Discord uses a customized version of Markdown to let you format your messages with bold, italics, underlines, code blocks, and more. Whether you want to emphasize a word, share a link without the ugly URL, or write colored text inside a code block, this guide covers every formatting option available on Discord in 2026.
Each section links to a dedicated guide with full step-by-step instructions for desktop and mobile. Bookmark this page as your central reference.
Instant Cheat Sheet: All Discord Formatting at a Glance
Copy any syntax from the table below and paste it directly into Discord. Replace text or URL with your own content.
| To Style Text Like This... | Type This into Discord: |
|---|---|
Bold Text | **Your Text Here** |
Italic Text | *Your Text Here* or _Your Text Here_ |
Underlined Text | __Your Text Here__ |
~~Your Text Here~~ | |
Inline Code Block | `Your Text Here` |
[Discordify](https://discordify.net) | |
Colored Text | Use the Discord Colored Text Generator (ANSI codes cannot be typed manually) |
Basic Typography: Bold, Italics, Underline, Strikethrough
Discord uses a customized version of Markdown for simple text styling. These are the formatting options you will use most often in everyday chat. Each one uses a pair of symbols placed before and after your text. You can also combine them, like __**bold and underlined**__ or ***bold and italic***.
Bold
Wrap text in **two asterisks** or use Ctrl + B.
Italic
Wrap text in *single asterisks* or use Ctrl + I.
Underline
Wrap text in __two underscores__ or use Ctrl + U.
Strikethrough
Wrap text in ~~two tildes~~ or use Ctrl + Shift + X.
- Want a step-by-step mobile tutorial? Check out our dedicated guide on How to Bold Text on Discord (Desktop & Mobile).
- Need to cross out a correction? See How to Strikethrough Text on Discord (Cross Out Text).
Structuring Your Server Channels: Headers, Lists, and Quotes
Server owners can clean up their #rules and #announcements channels using structural Markdown. Headers make titles pop, lists organize information, and blockquotes separate quoted content from original text. These formatting options are especially useful for pinned messages and welcome posts.
- Make your announcement text stand out with How to Use Headers and Subtext in Discord Markdown.
- Organize your rules perfectly by reading How to Create Bulleted and Numbered Lists on Discord.
- Reply to specific points clearly with How to Quote Text on Discord (Blockquotes 101).
- Add a small disclaimer or date with subtext using
-# text.
Advanced Discord Tricks: Code Blocks, Links, and Colors
Discord allows for rich developer-style formatting, including inserting clickable links behind your text and using colored ANSI strings inside code blocks. These options are more technical but add a lot of personality and professionalism to your messages.
Code Blocks
Use `single backticks` for inline code or ```triple backticks``` for multi-line blocks. Add a language tag for syntax highlighting.
Timestamps
Use <t:UNIX:S> to display dynamic times that auto-convert to each viewer's timezone. Generate the code instantly with our Discord Timestamp Generator.
Masked Links
Hide any URL behind clickable text using [text](URL). Wrap the URL in angle brackets to suppress the embed preview.
ANSI Colors
Use escape codes inside a ```ansi block to write in red, green, blue, pink, cyan, and more. Generate the codes with our Discord Colored Text Generator.
Colored text only renders on Discord desktop and web. In the Discord mobile app it appears as plain monochrome text.
Spoilers
Hide text or images behind a clickable black bar using ||text||. Perfect for plot discussions.
- Clean up ugly URLs in your chat with How to Hyperlink Text on Discord (Masked Links Guide).
- Want to make your text red, green, or blue? Master syntax highlighting with How to Write in Color on Discord (ANSI Text Formatting).
- Skip the manual codes and copy ready-to-paste colored text with our Discord Colored Text Generator.
- Share code snippets properly with How to Use Code Blocks in Discord: Single & Multi-Line Guide.
- Display dynamic times that work across every timezone with our Discord Timestamp Generator.
- Hide plot spoilers before they ruin the experience with How to Hide Spoilers on Discord (Text & Images).
How to Combine Formatting on Discord
You can layer bold, italic, underline, and strikethrough on the same text. The rule is simple: open from the outside in and close from the inside out. Underline and strikethrough go on the outside. Bold and italic go on the inside.
__***bold italic underline***__ renders as all three types combined. For the full breakdown of every combination, see our detailed guide on How to Combine Discord Formatting (And Escape Markdown).
Common Formatting Scenarios
Here are a few real-world examples of how Discord formatting comes together in actual messages. Use these as templates for your own servers.
Server Rules Post
# Server Rules
## 1. Be Respectful
Treat all members with respect. **No harassment** or hate speech.
## 2. No Spam
Keep conversations in the right channels. ~~Don't post links everywhere.~~
-# Last updated: June 2026
This uses headers for structure, bold for emphasis, strikethrough for humor, and subtext for the date.
Bot Command Help Message
# Music Bot Commands
Here is how to control the music:
- `!play [song]` — Queue a song
- `!skip` — __Skip__ the current track
- `!stop` — Stop playback ~~and cry~~
||Spoiler: try !play never gonna give you up||
Combines a header, bullet list with inline code, underline, strikethrough for comedy, and a spoiler gag at the end.
Event Announcement with Link
# Game Night This Friday
-# Posted by the Events Team
Join us for **Game Night** this Friday at *8 PM EST*. Check the [event details here](https://discordify.net) for the full schedule.
~~~Don't forget to bring snacks.~~~
This message uses a header, subtext, bold, italic, a masked link, and strikethrough in one clean announcement.
Poll Announcement
# Choose Our Next Event
-# Vote before Friday at 8 PM
Pick the activity you would most like to join. We will use the result to plan the next community event.
Use the native poll composer for the answer choices, then use a short formatted message like this to explain the decision and deadline. Learn how to make a poll on Discord when you are ready to create the vote.
Full Formatting Reference
Bookmark this master table for quick reference whenever you need to format a message on Discord.
| Formatting Type | Syntax | Shortcut (Desktop) |
|---|---|---|
Bold | **text** | Ctrl + B |
Italic | *text* or _text_ | Ctrl + I |
Underline | __text__ | Ctrl + U |
Strikethrough | ~~text~~ | Ctrl + Shift + X |
Inline code | `text` | Ctrl + Shift + M |
Multi-line code | ```text``` | - |
Masked link | [text](URL) | - |
Spoiler | ||text|| | - |
Header 1 | # text | - |
Header 2 | ## text | - |
Header 3 | ### text | - |
Subtext | -# text | - |
Bullet list | - item or * item | - |
Numbered list | 1. item | - |
Blockquote | > text | - |
Multi-line blockquote | >>> text | - |
ANSI color | ```ansi + escape codes | - |
Escape character | \ before any symbol | - |
Timestamps | <t:UNIX:S> | <t: then use @time command |
Need the exact Unix timestamp for a specific date and time? Use our Discord Timestamp Generator to pick a date, choose your format, and copy the code instantly.
Discord Text Formatting FAQ
Why is my Discord formatting not working?
\) before your asterisks, Discord ignores the formatting and shows them literally. For example, \*\*text\*\* shows as **text** instead of bold. The backslash is the escape character. Learn more tricks in How to Combine Discord Formatting (And Escape Markdown).Can you change fonts on Discord?
#, ##, ###) increase text size, code blocks (`text`) use a monospace font, and bold (**text**) adds weight to your words.How do I make a clickable link on Discord without showing the URL?
[text you want to show](URL). For example, [Discordify](https://discordify.net) shows only "Discordify" as a clickable link. Wrap the URL in angle brackets to hide the embed preview: [text](<URL>). See our masked links guide for details.Does Discord formatting work on mobile?
How do I write in color on Discord?
```ansi code block. Each color has a number code (31 for red, 32 for green, etc.) preceded by an invisible escape character. The easiest way is our Discord Colored Text Generator, which builds the codes for you. For the full manual tutorial, see How to Write in Color on Discord (ANSI Text Formatting). Note that colored text only renders on Discord desktop and web; the mobile app shows it as plain monochrome text.What is the best way to organize a Discord rules channel?
# Rules header, use ## Category for each section, and list individual rules with dashes (-). Add a subtext line (-#) at the bottom with the last updated date. This makes the rules scannable and professional.How do I hide spoilers on Discord?
||text||. The text appears as a black bar that readers click to reveal. For images, toggle Mark as Spoiler in the upload dialog or prepend SPOILER_ to the filename. See our spoiler guide for details.