Discord begins rolling out 'Nameplates' - here's how to get it

Discord users have started noticing something new popping up around profiles and member lists recently. Little decorations and designs are appearing around usernames, adding a bit of extra flair. If you’ve seen them and wondered what they are, they’re called ‘Nameplates’, a new cosmetic feature Discord has just started testing.

So, what exactly are Nameplates? According to Discord’s official information, they are special designs meant to customize how your name looks across the platform. Think of them as a way to make your display name stand out in your direct messages, group chats, and server member lists. While things like avatar decorations customize your profile picture, Nameplates focus specifically on jazzing up your actual username text.

Now, if you’re eager to grab one, here’s the catch: Nameplates are currently part of an experiment. This means Discord is rolling them out slowly to a small group of users first. You might be able to see other people using them, but the ability to actually buy one is limited for now. Discord often does this with new features to test stability and gather feedback before a wider release.

This gradual rollout has caused some confusion among users. As user DR4G0NQUEEN commented on Reddit, “why is it not available for everyone on its release? i dont get it, i can see it and buy it on one of my accounts cus i saw it in shop but on my second account it doesnt appear anywhere.” Reports suggest that while a vast majority of users (potentially over 95%) can currently see Nameplates, only a small percentage (around 5%) have access to purchase them from the Shop. The rollout appears to be random, and having a Nitro subscription doesn’t guarantee early access, though Nitro members do get a discount on the purchase price, which seems to be around $5 per Nameplate.

If you happen to be one of the users included in the initial test group, getting a Nameplate is straightforward. You’ll need to be on the desktop or web version of Discord. Head to the ‘Shop’ tab, which you can find next to your Direct Messages list. Alternatively, go into your User Settings (the cogwheel icon), navigate to the ‘Profiles’ section, and you should see an option or banner leading you to the Shop. Once there, you can browse the available Nameplates and purchase any that catch your eye.

After buying a Nameplate, applying it is also done through the User Settings. Go back to the ‘Profiles’ section and click ‘Change Nameplate’. Select the one you want from your collection, hit ‘Apply’, and then make sure to ‘Save Changes’. Once applied, your chosen Nameplate will show up next to your name in various places, including DMs, group chats, and server member lists. Remember, purchased Nameplates are yours to keep permanently.

Keep in mind, you need to be online and active (not set to ‘Invisible’) for your Nameplate to display. Also, for those who aren’t fans of extra visual effects, Discord notes that Nameplates cannot be completely turned off, but enabling ‘Reduced Motion’ in the Accessibility settings can minimize their animations. As the experiment continues, expect Nameplates to become available to more users over time.