What does "idol" mean in Discord? Explained

Like other VoIP platforms, Discord employs different icons to indicate the status of your activity. Through your status icon, other users on the platform can easily know whether you are online or offline . However, Discord also allows you to be idle. This is a completely different kind of status. Now you may be wondering what exactly does being idle mean in Discord? In this article, we will not only decipher what it means, but also explain how to set the idle status on Discord. So let’s get down to business.

What does idle mean in Discord?

In Discord, idleness is indicated by the crescent moon (ğŸā™) emoji. Setting your Discord status to idle typically indicates that the app is open on your device, but you haven’t interacted with it for more than 5 minutes. In other words, stay away from the keyboard or AFK . However, it does not mean that you are offline because you have not logged out of the platform.

You can receive messages and notifications from other users and stay informed about what’s happening on the platform. Discord automatically sets your status to Idle after approximately 5 to 10 minutes of inactivity is detected. However, you can also manually set the status to idle.

Set your Discord status to idle on Android

Now that you know what “idle” means in Discord, we’ll show you how to set your status to idle in a few easy steps. This way, you will be able to manually control your Discord status without waiting for the platform to change it automatically. The process for changing status is slightly different on all platforms, so we’ve covered each one separately.

But first, let’s take a look at how to change your status to idle in the Discord app on Android.

1. Open the Discord app and go to your profile by tapping your avatar in the bottom panel.

2. Now tap on your username or profile picture to see the pop-up ‘Change online status’ menu.

3. Then tap and select Idle and your Discord status will be set to the same immediately.

Note : Unlike the iOS and desktop versions, the Android app does not have an option to “set a custom status.” Instead, you must tap Add Status to set a custom status.

Set your Discord status to idle on your iPhone

1. In the Discord iOS app, tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner.

2. Next, tap Set Status and select Idle from the pop-up menu that appears.

Set your Discord status to idle on desktop/web

1. Launch the Discord app on your desktop and click your avatar in the bottom left corner of the screen.

2. Move your mouse over the status panel where the current status is displayed and a small pop-up menu will appear.

3. Change your Discord status by clicking Idle from the list of status options.

You have now successfully set your Discord status to idle on your Windows, Mac, or Linux PC. A yellow crescent moon icon will appear on your avatar and the word “Idol” will appear next to it. Other Discord users can see your status on the servers you belong to.

Other Discord status meanings explained

Once you set your status to Idle, you’ll see other status options in the Discord app. So, in case you’re wondering what these do, here’s a quick explanation of what the other status icons mean.

• Online – means you are currently active on Discord and can receive notifications and messages. It is usually indicated by a green dot next to your Discord avatar.
• Do Not Disturb – DND indicates that you do not want to receive messages or notifications. This is indicated by a red dot with a black dash in the middle and must be manually toggled on. The steps to enable this status are similar to idle mode.
• Hidden – Check this option to choose not to notify others that you are online. This is indicated by a gray half-filled dot icon next to your avatar. This is the same symbol used to indicate offline status in Discord.

As you can see in the screenshot above, Discord also allows you to set custom status messages . However, unlike the iOS and desktop apps, the Android app doesn’t have an option to “set a custom status” in the status popup. Instead, you’ll need to tap Add Status to set a custom status in Discord via the Android app.

This custom status accompanies any of the statuses selected above and can be used to further describe your current status on the platform. You can also use this option creatively. Apart from these options, Discord also adds a small phone icon next to your avatar to indicate which device you’re using, and a purple play icon when you’re streaming on Twitch. Also, let us know in the comments if you found this guide helpful.