Vencord – The Ultimate Discord Mod for Linux Users

Discord is the go-to communication platform for many communities, especially in the gaming and tech worlds. While the default client offers a solid experience, have you ever wished you could tweak its appearance or add features that aren’t available out of the box? Especially on Linux, where customization is often a core part of the user experience, the standard Discord client can feel a bit rigid.

Enter Vencord, a popular Discord mod designed to unlock a new level of personalization and functionality for your desktop client. If you’re a Linux user looking to enhance your Discord setup with custom discord themes, powerful plugins, and more control over your experience, you’ve come to the right place.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Vencord. We’ll cover what it is, its key features, how to safely install it on your Linux system, and how to start using its powerful plugins and themes. We’ll also touch upon the important considerations regarding Discord’s Terms of Service. Let’s dive in and supercharge your Discord!

What Exactly is Vencord?

Vencord isn’t a standalone Discord client; rather, it’s a modification (or “mod”) that injects custom code into your existing official Discord desktop application. Think of it like a browser extension, but specifically for Discord. It acts as a loader for various plugins and themes developed by the community, allowing you to tailor the Discord interface and functionality to your exact preferences.

Key characteristics of Vencord include:

• Extensibility: Its primary purpose is to load user-created plugins and themes.
• Lightweight: It aims to be efficient and not bog down your Discord client.
• Open Source: The Vencord code is publicly available (typically on platforms like GitHub), allowing for transparency and community contributions.
• Cross-Platform (with Linux Focus Here): While available for other OSes, we’ll focus on its use within the Linux ecosystem.

It enhances the existing Discord client without replacing it, integrating directly into the settings menu for easy management.

Why Use Vencord on Linux? The Benefits

So, why go through the trouble of installing a discord mod like Vencord? For many Linux users, the appeal lies in customization and adding missing features:

1. Unparalleled Customization: This is Vencord‘s biggest draw.

   • Discord Themes: Tired of the default dark/light modes? Vencord lets you install a vast array of community-created discord themes, completely changing the look and feel of your client. Find themes that match your desktop environment, favorite color scheme, or just something unique.
   • Plugin-Powered Features:Vencord boasts a rich ecosystem of plugins that add functionality Discord lacks natively. Examples include:
     • SpotifyControls: Manage Spotify playback directly within Discord.
     • MessageLogger: Keep track of edited or deleted messages (use ethically!).
     • Translator: Translate messages directly in the chat interface.
     • CustomRPC: Create more detailed custom Rich Presence status messages.
     • ReadAllNotificationsButton: Quickly clear all those pings.
     • FakeNitro: Enjoy some client-side Nitro perks like using emotes from any server (others won’t see them unless they also have FakeNitro or Nitro).
     • And many more!

2. Potentially Enhanced Experience: Some plugins might offer minor performance tweaks or quality-of-life improvements that streamline your workflow.

   
   

3. Community Driven: Being open-source means Vencord benefits from community contributions, leading to a steady stream of new themes, plugins, and updates.

Essentially, Vencord empowers Linux users to break free from the standard Discord constraints and craft an experience that truly suits their needs.

Installing Vencord on Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide

Installing Vencord on Linux is generally straightforward, thanks to an easy-to-use installation script.

Prerequisites:

• Official Discord Client Installed: Vencord modifies the existing client, so you need Discord installed first. This guide assumes you have it installed via your distribution’s package manager, Flatpak, Snap, or directly from Discord’s .deb/.tar.gz downloads.
• curl or wget: You’ll need one of these command-line tools to download the installer script. Most Linux distros have these pre-installed.
• Internet Connection: To download the script and Vencord itself.

Installation Steps:

Open Your Terminal: Launch your preferred terminal emulator.

Download and Run the Vencord Installer: The recommended way is to use their official installer script. Navigate to the official Vencord website or GitHub repository (a quick web search for “Vencord installer” should lead you there – be sure it’s the legitimate source!) to find the latest installation command. Typically, it looks something like this:

sh -c "$(curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Vendicated/VencordInstaller/main/install.sh)"

Alternatively, using wget:

sh -c "$(wget -O- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Vendicated/VencordInstaller/main/install.sh)"

Explanation: This command downloads the install.sh script using curl or wget and immediately executes it using sh. The script is designed to automatically detect your Discord installation (including Stable, PTB, Canary, Flatpak, and Snap versions) and patch it with Vencord.

Security Note: Always be cautious when running scripts directly from the internet. Ensure you are downloading the script from the official and trusted Vencord source (usually their GitHub repository).

Follow On-Screen Prompts (If Any): The script might ask for your sudo password if it needs elevated permissions to write to the Discord installation directory (especially for system-wide installs). It should clearly state what it’s doing. It will likely detect your Discord installation path(s) and ask for confirmation.

Verification:

• After restarting Discord, go to User Settings (the gear icon near your username).
• Scroll down the left-hand sidebar. You should now see a new section labeled “Vencord“.
• If you see this section, the installation was successful!

Exploring Vencord: Plugins and Themes

With Vencord installed, the fun begins! Navigate to User Settings > Vencord. Here you’ll find several tabs:

• Plugins: This is where you manage your plugins. You can browse the extensive list of available plugins, read their descriptions, and enable the ones you want with a simple toggle switch. Use the search bar to find specific functionalities.
• Themes: Similar to plugins, this tab lets you browse, install, and manage discord themes. Find a theme you like, enable it, and watch your Discord client transform instantly. You can often find more themes online (e.g., via the BetterDiscord theme repository, as many are compatible) and install them by placing their .css files into the Vencord themes folder (the location is usually shown within the Vencord settings).
• Settings: Configure Vencord’s core settings and behavior.
• Updater: Check for updates.

Getting Started:

1. Enable some popular plugins: Start with a few useful ones like SpotifyControls, ReadAllNotificationsButton, or GameActivityToggle.
2. Try out a theme: Browse the built-in theme list or search online for “discord themes” and find one that matches your Linux desktop aesthetic. Download the .css file and place it in the Vencord themes directory (accessible via settings).

Experiment and see what combination of plugins and themes creates the perfect Discord experience for you.

Important Considerations: Discord TOS and Safety

This is crucial: Using client modifications like Vencord is against Discord’s Terms of Service (ToS).

• What does this mean? Discord explicitly prohibits modifying their client. While widespread bans specifically for using cosmetic mods like Vencord seem uncommon currently, the risk is always present. Using Vencord could potentially lead to your Discord account being flagged or suspended. You use it at your own risk.
• Safety: Only install Vencord from its official sources (primarily their verified GitHub repository). Installing mods or scripts from untrusted sources poses a significant security risk, potentially exposing your account token or installing malware on your Linux system. The open-source nature of Vencord allows for code auditing, which adds a layer of trust if you get it from the right place.
• Ethical Use: Some plugins (like message loggers) can be misused. Use Vencord responsibly and ethically.

Weigh the benefits of customization against the potential risks associated with violating Discord’s ToS before deciding to install Vencord.

Conclusion

Vencord offers Linux users a fantastic way to break the mold of the standard Discord client. With its vast library of community-developed plugins and discord themes, you can tailor your communication hub to look and function exactly how you want. The installation process on Linux is generally simple, and managing your mods through the integrated settings menu is intuitive.

From adding missing quality-of-life features to completely overhauling the visual appearance, Vencord puts the power of customization firmly in your hands. Just remember the caveat: using client mods violates Discord’s ToS, so proceed with awareness of the potential risks involved.

If you’re ready to take your Discord experience on Linux to the next level, give Vencord a try!

What are your favorite Vencord plugins or themes? Share your experiences in the comments below!