Discord Drops the Four-Digit Tag from Usernames to Make Connecting Easier
Discord, the voice, video, and chat app designed for gamers, has announced it will remove the four-digit tag that follows usernames to simplify connecting with other users. As per a post on Discord’s blog, this change will require most users to modify their usernames as Discord will no longer include the four-number tag that distinguishes one person with the same username from another.
The new approach replaces the numeric discriminator with a unique alphanumeric username with the “@” symbol before it. Users will also be allowed to choose a non-unique display name that can include special characters, spaces, emoji, and non-Latin characters, which will make the platform more akin to popular social networks such as Instagram and Twitter.
According to Discord, the change will require everyone on the platform to select a new username gradually “in the coming weeks” and the company will notify users when they can make the change. Discord has promised to prioritize longtime Discord users, meaning those who have been on the platform longer will be allowed to choose their new name sooner.
Discord clarified that previous usernames and discriminators will still work as an alias even after the removal of the numerical tag, meaning that users’ friends can still find them under their old username.
Although Discord initially launched to let users choose any username they wanted, the four-number tags eventually became a technical burden that the company did not address adequately. Discord acknowledged that usernames are often too complicated or obscure to memorize and share with friends.
“We recognize that this is a big change," said Discord co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy. "There may be hiccups with this process, and it may be tough to part ways with that ‘#0001’ that’s meant a lot to you over the years. We’ll be doing everything we can to manage things as smoothly as possible.”
Discord plans to implement this change soon, which will make the platform more user-friendly and easy to connect with friends.
