What happens to your Discord account if you don't complete age verification

Discord announced a global rollout of mandatory age verification in March 2026. The platform will require all users to verify their age through facial scanning or government-issued ID submission. Those who refuse the procedure will face serious functionality restrictions.

The company positions the change as "reinforcing its long-standing commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive experience," but users are expressing concerns about privacy and surveillance. Many aren't ready to provide the platform with sensitive identifying information.

Restrictions for unverified accounts

Starting March 2026, all new and existing Discord accounts will be automatically reclassified as teen accounts, applying a set of default restrictions. Settings can only be changed after completing age verification.

Restrictions will affect content, channels, and communication – in both public servers and private messages, even in group chats with just four friends:

• Permanent blocking of mature content
  Images with graphic or explicit content will be blurred by Discord's filter. While users in most countries could previously unblur mature content, this will now be impossible until verification is complete, as will changing content filter settings

• Inaccessibility of 18+ channels and servers
  Any channels, servers, or server commands marked by administrators as adult content will become inaccessible to unverified accounts. Attempting to view such spaces will result in a black screen blocking access – even if you were previously a member

• Rerouting messages from unknown users to a separate inbox
  Previously, everyone could choose a setting allowing unknown users to send direct messages without them going to the "Message Requests" folder. Now, enabling the "Do not filter" option in Content & Social settings will require age verification

• Mandatory warnings for friend requests
  Disabling warning popups when receiving requests from unknown users will only be available after verification

• Ban on speaking at server stages
  Using stage channels, which allow specific users to speak to an audience of listeners, will only be possible after age confirmation

Verification methods and privacy risks

Discord offers two ways to complete age verification: allow the platform to record a video of your face to generate an age estimate, or provide a photo of a government-issued ID and a selfie for verification.

Depending on the chosen method, Discord either sends the analysis of your face recording or transmits the ID and photo to one of its ID verification partners. The company claims video recordings are analyzed on-device and aren't sent anywhere, and that ID photos are deleted "quickly." However, there has already been at least one case of a data breach at a Discord ID verification partner, which led to exposed sensitive information and user IDs.

By providing private information to Discord, users are trusting a tech giant to prioritize confidentiality – unsurprisingly, many users lack faith in this approach. If the risks seem too high, it's worth considering alternative messengers or accepting the limitations of a teen account.

Discord states that some users won't need to complete verification thanks to a new "age inference model" that analyzes behavior on the platform to estimate age. Even avoiding face or ID scanning, remember that platform activity is still being analyzed.