Discord has become a cornerstone platform for communication among gaming, tech, and online communities. With the option to upgrade to a Nitro subscription, it allows users to upload significantly larger files than standard accounts. However, users sometimes encounter an issue: despite having Discord Nitro enabled, they are still unable to upload files over a certain size. This article provides a reliable and well-researched guide on how to troubleshoot and fix this irritating problem.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
If you’re a Nitro user and still can’t upload large files on Discord, it could be due to problems such as residual cache, outdated software, server-side limits, or incorrect settings. You should start by verifying your Nitro status, then check app cache, browser uploads, and file formats. If the issue persists, it may be necessary to reinstall Discord or reach out to support. This guide walks you through every step in detail to resolve the problem effectively.
1. Verify Your Nitro Subscription Status
The first step may seem obvious, but it’s absolutely vital. Your Discord needs to correctly recognize that you have Nitro enabled.
- Open Discord and go to User Settings > Subscriptions.
- Check that you have an active Nitro plan (either Nitro Basic or Nitro Full).
- Remember: Nitro Basic allows uploads up to 20MB, while Nitro Full increases the limit to 100MB.
If your subscription is shown as active but you’re seeing restrictions, log out and log back in again to refresh your session.
2. Clear Discord App Cache
Sometimes, the Discord app may cache old data that conflicts with your current subscription benefits. This can lead to file-size misidentification.
To clear the cache:
- Close Discord completely.
- Navigate to the cache folder:
- On Windows: %AppData%\discord\Cache
- On macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/discord/Cache
- Delete all files in this folder.
- Restart Discord.
This will force Discord to rebuild its runtime data, often correcting underlying issues.
3. Check Upload Method (App vs Browser)
It’s worth testing whether the issue is isolated to a single method of uploading. Discord is available via desktop apps and web browsers, and each behaves slightly differently depending on your system configuration.
Try this:
- If you’re experiencing the issue on the desktop app, attempt the file upload via the web version.
- Ensure you’re using a supported modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
If it works on the browser but not the desktop app (or vice versa), that suggests a client-specific error.
4. Update to the Latest Version
File upload failures can also be linked to an outdated Discord client. Developers frequently release patches that improve performance and fix bugs related to uploads and Nitro functionalities.
To update:
- On desktop, closing and reopening Discord typically prompts an automatic update.
- On mobile, visit the App Store or Google Play and look for an update.
Pro Tip: On Windows, you can also force an update by pressing Ctrl + R while Discord is open.
5. Correct File Format and Compression
Discord works with a variety of file types (e.g., .png, .jpg, .mp4, .pdf), but certain compression methods or corrupted files may still be rejected—even if under the size limit.
Before uploading, check that:
- Your file is not corrupted or partially downloaded.
- The format is fully supported by Discord.
- Try compressing the file again using a standard method like ZIP or RAR if you’re near the file size cap.
Double-checking MIME types or file headers using tools like MediaInfo can also help detect incompatibility issues that Discord silently blocks.
6. Inspect Discord Server Limitations
Most limitations are user-based, but in some cases, server-specific settings—like upload permissions—can interfere with file uploads.
Be sure that:
- You have the correct role or permission within the server to upload files.
- No bots or moderation tools are blocking large uploads.
- The server doesn’t use third-party integrations that restrict file types or sizes.
7. Try a Hard Reinstall of Discord
If none of the above methods resolve the issue, it might be time for a clean reinstallation.
Steps for a clean reinstall:
- Uninstall Discord from your system.
- Remove any leftover files from:
- %AppData%\Discord (Windows)
- ~/Library/Application Support/discord (macOS)
- Restart your device.
- Download and install the latest version from discord.com/download.
Re-login, confirm your Nitro status, and try uploading a file again.
8. Contact Discord Support
If after all these steps you’re still blocked from uploading larger files, the problem may be account-specific or relate to internal server errors.
Visit the Discord Support Portal and file a ticket. Be sure to include:
- Your Discord username and tag.
- Screenshots showing the upload failure.
- What troubleshooting steps you’ve already taken.
- Your Nitro subscription status.
This ensures that support can act faster and provide direct account-level troubleshooting.
Common Causes Recap
Here’s a quick recap of what generally causes this Discord upload issue even with Nitro enabled:
- Expired or unrecognized Nitro subscription
- Corrupted app cache or outdated Discord version
- Incorrect upload method (desktop vs browser)
- Unsupported or corrupted file types
- Server or user permission limitations
- Client settings conflicting with Nitro limits
Conclusion
Running into Discord file upload limits even when you’re paying for Nitro can be frustrating—but it’s usually solvable. Start by confirming your Nitro status and ensuring your app is up-to-date. Then methodically proceed through each of the fixes outlined in this guide. With patience and careful execution of the right steps, you’ll likely be sharing large files again without any issues.
If you’re still experiencing persistent trouble, don’t hesitate to reach out to Discord Support—sometimes it’s a matter of internal misconfiguration or a temporary bug on Discord’s infrastructure that’s only fixable from their end.
By understanding the key areas where issues arise and how to address them, you’ll increase your chances of a quick and complete resolution. Happy uploading!