How to get started on Discord and join 01net

Discord is a chat application combining instant messaging, discussion board and audio meeting. Originally created to allow gamers to communicate while playing online, the tool can actually be used for many other things.

Discord works around a system of servers that must be joined, such as a forum, within which several discussion channels, text or voice, allowing members to exchange on various subjects.

Recently, 01net is also present on Discord. You can meet us there to ask questions about products that interest you, that you have a problem with. The editorial staff or members of the 01net community will also be able to discuss useful and interesting software or services with you. In short, you will find everything on 01net.com on Discord and will be able to share your passion for tech.

1. Download and install Discord

Start by downloading and installing Discord on your machine. If the service has a web version, the dedicated, more complete application will be easier to use from a computer and will not be lost in the middle of a forest of tabs in your web browser.

Download Discord for Windows (Free)
Download Discord for Mac (Free)
Download Discord for Linux (Free)
Download Discord for Android (apk) (Free)
Download Discord for iPhone / iPad (Free)

2. Create an account

Once the application is installed on your machine, launch it, log into your account if you already have one, or click Register to create one.

Signing up to Discord isn’t too complicated. You will be asked to enter your email address, choose a username and password, and indicate your date of birth. When your account is created, log in.

3. Discover the interface

At first glance, Discord’s interface can be quite confusing. It is actually quite easy to understand. It is divided into four distinct columns with, from left to right:

• the discussion servers to which you are subscribed or which you manage (1)
• the list of channels of the selected server (2)
• the viewing pane of messages published in the chosen channel (3)
• the list of users present on the server and their role (4)

Each server works like a classic discussion forum, with the difference that the average user cannot create a new topic (unless they are an administrator of a server).
You will therefore find in the column dedicated to discussion channels, several sections in which it is possible to discuss with other members in thematic conversations defined on the server.

As in any messaging service or discussion forum, users can post messages there, reply to users by clicking on the button provided for this purpose, or even mention a member of the server by entering @ followed by the name of the person to question.
You can also send files (document, image, video), animate your responses using GIFs, or even react by sending emojis.

All Textual Lounges can be recognized by the acronym # which precedes them. But it is also possible to communicate with the members of a server in voice rooms, recognizable by the icon representing a loudspeaker.
Be careful, however, when you click on a voice room, you will be connected immediately. So make sure your microphone is muted if you don’t want all the other connected members to hear you if you have nothing to say.
Note that voice rooms also allow you to activate video or screen sharing.

4. Create your server

If you are passionate about a subject or want to be able to communicate with your friends or your community, you can create your own server. To do this, click on the + button displayed at the bottom left, in the servers column. You can either use an existing server model, or create your own server from scratch.

After choosing the name of your server and customizing its icon, click on the Create button. Your server is now ready to receive your guests.

Then click on Invite your friends and copy the link to join your server. You will need to share it with your friends, relatives, colleagues or anyone else who might be interested in order for them to access your server.

Do not forget to check the option Configure this link so that it never expires so that your link remains functional for more than one day, or click on the icon showing a toothed wheel to define the period of validity of your invitation link.

Once your server is created and your friends invited, you can create new text or voice rooms. To do this, click on the + button displayed next to Text lounges Where Voice rooms and enter the name of the new salon.

To find your way around, click on the arrow displayed next to your server name to Create a category. This will allow you to classify your different exhibitions according to the themes that are discussed there.

5. Join a public server

If you don’t feel like a living room administrator, you can do without it and use Discord as a simple participant. You can find new public servers to subscribe to by clicking on the compass icon from the left server column.

The home page for public servers displays many suggested servers that can be explored by categories. You can also use the dedicated search engine to find a specific server, or to search for servers that may match your interests.

When you enter a server for the first time without being a member, a pop-up will appear and outline what you will find there. You can either close this window or just click I’ll just take a look to explore the server a bit before possibly joining it.

In preview mode, you can only read content, but not reply to messages posted by other users.

If a server caught your attention and you want to join it, click the Join button, displayed at the top of the window.

Then click on Finish, read the server-specific rules (you have to scroll through everything), check the box I have read and accepted the rules, and validate your registration by clicking on the Send button.

As a member of the server, you can now post content, chat with other members, reply to conversations, and more.