How to make text bold on Discord
Asterisks around it, twice: **bold**. Select some text above and click the B button — or click with nothing selected to bold everything at once.
Discord Text Formatter
Type your text, click a style, and copy the formatted result into Discord. Markdown, ANSI colored text, and Unicode fonts supported.
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How to format Discord text
Type or paste your text into the box above.
Click a style — like Bold, Spoiler, or a color — to wrap your text in the right Markdown or ANSI syntax.
Copy the result and paste it into any Discord channel or DM. The formatting renders when you send the message.
How to bold, italicize, and strikethrough text on Discord
Every Discord Markdown style, one by one — the syntax, what it's for, and how this Discord text formatter applies it for you.
Italic text on Discord
Single asterisks make *italic*, and underscores (_text_) do the same thing. Italic is subtle in Discord's font — don't rely on it for strong emphasis.
Underlining on Discord
__underlined__ comes from two underscores. It stacks with bold and italic — the combo buttons above nest the markers in the right order for you.
How to strikethrough text on Discord
Tildes, twice: ~~strikethrough~~. It's made for corrections and retractions — readers can still see what changed.
How to spoiler-tag text on Discord
Hide a message between two vertical bars: ||spoiler||. It renders as a black bar readers click to reveal — add a plain-text warning before it so people know what they're opening.
Code blocks and inline code
A single backtick makes inline `code`; triple backticks on their own lines make a multi-line block. Add a language tag (```js) for syntax highlighting — blocks are also where ANSI colored text lives.
Headers on Discord
Start a line with #, ##, or ### for big, medium, and small headers. They only work at the start of a line and do nothing mid-sentence — the tool snaps your selection to whole lines for exactly this reason.
Small text (subtext)
Start a line with -# (dash, hash, space) for subtext: small gray text for footnotes, timestamps, and disclaimers. Like headers, it's line-start only.
Quoting on Discord
Start a line with > for a quote block — the cleanest way to answer one specific line of someone's message without using the reply feature.
Prefer the full walkthrough with per-style examples and common mistakes? Read the complete Discord text formatting guide.
Discord Markdown cheat sheet
The complete Discord Markdown syntax reference — every marker the Discord text formatter above can apply for you.
| Style | Syntax |
|---|---|
| Bold | **bold** |
| Italic | *italic* or _italic_ |
| Underline | __underline__ |
| Strikethrough | ~~strikethrough~~ |
| Spoiler | ||spoiler|| |
| Bold Italic | ***bold italic*** |
| Underline Bold | __**underline bold**__ |
| Underline Italic | __*underline italic*__ |
| All combined | __***all combined***__ |
| Inline code | `code` |
| Code block | ``` code block ``` |
| Quote | > quote |
| Small text | -# small text |
| Heading 1 | # Server News |
| Heading 2 | ## Rules |
| Heading 3 | ### Details |
Unicode fonts for Discord bios and display names
Markdown doesn't render in your Discord bio, display name, or channel topics — but Unicode fonts do. The Fancy text tab converts your name or bio line into bold serif, script, monospace, small caps, or double-struck characters that display everywhere text is accepted. It's the same trick styled Discord profiles and server names use: the characters are the style.
One honest caveat: screen readers and search read Unicode fonts awkwardly, so keep anything important in plain text and style the decoration around it. For names and one-line bios, a styled word or two is exactly the right amount.
The same syntax means different things
Markdown-flavored formatting is different on every platform. This table maps where each marker works — and what it turns into.
| Style | Discord | Slack | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bold | **bold** | *bold* | *bold* |
| Italic | *italic* | _italic_ | _italic_ |
| Underline | __underline__ | — | — |
| Strikethrough | ~~text~~ | ~text~ | ~text~ |
| Spoiler | ||spoiler|| | — | — |
| Inline code | `code` | `code` | ```code``` |
| Code block | ```block``` | ```block``` | ```block``` |
| Headers | # / ## / ### | — | — |
| Small text | -# small | — | — |
Discord colored text generator (ANSI)
Discord renders colored text inside ansi code blocks using ANSI escape codes. Switch to the Colored text tab, pick a color, and copy the generated block — red, green, yellow, blue, pink, cyan, and more, with optional bold and underline.
Colored text isn't available as regular message styling — it only works inside ansi code blocks, which Discord renders with syntax-highlight colors on desktop and mobile alike. Our colored text generator builds the escape sequences for you, line by line, and the preview in the tab shows exactly what Discord will render.
The 2,000 character budget (and what ANSI spends)
Discord messages cap at 2,000 characters — and formatting syntax spends it. Markdown markers cost a few characters each; ANSI color blocks cost much more, because every colored line carries invisible escape codes (roughly 9–12 characters per line just for color). A multi-line colored block can double its visible length. The counter above the input tracks the budget as you type, so you always know where you stand.
Nitro raises the message cap to 4,000 characters. If you're hitting the wall with ANSI blocks, color only the lines that matter — or split the message in two. Discord counts escape sequences even though readers never see them.
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Discord text formatting FAQ
How do I paste formatted text into Discord?
Copy the formatted output and paste it straight into the Discord message box. Discord renders Markdown and ANSI syntax automatically when you send the message.
Does this work on the Discord mobile app?
Yes. Markdown symbols and ANSI blocks render the same on iOS, Android, and desktop — the symbols are just hard to type on a phone, which is exactly what this tool is for.
Does the same syntax work on WhatsApp?
Mostly. WhatsApp supports *bold*, _italic_, ~strikethrough~, and monospace with the same wrap-and-paste approach, but not headers, spoilers, or ANSI colors. For Unicode bold and italic that render on LinkedIn, Facebook, or X, use the Fancy text tab — Unicode fonts work anywhere text is accepted.
Is this Discord formatter free?
Yes — free, unlimited, and no account required. Everything runs locally in your browser.
Why does my formatting show up as literal symbols?
Markers must hug the text: **bold** renders, ** bold ** doesn't. A space after the opening marker or before the closing one breaks the style — trim the spaces and it works.
Why did my heading or quote do nothing?
Headers, subtext, and quotes only work at the very start of a line. If you add a heading marker mid-sentence, Discord renders it literally. The tool snaps selections to whole lines to prevent exactly this.
Can I use Markdown in my username or channel name?
No — Markdown doesn't render in usernames, server names, channel names, or topics. Unicode fancy fonts do work there, so use the Fancy text tab for display names and channel titles — fancy text is accepted anywhere text is.
How long can a Discord message be?
2,000 characters. The counter above the input tracks your budget — note that ANSI color blocks spend it quickly, since every colored line carries hidden escape codes.