Discord JavaScript Error MacBook: How to Fix It Easily

Discord not opening on your Mac? Learn how to fix the Discord JavaScript error on Mac with step-by-step solutions to get it running smoothly again.

Fix Discord a JavaScript Error Occurred in the Main Process

Are you facing a Discord JavaScript error on your MacBook? This frustrating error can stop Discord from launching, updating, or installing altogether. It often shows up as “A JavaScript error occurred in the main process,” leaving users unsure of what to do next.

Why Discord Is Not Opening on Mac (JavaScript Error Explained)

If you click on Discord and it won’t launch—or it fails during an update with a JavaScript error—several issues may be at play. Discord is built using Electron, which relies on Node.js and Chromium. If any supporting file becomes corrupted, or if macOS permissions or third-party tools interfere, you’ll see this JavaScript error.

Common causes of the Discord JavaScript error on MacBook:

Corrupted files in ~/Library/Application Support/Discord
Interrupted updates causing broken binaries
Conflict with plugins like BetterDiscord
Issues with outdated macOS versions (especially 10.13.6 and older)
Permissions conflicts or incomplete uninstalls
Caching problems during Discord updates
Network-related disruptions during the patching process
System integrity issues where user permissions restrict script execution

In macOS, Discord relies heavily on Node.js to execute background update scripts and initialize modules like voice, screen share, and RPC. A corrupted .asar archive or partial update can trigger these JavaScript errors.

How to Fix Discord JavaScript Error on Mac

To fix the Discord JavaScript error on MacBook, follow the steps below in order. Each solution is designed to clear out problematic files, reset Discord, and restore a clean installation.

Uninstall Discord Completely on Mac

Before you can fix the issue, you need to fully remove all Discord-related files from your Mac. Simply dragging the app to Trash isn’t enough.

Steps to completely uninstall Discord:

Quit Discord completely

Right-click the Discord icon in the dock and select Quit. Open Activity Monitor (use Spotlight search) and force-quit any Discord processes.

Delete residual Discord files: Open Finder and press Shift + Command + G to open Go to Folder.

Enter and delete each of the following directories:

~/Library/Application Support/Discord /Library/Application Support/Discord ~/Library/Caches/com.hnc.Discord ~/Library/Preferences/com.hnc.Discord.plist ~/Library/Saved Application State/com.hnc.Discord.savedState

Remove the Discord app: Drag Discord.app from Applications to Trash, then empty the Trash.

For a complete guide on how to fully uninstall apps on a Mac (especially stubborn ones), refer to this helpful article: How to Completely Uninstall Applications on Mac

Reinstall the Latest Version of Discord

After removing Discord entirely, a clean reinstall can solve the problem.

Restart your Mac
Visit discord.com/download and download the latest macOS installer.
Open the .dmg file and drag Discord into your Applications folder.
Launch Discord—check if the error persists.

Make sure no VPN or firewall is blocking Discord’s connection to its servers. Use Discord’s status page to confirm there are no service issues: discordstatus.com

Check Your macOS Version

Older macOS versions (especially before macOS Catalina 10.15) are more prone to Discord JavaScript errors.

Click the Apple logo > About This Mac

If you’re running macOS 10.13.6 or older, consider updating to at least 10.15 Catalina for better compatibility

Discord officially supports macOS 10.14 Mojave and later, but most compatibility issues vanish with 10.15 Catalina or higher.

Clear Network Issues That Interrupt Discord Updates

Network configuration can block Discord’s update process, leading to errors.

Recommended changes:

Use Google DNS: Go to System Settings > Network > Advanced > DNS
Replace DNS servers with:
- 8.8.8.8
- 8.8.4.4
- 2001:4860:4860::8888
- 2001:4860:4860::8844
Renew DHCP Lease: In the TCP/IP tab, click Renew DHCP Lease and restart Discord.
Disable VPN or Proxy: VPNs may redirect connections to servers Discord doesn’t expect, breaking its updater.

If your update hangs at “Checking for Updates” or errors out with a script exception, network interference is likely the cause.

Remove Plugins Like BetterDiscord

If you’ve installed third-party Discord modifications, they can conflict with the app’s base files and cause JavaScript errors.

How to remove BetterDiscord:

Go to ~/Library/Application Support/ and delete any folders named BetterDiscord
If you installed via npm, open Terminal and run: npm uninstall betterdiscord
Restart your Mac and reinstall Discord from scratch

BetterDiscord modifies the core Discord .asar archive, which often gets flagged or broken during updates.

Launch Discord with Administrator Rights

Sometimes Discord lacks the permissions it needs to run correctly.

Use Terminal to run Discord as an admin:

Open Terminal
Enter: sudo /Applications/Discord.app/Contents/MacOS/Discord
Type your password when prompted
Check if the error is resolved

Running Discord with elevated privileges can bypass permission-based script failures that result in JavaScript errors.

Check Discord Developer Console Logs

If Discord still won’t open, check the developer tools for exact error messages:

Try launching Discord
If the window appears briefly, press ⌘ Option I
Go to the Console tab
Look for red error messages pointing to missing or broken files

Errors like Cannot read property 'X' of undefined or Failed to load module often suggest corrupted or missing files within the resources folder.

Check Firewall and Security Software

macOS or third-party antivirus tools may block parts of Discord’s installer or updater.

Try the following:

Temporarily disable your antivirus software
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access
Add Discord.app to the list of allowed apps

On newer macOS versions with stricter privacy enforcement, Discord may fail silently unless granted full access.

Conclusion

The Discord JavaScript error on MacBook can seem intimidating, but it’s usually tied to leftover files, plugin conflicts, or system permissions. With a full uninstall and the right fixes, you can get Discord working again in no time.

For a more comprehensive guide straight from the source, refer to Discord’s official help article on the topic: macOS Install and Updating Errors – Discord Support

By following the steps in this guide—from clearing support files to reinstalling the app properly—you’ll likely resolve the issue completely. And if the problem persists, don’t hesitate to check Discord Status or contact their Support Team.

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