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If all your icons have suddenly turned square on Discord, you’re not alone.
Many users experience this issue, usually due to changes in Discord settings, custom themes, or a system update.
Fortunately, there are several ways to fix it and restore your icons to their original shape.
So, why did your Discord icons turn square, and how can you fix them?
In this guide, you’ll learn the possible causes and step-by-step solutions to resolve the issue.
Why Are My Icons Square on Discord?
Your Discord icons might have turned square due to a Discord update that changed default settings, or custom theme or third-party modification.
Or even a incorrect accessibility or developer settings, or just a bug or glitch in Discord.
Hardware acceleration conflicts can sometimes cause this square icon issues on Discord.
But, here’s how you can fix the issue:
1. Restart Discord
Sometimes, a simple restart can fix display issues.
- Close Discord completely.
- On Windows, right-click the Taskbar and open Task Manager, then end the Discord process.
- On Mac, press Command + Q or use Force Quit.
- Relaunch Discord to check if the icons are back to normal.
2. Check Discord Theme Settings
Discord offers light and dark themes, but some users modify their UI using third-party themes.
If your icons turned square after using a theme, try switching back to the default theme.
- Open Discord and go to Settings (gear icon).
- Navigate to Appearance.
- Set the theme to Dark or Light.
- Restart Discord and check if the icons are fixed.
3. Disable Developer Mode
Developer Mode in Discord allows advanced customization, which can sometimes lead to UI issues.
- Open Discord.
- Click on User Settings.
- Scroll down to Advanced.
- Toggle off Developer Mode.
- Restart Discord and check your icons.
4. Disable Hardware Acceleration
Hardware acceleration helps Discord run smoothly, but it can also cause UI glitches like square icons.
- Open Discord.
- Click on User Settings (gear icon).
- Scroll to Advanced Settings.
- Find Hardware Acceleration and toggle it off.
- Restart Discord.
5. Reset Discord Cache
Corrupted cache files can affect Discord’s display settings.
Clearing the cache can resolve the issue.
On Windows:
- Close Discord.
- Press Win + R, type
%appdata%/Discord/Cache, and hit Enter. - Delete all files in the Cache folder.
- Restart Discord.
On Mac:
- Close Discord.
- Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G.
- Type
~/Library/Application Support/discord/Cacheand delete all files. - Restart Discord.
6. Check for Discord Updates
An outdated Discord version might cause display problems.
Updating can fix it.
- Open Discord.
- Press Ctrl + R (Windows) or Command + R (Mac) to refresh Discord.
- If an update is available, let it install.
7. Reinstall Discord
If none of the above methods work, reinstalling Discord may help.
On Windows:
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Find Discord and click Uninstall.
- Go to Discord’s website and download the latest version.
- Install and launch Discord.
On Mac:
- Open Finder > Applications.
- Drag Discord to the Trash.
- Download and reinstall Discord from the official site.
8. Report the Issue to Discord Support
If your icons are still square, there might be a bug affecting your account.
- Go to Discord Support.
- Submit a ticket explaining the issue.
Conclusion
Square icons on Discord can be frustrating, but they are usually fixable.
Read: How To Fix Server Icons Not Loading Properly On Discord
By adjusting appearance settings, clearing the cache, disabling hardware acceleration, or reinstalling Discord, you can restore your icons to their normal shape.
If the problem persists, reaching out to Discord Support is the best option.
Try these solutions, and enjoy a smooth Discord experience!
Brianna is based in Minnesota in the US at the moment, and has been writing since 2017. She is currently a 3rd Year med student at the time of writing this.
