Discord to Tackle Memory Leaks on Windows by Automatically Restarting the App if It Exceeds 4 GB of RAM
Discord has started testing a drastic but necessary solution to address performance issues in its Windows desktop app. The company has launched an experiment called “restart on excessive memory use,” which will automatically close and reopen the client if it detects that memory usage exceeds 4 GB of RAM. This measure aims to control memory leaks that have negatively affected the experience of many users in recent months.
The current hardware landscape doesn’t forgive resource waste. With DRAM and NAND memory prices rising due to AI data center demand, optimizing software has gone from a luxury to a necessity. Discord notes that normal app usage should remain below 1 GB, meaning that reaching 4 GB is a clear sign that something isn’t working properly.
How the Automatic Restart System Works
To avoid annoying interruptions, developers have implemented strict safeguards. The automatic restart will only activate if the user is away and the app has been running for more than an hour. In addition, the system is designed not to interrupt active calls and will perform a restart only once per day at most. It will also save message drafts and open channels to ensure a smooth return to activity.
Discord has clarified that this feature is not a final solution, but rather a temporary relief mechanism. According to an official statement, the team has been working since October 2025 on an initiative to fix more than nine memory-related issues, including leaks and buffer overflows. So far, these optimizations have reduced memory consumption by about 5% for the most affected users.
The goal of these controlled restarts is twofold: to reduce the user’s PC load and to collect vital diagnostic data. The company explains that some of these bugs affect less than 0.1% of its user base and are extremely difficult to reproduce in a lab environment. This tool will help track rare and complex errors, allowing engineers to develop permanent patches that will eventually make this restart system unnecessary.
