To make small text in Discord, use the -# markdown syntax at the start of a new line to create subtext. This is the only official method to make small text in Discord, and it works by reducing the font size of that line relative to your default chat text. You can combine this with make reaction roles on Discord to build clean, self-serve onboarding menus.
How to make small text in Discord with the -# markdown
The primary method to make text appear smaller in Discord messages is by using subtext markdown. To apply subtext, type -# (a dash, a hashtag, and a space) before your message. This -# markdown must be placed at the very beginning of a new line for it to format correctly, much like the status that lets you make Discord show what game you're playing.
- Open any Discord server or direct message chat.
- Start a new line in the message input box.
- Type
-#followed by a space. - Type the text you want to appear smaller.
- Press Enter to send the message.
For example, typing -# This is subtext will display that line in a smaller font than your standard chat messages. This method is ideal for adding disclaimers, side notes, or stylistic emphasis without overwhelming the main content of your message.
How to change the overall chat font size in Discord
If you want to adjust the text size for your entire Discord application rather than individual messages, you can change the overall chat font size. To change the overall chat font size, navigate to User Settings, then Appearance, and use the Chat Font Scaling slider. This slider lets you increase or decrease the default font size for all messages, making them easier to read or more compact depending on your preference.
- Click the gear icon (User Settings) at the bottom left of the Discord window.
- Select Appearance from the left sidebar.
- Under Chat Font Scaling, drag the slider left to make text smaller or right to make it larger.
- Your changes apply instantly to the entire chat interface.
This setting only affects your view and does not change how other users see your messages.
How to zoom out to make Discord smaller
To reduce the entire application's visual scale, including text, you can use the zoom function. Press Ctrl + - on Windows or Linux, or Cmd + - on macOS to zoom out. This shrinks all elements of the Discord interface, including the sidebar, chat area, and user list, making everything appear smaller. You can reset the zoom by pressing Ctrl or Cmd + 0.
This method is useful if you want to fit more content on your screen at once, but it does not change the relative size of subtext or other formatting. If you want to make a stage in Discord, you would use the stage channel creation tools rather than any text formatting or zoom options.
Discord formatting that does not make text smaller
Several Discord formatting options are often mistaken for making text smaller, but they actually perform different functions. Understanding these distinctions will help you choose the correct tool for your needs.
Markdown headers
Markdown headers (#, ##, ###) are used to make text larger than the default size, not smaller. Using one to three hash symbols at the start of a line increases the font size, with # producing the largest heading. This is the opposite of the -# subtext syntax.
Bold, strikethrough, and inline code
Bold text (using ** or __), strikethrough (using ~~), and inline code (using single backticks `) change the appearance or style of text but do not reduce its size. Bold makes text thicker, strikethrough adds a line through it, and inline code applies a monospace font. None of these formatting options affect the font size.
Compact mode
The Compact mode setting in Discord's Appearance settings primarily optimizes screen space by reducing message spacing and removing user avatars, rather than directly making text smaller. While the overall chat may appear more condensed, the actual font size of messages remains unchanged. To enable it, go to User Settings > Appearance > Message Display and select Compact.
Using the correct formatting ensures your messages appear as intended. For truly smaller text, always rely on the -# subtext markdown at the beginning of a new line.
