Discord Voice and Video Calls Now End-to-End Encrypted by Default

[MacRumors]

Discord says it has switched on end-to-end encryption (E2EE) by default for every voice and video call across its platforms, including desktop, mobile, web, and consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.

The rollout covers DMs, group DMs, voice channels, and Go Live streams. There's no opt-in required, or any setting to change. Stage channels are the only exception, given that they're built for broadcasting to larger audiences rather than personal chats.

The protection runs on DAVE, an open-source protocol Discord first introduced in September 2024. In a blog post, Discord's Mark Smith said building it was slow and complicated, partly because a single Discord call can mix people on phones, laptops, browsers, and game consoles in the same conversation. Announcing the change, Smith said:

"Building an E2EE protocol that works seamlessly across all of those surfaces simultaneously is, to my knowledge, unlike anything else that's been shipped. DAVE is likely one of the internet's most platform-diverse E2EE voice and video implementations."

Discord says it's now stripping out the remaining client code that allowed unencrypted fallback, so that encrypted calls will be the only option rather than a default. "We have no current plans to extend E2EE to text messages," added Smith.

The completed rollout stands in stark contrast to policy changes by Meta, which recently removed its encryption feature for Instagram DMs.

Article Link: Discord Voice and Video Calls Now End-to-End Encrypted by Default

 

[Ctrlos]

I'd use Discord but every time I look at their logo it just reminds me of a pigs' snout.

 

[Sanmi]

In 2026?

 

[Astuces iOS]

Well discord is better than insta I guess

 

[Corefile]

Why is E2E encryption even up for debate? Any service that doesn't encrypt over the wire deserves to fail.

 

[Apple Weeb]

The government should mandate that any digital communication service that meets some market share threshold must implement E2EE.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Didn’t read that right? Apple is now DISCARDING our voice and video calls?

 

[OS-SEX]

Discord STILL doesn't work with CarPlay.

 

[DestructoTim]

I find it hard to trust Discord being properly e2ee sealed, either due to malicious intent or just incompetence. Most closed source apps that claim privacy should be scrutinized this way, but in Discord’s case that goes double.

 

[Dj64Mk7]

As I stated in the comments on 9to5, notice what’s NOT encrypted still: direct messages and private server contents.

 

[spicynujac]

Discord was notorious for doxxing a bunch of people for their beliefs and speech a few years back--consider me extremely skeptical. I installed it to play Starcraft with some friends on an old PC, and noticed it defaults to "ALWAYS RUNNING" ie spying on you 24/7 unless you disable that in settings. I don't trust software that does that kinda stuff.

The other suspicious thing about it is that every time I played, it would have multiple updates it needed to install before running. It's a voice chat app! I never saw the functionality change. What were they changing almost DAILY in the codebase?

 

[applefan8254]

Discord is good and Im glad they finally added the ability to switch between 2 accounts on the desktop+web. Just wish they would add ability to switch between 2 accounts on the mobile app, thank you

 

[Starfia]

"We have no current plans to extend E2EE to text messages," added Smith.

They're only one of the most popular platforms in the world. Maybe in another decade they'll get around to that.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

They picked up what Meta put down

 

[ProbablyDylan]

It's a shame their apps are still electron-based on desktop. Not like being "native" did the mobile app any favors though.

 

[svish]

Good to see end to end encryption as privacy is protected. A very welcome move.

 

[uacd]

Hopefully there has been Telegram for ages. Who needs this slow and bugged piece of crap called discord. It looks so obsolete in 2026, but it was already obsolete when it was released in 2015.

Every single server looks like independent feudal state where you gotta kneel to the mods to be able to write messages in the chat. Audio quality is garbage, as other people noted it is made for spying on Windows PCs and the app itself is extremely slow.

At this point there are so many alternatives that I really question the existence of this app. If you are into specific communities - there is Reddit, if you want to call and communicate - Teams, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, iMessage, if you just wanna scroll content - TikTok and Insta (the plus you will get content ASAP and not a repost, since discord failed to become relevant for majority of people)

 

[Eorlas]

Hopefully there has been Telegram for ages. Who needs this slow and bugged piece of crap called discord. It looks so obsolete in 2026, but it was already obsolete when it was released in 2015.

Every single server looks like independent feudal state where you gotta kneel to the mods to be able to write messages in the chat. Audio quality is garbage, as other people noted it is made for spying on Windows PCs and the app itself is extremely slow.

At this point there are so many alternatives that I really question the existence of this app. If you are into specific communities - there is Reddit, if you want to call and communicate - Teams, WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, iMessage, if you just wanna scroll content - TikTok and Insta (the plus you will get content ASAP and not a repost, since discord failed to become relevant for majority of people)

“Extremely slow”

What are you using because it’s definitely not discord

 

[spicynujac]

At this point there are so many alternatives that I really question the existence of this app.

As I understand, Discord is primarily software for chatting with your friends while gaming (do a youtube search for LEROY JENKINS if you don't know what I mean).

I think it's a junk app, but I don't really know of anything better for a group voice chat program that runs in the background and is platform and game independent. Indeed, I only ever downloaded it because it's what all my gaming friends use and they wanted to talk to me while playing a co-op game. Otherwise, I agree, it wouldn't exist!