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This guide will walk you through the basics of using BetterDiscord, from accessing settings to installing your first addons.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
  • Installed BetterDiscord following the installation guide
  • Restarted Discord and verified BetterDiscord is active

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Accessing BetterDiscord settings

1

Open Discord settings

Click the gear icon (User Settings) in the bottom left of Discord, next to your username.
2

Find BetterDiscord sections

Scroll down in the settings menu to find the BetterDiscord sections:
  • Plugins - Manage and configure plugins
  • Themes - Manage and preview themes
  • Custom CSS - Write your own custom styles
These sections appear below Discord’s native settings.
If you don’t see BetterDiscord settings, make sure you fully restarted Discord after installation.

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Installing your first theme

Themes change Discord’s appearance using custom CSS. Let’s install one from the BetterDiscord website.
1

Browse available themes

Visit betterdiscord.app and browse the themes section to find one you like.You can filter by categories, search for specific styles, and preview themes before downloading.
2

Download the theme

Click on a theme you want to install, then click the download button. The file will have a .theme.css extension.
Save the theme file somewhere you can easily find it, like your Downloads folder.
3

Open the themes folder

In Discord, open User Settings and navigate to the Themes section in BetterDiscord.Click the “Open Themes Folder” button at the top. This will open your BetterDiscord themes folder.
4

Add the theme file

Move or copy the downloaded .theme.css file into the themes folder that just opened.
The theme should appear in your BetterDiscord themes list immediately. If it doesn’t, try clicking the reload icon.
5

Enable the theme

Back in Discord’s Themes settings, you should see your new theme listed. Toggle the switch next to it to enable it.The theme will apply immediately - no restart required!
You can enable multiple themes at once. They will be applied in order, with themes lower in the list overriding earlier ones.

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Installing your first plugin

Plugins add new functionality to Discord. Let’s install one from the BetterDiscord website.
1

Browse available plugins

Visit betterdiscord.app and browse the plugins section.Read the plugin descriptions to understand what each one does before installing.
Only install plugins from trusted sources. Malicious plugins could compromise your account or data.
2

Download the plugin

Click on a plugin you want to install, then click the download button. The file will have a .plugin.js extension.
3

Open the plugins folder

In Discord, open User Settings and navigate to the Plugins section in BetterDiscord.Click the “Open Plugins Folder” button at the top. This will open your BetterDiscord plugins folder.
4

Add the plugin file

Move or copy the downloaded .plugin.js file into the plugins folder that just opened.
The plugin should appear in your BetterDiscord plugins list immediately. If it doesn’t, try clicking the reload icon.
5

Enable the plugin

Back in Discord’s Plugins settings, you should see your new plugin listed. Toggle the switch next to it to enable it.The plugin will activate immediately and may add new features or modify existing ones.
6

Configure the plugin (optional)

Many plugins have settings you can customize. Click the gear icon next to the plugin to access its settings.Explore the options to customize the plugin’s behavior to your preferences.
Hover over setting options to see tooltips explaining what they do.

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Quick installation method

There’s an even faster way to install addons if you already have the files:
  1. Download a plugin or theme file
  2. Simply drag and drop the file directly into Discord’s window
  3. BetterDiscord will automatically detect it and move it to the correct folder
This drag-and-drop method works for both .plugin.js and .theme.css files.

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Using custom CSS

For advanced users who want to write their own styles:
1

Open Custom CSS editor

Navigate to User Settings > Custom CSS in the BetterDiscord sections.
2

Write your CSS

The Custom CSS editor lets you write CSS that will be applied to Discord. This is perfect for small tweaks or testing before creating a full theme.Example - Change the accent color:
:root {
  --brand-experiment: #ff6b6b;
}
3

Enable and save

Toggle “Enable Custom CSS” at the top, then use Ctrl+S (or Cmd+S on Mac) to save and apply your changes.
Use the live preview feature to see your changes in real-time as you type.

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Managing your addons

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Enabling and disabling

Toggle addons on and off using the switches in the Plugins or Themes settings. This is useful for troubleshooting or temporarily disabling features.

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Updating addons

Many plugins can auto-update, but themes and some plugins require manual updates:
  1. Check the plugin/theme’s page on the BetterDiscord website or GitHub for updates
  2. Download the new version
  3. Replace the old file in your plugins/themes folder with the new one

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Removing addons

To remove an addon:
  1. Disable it using the toggle switch
  2. Click the trash/delete icon next to it, or manually delete the file from the plugins/themes folder

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Troubleshooting

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Addon isn’t showing up

  • Make sure the file has the correct extension (.plugin.js or .theme.css)
  • Try clicking the reload icon in the Plugins or Themes settings
  • Check that the file isn’t corrupted by re-downloading it

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Plugin isn’t working

  • Check the plugin settings for any required configuration
  • Look for error messages in the console (Ctrl+Shift+I, then Console tab)
  • Make sure the plugin is compatible with your Discord version
  • Try disabling other plugins to check for conflicts

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Theme looks broken

  • Themes can break when Discord updates its interface
  • Check if the theme has been updated for the current Discord version
  • Try disabling other themes to check for conflicts
  • Some themes may conflict with certain plugins
If Discord is crashing or behaving erratically, try disabling all addons to see if one is causing the issue. Enable them one by one to identify the culprit.

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Getting help

If you run into issues:
  1. Check the #faq channel on the BetterDiscord Discord server
  2. Search for similar issues in the #support channels
  3. Read the plugin/theme documentation for specific addon issues

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Next steps

Now that you know the basics:
Experiment with different combinations of themes and plugins to create your perfect Discord experience!

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