Discord has become one of the most popular communication platforms, allowing users to chat via text, audio, and video. The ability to make calls is a key feature of Discord. However, you may sometimes want to disable calls temporarily or permanently.
In this guide, I’ll explain the different ways to disable calls on both desktop and mobile Discord apps. We’ll cover how to disable calls at the server and channel level, for individual users, and via parental controls. Read on to learn how to control when and where calls can be made on Discord.
Overview of Disabling Calls on Discord
Before jumping into the step-by-step instructions, let’s briefly go over the main ways calls can be disabled:
- At the server level – Admins can disable voice channels and stage channels to prevent calls server-wide
- At the channel level – Voice and stage channels can be deleted in text channels to prevent calls there
- For individual users – Users can disable calls in their own settings
- Via parental controls – Parents can disable voice chat for child accounts
The specific steps will vary slightly depending on whether you use the desktop or mobile version of Discord. However, the general concepts are the same.
Now let’s look at how to disable calls in each of these scenarios.
How to Disable Server-Wide Calls as Admin
As a server admin or moderator, you may want to temporary disable voice chat and calls at the server level. Here is how to do it:
On Desktop
- Open the Discord desktop app and go to your server.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to the server name and select “Server Settings”.
- Go to the “Voice” tab in Settings.
- Under “Voice & Video”, toggle off “Enable Voice Activity”.
- Scroll down and toggle off “Allow users to create stage channels”.
- Click “Save Changes” at the bottom.
This will disable both voice channels and stage channels across your entire server. Users will not be able to make or receive calls until you re-enable it.
On Mobile
- Tap the server name at the top of your server screen.
- Tap “Server Settings” > “Overview”.
- Toggle off “Allow Voice Activity”.
- Toggle off “Allow Stage Discovery”.
- Tap “Save Changes”.
Same as on desktop, this completely disables voice chat and stage channels server-wide on mobile.
How to Delete Voice Channels in Specific Text Channels
In addition to controlling calls at the server level, admins and moderators can also disable calls in specific text channels only. Here’s how:
On Desktop
- Right click on the text channel and select “Edit Channel”.
- Under the “Voice” section, deselect any voice channels linked to the text channel.
- Click “Save Changes” at the bottom.
This will unlink and remove any voice channels associated with that text channel, preventing users from making calls there.
On Mobile
- Tap and hold the text channel to open the channel options.
- Tap “Edit Channel”.
- Tap the “Voice Channel” option.
- Tap “None” to remove any linked voice channel.
- Tap “Save” in the top right.
Just like on desktop, this will dissociate any voice channel that was linked to the text channel.
How to Disable Calls For Individual Users
If you only want to disable calls for certain users, there are settings to control this:
On Desktop
- Click the gear icon next to your username to open User Settings.
- Select “Voice & Video” on the left sidebar.
- Under “Voice Settings”, toggle off “Enable Voice Activity”.
- Under “Video Settings, toggle off “Enable Video”.
- Click “Save Changes” at the bottom.
This will prevent that user from making or receiving any calls until re-enabled.
On Mobile
- Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
- Tap “User Settings”.
- Tap “Voice & Video”
- Toggle off “Enable Voice Activity” and “Enable Video”.
- Tap the back arrow to save changes.
Again, this will stop calls for that individual user only.
How to Use Parental Controls to Disable Voice Chat
Parents with child Discord accounts can disable voice chat using these steps:
On Desktop
- Have your child log into Discord on a browser and go to their User Settings.
- Select “Authorized Apps” in the sidebar.
- Toggle off “Allow Voice Activity”.
- Have them re-enter their password to confirm.
On Mobile
- Have your child open their Discord app and go to User Settings.
- Tap “Authorized Apps”.
- Toggle off “Allow Voice Activity”.
- Enter their passcode to confirm.
With parental controls, you can disable voice chat for child accounts while keeping it enabled for adult users.
When to Temporarily Disable Calls on Discord
There are a few common reasons you may want to temporarily disable calls in certain Discord channels or servers:
- To prevent disturbances during serious text discussions or announcements
- When doing focused educational or professional activities
- To control noise levels in public servers
- During events where voice chat would be disruptive
- To manage server resources and bandwidth usage
It’s often a good idea to give users advance notice when you plan to disable calls for an activity or event on your server.
Conclusion
The ability to make voice and video calls is a big part of what makes Discord stand out from old-school chat forums. However, sometimes limiting or disabling calls is necessary to create the environment you want.
As you’ve seen, Discord offers multiple ways to disable voice communication at the server, channel, and user level. With the steps in this guide, you have the flexibility to control when and where calls can be made on your Discord servers.
Just be thoughtful in how you limit calls, communicate changes clearly, and find the right balance for your community’s needs. With Discord’s granular call settings, you can shape voice chat to match your purpose.
FAQs About Disabling Discord Calls
How do I quickly disable calls temporarily on desktop?
On the desktop app, click the headphones icon in the bottom left corner and toggle off “Connect to a Voice Channel”. This will quickly disable voice and stage channels server-wide until you re-enable it.
Can I limit calls to certain voice channels only?
Yes, as a server admin you can configure voice channel permissions to allow calls only in certain approved channels. Restrict other channels so users can’t join them.
What happens if I delete all voice channels on my server?
Deleting all voice channels will prevent any calls server-wide. Users will see a “no voice channels available” message if they try to connect to voice.
Can I disable calls on Discord on my iPhone?
Yes, in your Discord iOS app settings, go to Voice & Video and toggle off “Enable Voice Activity”. This will disable calls.
How do I disable calls on Discord on Android?
In your Android Discord app, go to User Settings > Voice & Video and turn off “Enable Voice Activity” to disable calls.
Will disabling video calls also disable screen sharing?
Yes, disabling video in your Discord settings will prevent both video calls and screen sharing. They use the same video functionality.
Can I selectively mute certain users only from voice channels?
Server mods and admins can mute individual users from voice channels, while allowing other users to still speak.
What’s the best way to temporarily disable calls during classes?
Admins should delete any voice channels linked to class session text channels to prevent disturbances.
Can I disable outbound calls only?
There is no setting to disable only outbound calls unfortunately. You would have to fully disable voice chat.
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