Discord VPN: Text, Voice and Streaming Behave Differently
Text chat, voice channels and screen sharing on Discord travel over different kinds of connections. Messages sending fine while voice refuses to connect is a common sight with a VPN on. This page covers what HZVPN can help with on Discord, and how to troubleshoot voice when it acts up.
Download HZVPN
What a VPN does for Discord
Discord text travels over ordinary web connections, while voice and video use real-time connections (usually UDP) that are more sensitive to latency and packet loss.
A VPN can encrypt those connections on a shared network and give you another route when the current one is poor. If the VPN handles real-time traffic badly, though, voice can get worse instead.
Gaming with friends: pick a location close to everyone
Voice latency depends on the distance and route to Discord's voice servers. Connect to an HZVPN location near you (from Malaysia, try Singapore with 24 servers) and compare it with the VPN off.
Dorm and library networks
Whoever runs a school or office network can see which services you connect to. With HZVPN on, they only see encrypted VPN traffic. Check your institution's network rules before you use it.
Unknown links in big servers
Large servers are full of external links. When you open one, that site can see the visitor's IP address. With HZVPN on, it sees the VPN server's address instead.
Voice on the PC, messages on the phone
One HZVPN account works on several devices at once: 3 on VIP, 5 on SVIP. Discord itself lets you stay online on desktop and mobile together.
Discord and VPNs: three things to know
Some of these come from how networks work; others are Discord's own rules.
Voice needs a real-time connection
If voice sits on "RTC Connecting" or "No Route", one common cause is that the current network or VPN handles real-time traffic poorly. Try once with the VPN off, then once on another HZVPN location, to find which side is at fault.
Ban evasion breaks the rules
After a server admin or Discord bans you, rejoining from a new IP through a VPN counts as ban evasion. It breaks Discord's Community Guidelines and may lead to further action on your account.
New locations may need verification
Signing in from a new location can make Discord ask you to confirm by email, and some servers also require a verified phone number. Switching server locations often may mean more checks.
Discord on different devices
The desktop and mobile apps behave a little differently over a VPN.
Desktop app
With HZVPN on Windows or macOS, text, voice and screen sharing in the Discord desktop app all go through the encrypted tunnel. If voice misbehaves, check the app's voice settings and connection status first.
Mobile app
HZVPN runs on Android 9+ and iOS 13+. When you move between Wi-Fi and mobile data, voice drops briefly and then reconnects.
Browser
Using Discord in a browser, HZVPN encrypts that browser traffic too. Voice quality depends on the browser; the desktop app is usually steadier.
Screen share and Go Live
Screen sharing keeps uploading video, and an extra hop through a VPN server adds delay. If the picture stutters, compare with the VPN off.
Get started in 3 steps
Sign up and download
Create an HZVPN account on our website, then download the app for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS or Linux.
Pick a server location
Choose one of 43 server locations in the app and tap connect. If it doesn't feel right, switch to another any time.
Open the app you want to use
Open Discord and join a voice channel to check you can hear people; if it hangs on "RTC Connecting", switch locations or compare with HZVPN off.
Voice stuck on "RTC Connecting": step-by-step
Step one: disconnect HZVPN and join the voice channel on your local network. If it still fails, the problem is most likely your local network or Discord itself; check Discord's status page.
Step two: if voice works without the VPN but not with it, try another HZVPN location close to you. Each location takes a different route to Discord's voice servers.
Step three: check whether a firewall or security app on your computer blocks Discord, and whether any option in Discord's voice settings is affecting the connection.
If voice works both with and without HZVPN, keep whichever gives lower latency. Differences in ping between friends mostly come down to each person's distance from the voice server.
HZVPN features that help on Discord
We only list features HZVPN actually has today. If a feature isn't listed here, please don't assume it exists.
43 server locations, 265 servers
265 servers in 43 locations, so you can pick one close to you and your friends.
Switch locations any time, no limit
Switch locations as often as you like when voice is rough; try a few before a session.
One account, several devices
Your phone, tablet and computer can all sign in with the same HZVPN account. Devices online at the same time: 3 on VIP, 5 on SVIP (the app shows the current limit).
Free servers once you sign up
Free routes are available once you sign up, so you can test them on a voice session first.
Where the free servers are today
United States
Japan
Hong Kong
Singapore
Germany
Canada
France
Thailand
United Kingdom
Frequently asked questions
With HZVPN on, Discord voice stays on "RTC Connecting". What should I do?
Try once with HZVPN off. If voice works without the VPN, connect to another location near you and try again. Voice uses real-time connections, and routes differ a lot.
Will a VPN raise my voice ping while gaming?
It can go up or down depending on the route. Pick a location near you and compare with the VPN off.
Can I use a VPN to rejoin a server that banned me?
No. That is ban evasion, which breaks Discord's Community Guidelines, and HZVPN should not be used for it.
Is it OK to use HZVPN for Discord on a school network?
HZVPN can encrypt your connection, but check your school's network rules first and follow them.
Why does Discord ask me to verify my email after I switch locations?
Signing in from a new location can make Discord confirm it is really you. Sticking to one server location cuts down on these checks.
Ready when you are
Sign up for an HZVPN account to use the free servers. Upgrade later if you need more server locations or more devices online at once.
Server numbers come from our server list (43 locations, 265 servers). They change with maintenance; the app always shows the current list.