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How to Bold Text on Discord (Desktop & Mobile)

How to Bold Text on Discord (Desktop & Mobile)
⚡ Quick Syntax **your text here**

Wrap any text between two asterisks on each side to make it bold on Discord.

Shortcut: Ctrl + B or ⌘ + B

Bold text is one of the most used formatting tricks on Discord, yet many users still click around menus looking for it. Whether you want to emphasize a word in a message, make a heading stand out, or just learn proper Discord markdown, bolding text is the easiest place to start.

This guide covers how to bold text on Discord on desktop and mobile, including the keyboard shortcut, manual markdown, and what to do when bolding is not working. For a complete reference of every formatting option, check out The Ultimate Discord Text Formatting Guide.

How to Bold Text on Discord Desktop

On the desktop app and web client, you have three ways to bold text. Pick whichever fits your workflow.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut (Ctrl + B)

Type or select the text you want to bold, then press Ctrl + B on Windows / Linux, or ⌘ + B on Mac. Discord wraps it in ** automatically. This works in any text channel, DM, or group chat on the desktop app and web version.

Method 2: Type the Markdown Manually

If you prefer typing the syntax yourself, add two asterisks before and after the text with no spaces: **this will be bold**. Discord renders it in real time as you type, so you can see the bold result before hitting Enter. For example, **Discordify** is the best place to promote your server sends as "Discordify is the best place to promote your server".

Method 3: Use the Text Toolbar

Discord's desktop client shows a small formatting toolbar when you start selecting text. Click the B icon in that toolbar and Discord wraps the selection in bold markdown automatically. If you do not see the toolbar, use the keyboard shortcut or manual syntax instead.

How to bold text on Discord using the formatting toolbar

Bolding using the toolbar (Method 3) and manual markdown (Method 2)

How to Bold Text on Discord Mobile (iOS & Android)

Bolding text on mobile works a bit differently since there is no physical keyboard shortcut. You have two options.

iOS (iPhone / iPad)

  1. 1

    Type your message in the chat input.

  2. 2

    Select the word or phrase you want to bold by tapping and dragging the selection handles.

  3. 3

    Tap the B icon in the formatting bar that appears above the selection.

  4. 4

    If no toolbar appears, manually type **text** around your text.

Android

  1. 1

    Tap the message input to open your keyboard.

  2. 2

    Long-press or select the text you want to format.

  3. 3

    Look for the formatting toolbar above the keyboard and tap the B icon.

  4. 4

    If no toolbar appears, manually type **text** around your words.

💡 Mobile pro tip: On both iOS and Android, you can type ** manually at any time, even without selecting text first. Just type **bold part** normal part and it works perfectly.

How to Bold Only Part of a Word on Discord

Yes, you can bold only part of a word on Discord. Just wrap the section you want bold in ** markers and leave the rest of the word outside them. For example:

  • **Disc**ordify sends as Discordify (only the first four letters are bold).
  • Dis**cord**ify sends as Discordify (only the middle part is bold).
  • **Discordify** is great sends as Discordify is great (the whole word is bold).

This works for any position in the word. The bold markdown affects exactly the characters between the ** markers, no matter where they fall.

Bold Text Not Working on Discord? Try These Fixes

⚠️ Common Issues

  • You are using the wrong symbol. Discord bold uses ** (two asterisks), not underscores __ (that is underline). Make sure you are using asterisks on your keyboard (Shift + 8).
  • You are using a single asterisk instead of two. Discord bold requires two asterisks on each side (**text**). A single asterisk (*text*) creates italics, not bold.
  • You are in a code block. Text inside `inline code` or ```code blocks``` is displayed literally and will not render bold formatting.
  • The app is outdated. Some older mobile builds may have a buggy formatting toolbar. Try updating Discord from your app store.
  • The shortcut is not responding. If Ctrl + B does nothing, type the markdown manually instead (**text**). It always works.

Bold Text Discord FAQ

How do I bold text on Discord without asterisks?
Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + B (Windows) or ⌘ + B (Mac). On mobile, select the text and tap the B icon in the formatting toolbar.
Does Discord bold work with underscores?
No. Underscores (__text__) create underline formatting on Discord, not bold. Bold requires double asterisks: **text**.
Can I bold text in a Discord server name or channel name?
No. Markdown formatting only works in chat messages, not in server names, channel names, nicknames, or roles. Those fields use plain text only.
How do I send bold text on Discord mobile if the toolbar does not show?
Type the markdown manually: **your text here**. You can find the asterisk symbol on any mobile keyboard, usually on the symbols or numbers page.
Can I combine bold with italic or underline?
Yes. Use ***bold italic*** for bold + italic, or __**bold underline**__ for bold + underline. For more combinations, see our full formatting guide.
Why does my bold text show as **text** instead of rendering?
You might be in a code block (`), or you used spaces between the asterisks and the word. Remove any spaces inside the ** markers and make sure you are not inside a code block.