How to Hide Ignored Messages on Discord

Control message visibility and hide content from blocked or ignored users

Feature Type
Privacy Control
Difficulty
Easy
Platform
All Platforms

🛡️ Understanding Discord Message Filtering

Discord provides several options to control which messages you see, including hiding messages from blocked users, filtering explicit content, and managing ignored channels. Here's how to set up these privacy controls.

🚫 Method 1: Blocking Users (Primary Method)

How to Block a User:

  1. Right-click on the user's name or avatar
  2. Select "Block" from the context menu
  3. Confirm by clicking "Block" again
  4. Blocked user's messages will be hidden by default

Managing Blocked Messages Display:

  1. Go to Settings (gear icon)
  2. Click "Privacy & Safety"
  3. Find "Blocked Messages" section
  4. Choose your preference:
    • Hide blocked messages: Completely hide them
    • Show placeholder: Show "Blocked message" placeholder

💡 Note: Even with placeholders shown, you can click to reveal the message content if needed.

🔇 Method 2: Muting Channels and Servers

Muting Individual Channels:

  1. Right-click on the channel name
  2. Select "Mute Channel"
  3. Choose duration:
    • 15 minutes
    • 1 hour
    • 8 hours
    • 24 hours
    • Until I turn it back on

Muting Entire Servers:

  1. Right-click on the server icon
  2. Select "Mute Server"
  3. Configure notification settings
  4. Optionally suppress @everyone and @here mentions

⚙️ Method 3: Advanced Privacy Settings

Content Filtering Options:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Privacy & Safety
  2. Configure "Explicit Content Filter":
    • Don't scan any media: No filtering
    • Scan media from server members: Filter non-friends
    • Scan all media: Filter all explicit content

Direct Message Settings:

  1. In Privacy & Safety settings
  2. Configure "Who can send you DMs":
    • Everyone
    • Friends of friends
    • Server members
    • Friends only
  3. Toggle "Enable message requests" for filtered DMs

⚠️ Note: Blocking users also prevents them from sending you direct messages and friend requests.

📱 Mobile-Specific Settings

Discord Mobile App:

  1. Tap your profile picture (bottom right)
  2. Go to "Privacy & Safety"
  3. Adjust the same settings as desktop
  4. Use long-press to access context menus for blocking

Mobile Notification Control:

  1. Go to Settings → Notifications
  2. Configure push notification preferences
  3. Disable notifications from muted channels/servers

🤖 Method 4: Using Bots for Advanced Filtering

AutoMod (Discord's Built-in Bot):

Third-Party Moderation Bots:

🔧 Troubleshooting Message Visibility

Still Seeing Blocked Messages:

Missing Messages You Want to See:

Notifications Not Working:

👥 Server-Level Message Management

For Server Owners/Moderators:

  1. Set up AutoMod rules for content filtering
  2. Configure channel permissions to limit who can post
  3. Use role-based restrictions for message access
  4. Implement slowmode to reduce message spam

Channel-Specific Settings:

📊 Privacy Settings Summary

Setting Location Effect
Block User Right-click user Hides all messages from user
Mute Channel Right-click channel Disables notifications
Content Filter Privacy & Safety Filters explicit media
DM Restrictions Privacy & Safety Limits who can DM you

🎯 Best Practices for Message Management

For Personal Use:

For Server Management:

✅ Pro Tip: Combine blocking users with muting channels for maximum control over your Discord experience without missing important updates.