What Discord badges are and where to find them
Discord badges are small icons that appear next to your username on your profile and in chat. They show other users things you've done — like being a Discord staff member, owning a server, or supporting Discord through a paid subscription. Some badges are earned through actions you take; others are given by Discord for specific roles or purchases.
You can see your own badges by opening your profile (click your username in the bottom left, then "View Profile"). Other users see your badges when they click on your name in chat or visit your profile page. Not all badges are visible to everyone — some only show to people in servers where you have them.
Discord adds new badges occasionally, and the way you earn them sometimes changes. The badges available right now depend on what Discord is currently offering and what actions they're rewarding.
Key Takeaways
- Badges appear next to your username and show things like server ownership, staff roles, or paid subscriptions.
- Some badges come from buying Discord Nitro or Nitro Classic; others come from being chosen for specific roles like moderator or bug hunter.
- Server-specific badges only show in that server and are set by the server owner, not Discord.
- You cannot buy most Discord badges directly — they come from actions like owning a server, supporting the platform, or being selected by Discord staff.
Badges you can earn through your own actions
Server Owner badge appears when you create and own a Discord server. This badge shows automatically on your profile and in any server where you are the owner. You do not need to do anything special — it appears as soon as you create the server.
Nitro and Nitro Classic badges show that you have an active paid subscription. If you buy Discord Nitro (the full subscription with extra features) or Nitro Classic (the older version), a badge appears next to your name. The badge stays as long as your subscription is active. If your subscription ends, the badge disappears.
Early Supporter badge was given to people who supported Discord financially in its very early days. This badge is no longer awarded, but if you received it before, it stays on your profile permanently.
To check if you have an active Nitro subscription, open User Settings (the gear icon next to your username), go to Subscriptions, and look for an active Nitro plan. If you see one, your badge should appear on your profile within a few minutes.
Badges from Discord staff selection
Discord gives certain badges to people they choose for specific roles. These are not badges you can earn on your own — Discord staff decides who gets them based on contributions or roles.
Discord Staff badge is given to people who work for Discord. Discord Moderator badge is given to people chosen to help moderate Discord's official servers and spaces. Bug Hunter badge is given to people who report serious security problems or bugs that Discord fixes. HypeSquad badge is given to members of Discord's community ambassador program.
If Discord wants to give you one of these badges, they will contact you directly. You cannot request these badges or make yourself a candidate for them through the app. If someone tells you they can get you one of these badges in exchange for money or personal information, that is a scam.
Server-specific badges set by server owners
Server owners can create their own custom badges and assign them to members. These badges only show in that specific server and do not appear on your main profile. A server owner might give badges to moderators, active members, supporters, or anyone else they choose.
To see server-specific badges, look at a member's name in that server's chat or member list. The badges appear right next to their username. If you are a server owner and want to create badges for your members, go to Server Settings, then Roles, and look for the option to display roles as badges.
Server owners decide who gets these badges, so if you want one, you would need to ask the server owner or moderators. There is no way to earn them automatically — it is entirely up to the server's leadership.
Why some badges don't show up
Sometimes you earn a badge but do not see it right away. Badges can take a few minutes to appear after you complete the action. If you just bought Nitro, wait five to ten minutes and refresh your profile page.
Some badges only show in certain places. Server-specific badges only appear in that server. Profile badges (like Nitro or Staff) show everywhere. If you are looking at someone else's profile and do not see a badge you expect, they may have turned off profile visibility, or the badge may only show in specific servers.
If your Nitro subscription ended, your Nitro badge disappears automatically. If you resubscribe, the badge comes back. Early Supporter and other permanent badges stay forever, even if you do not use Discord for a long time.
Common mistakes when looking for badges
The most common mistake is thinking you can buy badges directly. You cannot. Scammers sometimes offer to sell Discord badges, but these are always fake. Real badges come only from Discord itself (for staff roles or bug reports), from your own actions (owning a server or buying Nitro), or from server owners (for server-specific badges).
Another mistake is looking for badges in the wrong place. If you are checking your own profile, click your username in the bottom left and select "View Profile" — not "User Settings". Your badges appear on the profile card, not in settings.
Do not share your login information with anyone claiming they can add badges to your account. Discord staff will never ask for your password, and no third-party tool can safely add real badges. If someone offers this, it is a scam designed to steal your account.
How to display your badges on your profile
If you have earned badges, they show automatically on your profile — you do not need to turn them on. However, you can control whether your profile is visible to other users at all.
To manage your profile visibility, open User Settings, go to Privacy & Safety, and look for the option to show your profile. If this is turned off, other users cannot see your profile or your badges, even though you have them.
Server-specific badges are always visible in that server to anyone who can see the member list. You cannot hide them within a server, but they do not show on your main profile, so they stay private to that community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Discord badges?
No. Real Discord badges come only from Discord (for staff or bug hunter roles), from your own actions (owning a server or buying Nitro), or from server owners (for server-specific badges). Anyone offering to sell you badges is running a scam. The only badge you can purchase is Nitro, which comes with a Nitro badge as part of the subscription.
What happens to my Nitro badge if I cancel my subscription?
Your Nitro badge disappears when your subscription ends. If you resubscribe later, the badge comes back. Other badges like Early Supporter or Staff stay on your profile permanently, even if you stop using Discord.
Why don't I see badges on someone's profile?
Their profile might be hidden, or they might not have any badges yet. Some badges only show in specific servers. If you are looking at their main profile and they have Nitro or a Staff badge, it should show — if it does not, their profile visibility is probably turned off.
Can I get a Discord Moderator or Staff badge?
Only if Discord chooses you. These badges are not earned through normal use — Discord staff selects people based on their contributions or roles. If Discord wants to give you one, they will contact you directly. You cannot request it or make yourself a candidate.
Do server badges show on my main profile?
No. Server-specific badges only appear in that server next to your name. They do not show on your main Discord profile, so they stay visible only to people in that community.