“Why is there a purple circle next to my friend’s name?”
“Does the red dot mean they blocked me?”
If you are new to Discord, the colorful dots next to avatars can be confusing. These are Status Icons, and they tell you exactly what a user is doing right now—whether they are ready to chat, stepped away for a snack, or live streaming a game.
The short answer: There are 5 main status colors. Green is Online, Yellow is Idle, Red is Do Not Disturb, Purple is Streaming, and Gray is Offline.
Here is your quick guide to mastering Discord’s traffic light system.
🚥 Quick Guide: Status Icons at a Glance
| Color | Status | Meaning |
| 🟢 Green | Online | Active and ready to chat. |
| 🌙 Yellow | Idle | App is open, but the user is away (AFK). |
| ⛔ Red | Do Not Disturb | Online, but notifications are muted. |
| 🟣 Purple | Streaming | Currently live streaming on Twitch or YouTube. |
| 🔘 Gray | Offline | Logged out or hidden (Invisible). |
🔍 The 5 Statuses Explained
🟢 Online (Green)
This is the default. It means the user has the Discord app open on their desktop or phone and is actively using it. They will receive notifications and sounds normally.
🌙 Idle (Yellow Moon)
This means “Away From Keyboard” (AFK).
- Automatic: If a user doesn’t move their mouse or type for about 5–10 minutes, Discord automatically switches them to Idle.
- Manual: Users can also manually select this status if they want to appear unavailable while still lurking in chat.
⛔ Do Not Disturb (Red with Line)
This is the “Busy” mode.
- The Key Feature: When this is on, Discord will not play notification sounds or show desktop pop-ups.
- You can still send them messages, but they won’t see them until they check the app manually. It is perfect for gaming or studying.
🟣 Streaming (Purple)
This is a special automated status. It appears when a user is:
- Live streaming on a linked Twitch or YouTube account.
- Using Discord’s “Go Live” feature in a Voice Channel.
- Cool Feature: Often, you can click on their profile to see a “Watch” button and join their stream immediately.
🔘 Offline / Invisible (Gray)
This creates the illusion that the user is not on Discord.
- Offline: They are actually logged out or have the app closed.
- Invisible: They are online and reading messages, but they appear offline to everyone else. This is the “Ghost Mode” of Discord.
📱 How to Change Your Status
Want to hide or let people know you are busy? Changing your status takes two clicks.
On Desktop
- Click your Profile Picture in the bottom left corner.
- Hover over your current status.
- Select the new status from the pop-up menu.
On Mobile
- Tap your Profile Picture in the bottom right corner.
- Tap Set Status.
- Choose your option.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can I hide my status completely?
A: Yes, by using “Invisible.”
While you cannot remove the dot entirely (it will just turn gray), setting yourself to Invisible makes you look offline to everyone else. You can still use Discord normally, but no one will know you are there.
Q: Does “Do Not Disturb” block messages?
A: No.
You still receive all messages and mentions; you just won’t hear the ping sound.
Q: Why is there a tiny phone icon next to the green dot?
A: That is “Mobile Presence.”
It means the user is active on the Discord mobile app and is not currently using their computer.
Q: Can I create a custom status message?
A: Yes.
Below the 5 standard colors, there is an option to “Set a custom status.” You can write a short message (e.g., “Studying,” “Grinding Ranked”) and add an emoji that appears under your name.
🌟 Summary
Understanding status icons helps you communicate better.
- Message Green users for instant replies.
- Expect delays from Yellow users.
- Respect the Red (DND) users—they are busy!
Next Step: Try setting your status to “Do Not Disturb” next time you are focusing on a game to stop those annoying notification sounds!