if you’re running it for a long time, the updates cannot get the break installed on your device.
Follow these steps to update the Discord app:
- Open the Discord app.
- Click on the Up-arrow on the far-right on your taskbar.
- Right-click on Discord’s notification icon.
- Click on Check for updates.
- Press Ctrl+R keys to refresh the Discord homepage.
Nor if there are any updates, Discord will install them and hopefully detect your game with the new game listing.
5. Play the Authentic Version of the Game
As I told you, Discord won’t detect your gameplay if you’re playing the pirated version of the game.
Discord identifies your gameplay by comparing it with the info on it’s database provided by the publishers of the games. That authentic info will be missing on the pirated or cracked version of the game, which’ll make Discord unable to detect it and change your status through the activity status feature.
So, to fix Discord game detection not working, buy the original game and play it. It’ll also support the developers and motivate them to continue their outstanding work.
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FAQ
How do I make Discord detect a game?
To make Discord detect a game, Go to Discord settings>Scroll down and click on Activity status>Enable Display current activity as a status message. From now on, Discord will detect the game you’re playing and change your status accordingly.
Can Discord detect cracked games?
Discord cannot detect cracked, or pirated games, and cracked or pirated games are undetectable by Discord’s automatic program detection scan and Activity Status feature. Also, Discord sometimes fails to detect steam games because of this issue.
Why can’t I find the Discord Game Activity?
You’ll find the Activity status option in Discord settings. First, open the Discord app, go to the setting option and scroll down to Activity Settings. Now enable the Activity status option to let Discord detect the game you’re playing.
What Is Discord’s In-Game Overlay?
Discord In-Game overlay enables you to read the messages of your audiences straight from the game window without switching to Discord. This feature lets you participate in Discord’s messaging and voice chatting while playing a game.
Conclusion
In this post, I’ve explained everything you need to know about Discord game detection not working issue and provided you their solutions.
Go through the whole post more than once if needed and avoid any inconveniences while applying them.
If you have any further queries, feel free to comment down below. Out experts will get to you right away!
