How to Install Vencord on Discord for Windows and Mac

Vencord is a popular client mod for Discord that adds themes, plugins, and quality-of-life features without breaking Discord’s terms of service. This guide walks you through installing Vencord on Windows and macOS, from downloading the installer to verifying the mod works. You’ll need a Discord account, a desktop browser, and admin rights on your computer.

What You’ll Need

A Windows 10/11 PC or a Mac running macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later
A Discord account (free or Nitro)
Administrator permissions on the computer
An internet connection
Discord Desktop app installed (not the browser version)

Step-by-Step

Close Discord completely. Right-click the Discord icon in the system tray (Windows) or menu bar (Mac) and select Quit. On Windows, also check Task Manager to ensure Discord isn’t running in the background.
Download the Vencord installer. Open your browser and go to the official Vencord website (vencord.dev). Click the Download button for your operating system. The file will be named something like VencordInstaller.exe on Windows or VencordInstaller.dmg on Mac.
Run the installer. On Windows, double-click the .exe file. If a SmartScreen warning appears, click More info then Run anyway. On Mac, open the .dmg file and drag the installer to your Applications folder, then double-click it. You may need to right-click and select Open to bypass Gatekeeper.
Select your Discord installation. The installer will automatically detect your Discord installation. If it doesn’t, click Browse and navigate to your Discord folder. On Windows, it’s usually C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Discord. On Mac, it’s /Applications/Discord.app.
Click Install. The installer will patch Discord. This process takes about 30 seconds. You’ll see a success message when done.
Launch Discord. Open Discord normally. You should see a small Vencord logo in the bottom-left corner of the settings gear icon. If you don’t see it, restart Discord.
Verify installation. Click the gear icon (User Settings), scroll down to Vencord in the left sidebar. If you see the Vencord settings page, the mod is installed correctly.
Enable plugins (optional). In the Vencord settings, go to Plugins and toggle any you want, such as BetterRoleColors or MessageLogger. Restart Discord to apply changes.

Common Mistakes

Not closing Discord fully. If Discord is running, the installer can’t patch the app. Always quit from the tray/menu bar and check Task Manager/Activity Monitor.
Using the wrong installer. Downloading the Windows installer on a Mac (or vice versa) will fail. Make sure you select the correct file.
Skipping the SmartScreen warning. Windows may block the installer. You must click More info and then Run anyway to proceed.
Installing on the Microsoft Store version of Discord. Vencord only works with the standalone Discord app from discord.com, not the Store version. If you have the Store version, uninstall it and download Discord from the official site first.
Not restarting Discord after enabling plugins. Some plugins require a full restart to take effect.

Tips

Back up your Discord settings. Before installing, note your keybinds and appearance settings. Vencord rarely resets them, but it’s good practice.
Use the Vencord updater. Vencord has a built-in updater in its settings. Run it regularly to get the latest plugins and fixes.
Join the Vencord Discord server. For support and plugin suggestions, join the official Vencord Discord community (link on the Vencord website).
Keep Discord updated. Vencord updates frequently to match Discord’s changes. If a plugin breaks, update Vencord first.
Use the Open Webpack Console plugin. This developer tool helps debug plugin issues if you’re comfortable with code.

Troubleshooting

Installer says “Discord not found.” Manually browse to your Discord installation folder. On Windows, it’s inside AppData\Local. On Mac, check /Applications. If you’re using the Microsoft Store version, uninstall it and install from discord.com.

Discord won’t launch after installation. This usually means the patch failed. Run the installer again and choose Repair or Uninstall to revert. Then reinstall Vencord. If the issue persists, restart your computer.

Vencord logo is missing. Open Discord’s settings and scroll down. If you don’t see Vencord, the patch didn’t apply. Close Discord and run the installer again as administrator (right-click → Run as administrator on Windows).

Plugins don’t work. Check if the plugin is enabled in Vencord settings. Some plugins require a specific Discord version. Update Vencord via the Updater tab. Also, make sure you’re not using another client mod like BetterDiscord, which can conflict.

Mac says “VencordInstaller can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.” Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll down, and click Open Anyway next to the Vencord installer. Then try again.

Vencord installs but Discord crashes on startup. This is rare but can happen after a Discord update. Uninstall Vencord using the installer, then reinstall it. If crashes continue, check the Vencord Discord server for known issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Vencord safe to use? Vencord is open-source and widely used, but it’s not officially endorsed by Discord. Using it violates Discord’s Terms of Service, though in practice, Discord rarely bans for client mods. Your account is at your own risk.

Will Vencord get me banned? Discord’s ToS prohibits client modifications. However, Vencord is designed to be undetectable, and bans for client mods are extremely rare. That said, there’s no guarantee, so use it on a secondary account if you’re concerned.

Can I install Vencord on the browser version of Discord? No, Vencord only works with the desktop app. It patches the native client.

Do I need to reinstall Vencord after every Discord update? Yes, Discord updates overwrite the patch. Vencord has an auto-updater that re-applies after Discord updates, but if it fails, run the installer again.

Can I use Vencord and BetterDiscord together? No, they conflict. Uninstall one before installing the other.

How do I uninstall Vencord? Run the installer again and select Uninstall. This removes all patches and restores Discord to its original state.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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