On desktop, the Discord compass (Discover) sits at the bottom of the left server list; widen the window if the sidebar is collapsed.
The compass button on the desktop app opens Discord’s Discover area. It’s the small dial-shaped icon tucked below your server icons on the far-left rail. If your window is narrow or the list is long, it can slip out of sight. This guide shows the exact spot, what to click, and what to try if you can’t see it.
Exact Spot: Bottom Of The Left Server Rail
Open the desktop app on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Look at the tall vertical bar on the far left—the one with all your server badges. Scroll that bar to the very bottom. You’ll see a dial-style symbol labeled Discover when hovered. Click it to open the page that lets you browse public servers by topics or search term.
If you’re on a small monitor, the app window may hide items at the bottom of the rail. Drag the bottom edge of the window to make it taller, or scroll the rail with your mouse wheel or trackpad. If the rail looks cramped, reduce app zoom with Ctrl + “–” (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + “–” (macOS), or reset zoom with Ctrl/Cmd + 0.
Quick Open Steps On Desktop
- Launch Discord and sign in.
- Find the far-left vertical rail that shows all your servers.
- Scroll that rail to the bottom edge.
- Click the dial-style Discover button to open the browsing page.
If the dial isn’t visible, keep reading—there are simple fixes below.
Compass Icon Location On Discord App (Desktop) — Quick Checks
This section runs through fast checks to bring the button back into view. They’re safe to try on any desktop platform.
1) Expand The App Window
Make the window taller or maximize it. The Discover button sits at the very end of the left rail, so short windows can hide it under the fold. If you run Discord in a narrow strip along the side of your screen, widen it to reveal the bottom of the rail.
2) Scroll The Server Rail To The End
Hover the mouse over the left rail and scroll down. If you have many servers, the dial may be just off screen. Use Page Down on a full keyboard, or two-finger swipe on a trackpad, to reach the end quickly.
3) Reset App Zoom
Oversized UI can push the dial off screen. Reset with:
Windows/Linux: Ctrl + 0
macOS: Cmd + 0
Zoom out: Ctrl/Cmd + “–”
Zoom in: Ctrl/Cmd + “+”
4) Refresh The Client
Use the built-in soft reload. It’s useful after screen-size changes or when assets don’t render cleanly.
Windows/Linux: Ctrl + R
macOS: Cmd + R
5) Check The Left Rail Isn’t Hidden
On ultra-small widths, the app can compress columns. Return the window to a standard size. If you’re using a tiling layout or a narrow snap on Windows, give Discord more width.
6) Update And Relaunch
Close the app fully, then relaunch. If you run the app for long stretches, a restart helps redraw the interface and pull in the newest assets. If the launcher offers an update banner, let it finish before you sign back in.
7) Check That Discover Is Available For Your Account
Discord’s Help Center notes that the Discover page can be an experimental feature for a portion of accounts and regions. If others on your team see the dial but you don’t, you may be outside the current rollout. You can read the official notes in the Discover tab guide. In that article, the desktop section also states the dial lives at the bottom of the server list on the left side.
What The Compass Button Does
Clicking the dial opens a browsing page that lists servers by topic and shows a search bar. You can preview joining by opening a server page and reviewing channels and rules before you commit. This browsing hub is described in Discord’s official article on Server Discovery, which outlines how the page works and how servers become discoverable.
Why You Might Not See The Dial
There are a handful of practical reasons the icon doesn’t appear right away. Work through the list from top to bottom; it starts with the fastest wins.
Viewport Too Small
Short or narrow windows can hide items at the bottom of the left rail. Maximize the window, reduce zoom, or scroll to the end of the rail.
Long Server List
Large lists push the dial below the fold. Scroll to the end of the rail and pause; the dial appears below your last server badge.
Zoomed-In Interface
If the app looks oversized, reset with Ctrl/Cmd + 0. That returns the interface to default scale and often reveals the dial.
Temporary Rendering Glitch
A quick soft reload with Ctrl/Cmd + R resets the view. If that fails, exit the app and relaunch from the system tray or Dock.
Outdated Build
Old builds can misplace assets. If you see a small green arrow or “update available” text near the top bar, let it patch, then relaunch.
Feature Rollout Limits
As noted in the Discover article, this tab can be limited to a slice of users. If you never had the dial, this might be why. Keep an eye on the official Help Center pages for changes and availability updates.
Fast Fixes You Can Try Now
Here’s a condensed set of actions that solve most cases without digging into system settings.
Resize, Scroll, Reset
- Maximize the app window.
- Scroll the left rail all the way down.
- Reset zoom to default with Ctrl/Cmd + 0.
Reload And Update
- Soft reload with Ctrl/Cmd + R.
- Close Discord from the tray/Dock; relaunch.
- Install pending updates from the launcher.
Check Availability
- If the dial never existed on your account or region, read the Discover article for status and availability notes.
Troubleshooting Extras (When Simple Steps Don’t Work)
If the dial still won’t show after the quick fixes, try these extras. They’re safe and reversible.
Clear App Cache (Desktop App Only)
Cache refresh can fix stale UI files. Steps vary slightly by OS, but the idea is the same: fully exit Discord, remove cached files, then relaunch so the client fetches fresh assets.
- Exit Discord completely (quit from the tray/Dock).
- Reopen the app and sign in again.
Tip: A simple soft reload with Ctrl/Cmd + R often gives the same result without any file changes.
Toggle Hardware Acceleration
On some setups, a quick toggle can clean up draw glitches:
- Open User Settings → Advanced.
- Toggle Hardware Acceleration off, then on again, or leave it off if the UI snaps back into place.
- Restart the app when prompted.
Reset Window Placement
If you use multiple monitors or virtual desktops, the app can reopen in a squeezed size. Restore down, then maximize. On Windows, use Win + Up Arrow to maximize the current window.
Keyboard Shortcuts And What They Help
The quick reference below keeps the interface tidy and helps pull the dial back into view.
| Platform | Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Windows/Linux | Ctrl + 0 | Reset app zoom to default |
| macOS | Cmd + 0 | Reset app zoom to default |
| All Desktop | Ctrl/Cmd + R | Soft reload the client UI |
How Server Discovery Works (High Level)
When the dial is visible and you click it, you land on a browsing hub. From there you can search by keywords or pick a topic page. Discord’s Help Center page on Server Discovery explains how servers appear there and how previews work before joining. The Discover tab guide also states the exact desktop path: use the dial at the bottom of the left server list.
If You Still Can’t Find It
Run through these last checks:
- Try the web app at discord.com in a browser. The dial sits in the same place.
- Sign out and back in. A fresh session can fix interface glitches.
- Temporarily disable overlays from other apps that draw on top of Discord.
If none of these bring the dial back and your teammates see it on their accounts, your account may not have the feature yet. You can still join servers by invite links, and you can browse public listings on third-party directories while you wait.
Takeaways You Can Use Right Now
- The dial lives at the bottom of the left server rail on desktop.
- Scroll to the end, reset zoom, or maximize the app to bring it into view.
- Click the dial to open the browsing page and search for public servers.
- If the dial never appears, the feature may be limited on your account or region per the official Discover notes.