Discord: block sensitive images in messages and check server settings

Discord's content settings distinguish direct messages from server messages. Review each separately instead of assuming one switch protects the entire experience.

Recommended setup

1. Open the content controls. Go to User Settings, then Content & Social.
2. Review mature sexual media. For direct messages from friends and non-friends, choose Block where available rather than only blurring the media.
3. Review graphic media too. Set the available choices to match the same boundary.
4. Inspect server-message settings. Discord documents different options for server messages, including blur settings; server-level blocking also depends on server controls. ¹
5. Choose communities and contacts deliberately. Leave servers that do not fit your boundary and review who can send messages. Do not assume a filter makes every community appropriate.

Good to know

Discord says these sensitive-content filters apply to image-based media, not videos. New blocking choices also do not necessarily remove previously received images; the documented behavior differs between blocking and blurring. ¹

Therefore, do not describe the feature as filtering every video, voice conversation, text message, or shared screen. Review existing conversations separately when setting up a device that has already been used.

Teen defaults and available reveal options can vary. Inspect the actual account instead of borrowing another person's settings screen.

Check your setup

Confirm the direct-message settings for both friends and non-friends, then inspect the server settings. Check who can change them and review the server list. Do not ask anyone to send explicit material to test the system.

For an adult who needs a stronger boundary than reversible image preferences, consider limiting Discord to specific necessary uses or removing access. For a teen, combine the controls with clear expectations about contacts, servers, and reporting unwanted material.

Sources

1. Discord: sensitive-content filters and their limits

Steps were checked against these official help pages on September 18, 2026. Menus change; when a step does not match your screen, follow the linked page.