What Does Discord’s ‘Moon’ Icon Mean? A Guide to Idle Status

Introduction

The yellow “moon icon” on Discord means the user is “Idle.” This status automatically appears when someone is logged in but hasn’t used their mouse or keyboard for about 5 minutes. Unlike being “Offline,” a user who is “Idle” still receives all notifications.

This guide explains what the Idle status means, how it’s different from other statuses, and how to use it effectively.

1. The Basics: What “Idle” Status Means

The Idle status is designed to show that a user is logged in to Discord but is likely “Away From Keyboard” (AFK). It’s an automatic signal that they might not reply immediately.

1.1. How “Idle” Compares to Other Statuses

Discord has four main statuses, each with a different meaning.

1.2. Automatic vs. Manual Status

• Automatic: On the desktop app, Discord automatically switches you from “Online” to “Idle” after about 5 minutes of inactivity.
• Manual: You can also set your status to “Idle” manually at any time by clicking your profile picture and selecting it from the menu. If you set it manually, it will stay “Idle” until you change it back.

2. The Moon Icon on Different Devices

2.1. The ‘Idle’ Moon (🌙) vs. the ‘Mobile’ Icon (📱)

• Yellow Moon (🌙): On the mobile app, you will also be marked as “Idle” if you have the app open but haven’t interacted with it for a while.
• Green Phone (📱): This is not an idle status. This green icon means the user is currently “Online” and active from their smartphone. It helps you know if someone is on their PC or their phone.

2.2. What Does the Moon Icon Mean in a Voice Call?

If you’re in a voice chat (VC) and someone’s icon turns into a moon, it means they are still in the voice channel, but they are inactive in the Discord app.

This could mean:

• They are focused on a game or another application.
• They are temporarily AFK (Away From Keyboard) to get a drink.
• They fell asleep in the call.Explanation: Discord does not have a “sleeping” status. However, because falling asleep in a voice call leads to long-term inactivity, the “Idle” moon is now widely recognized as the unofficial sign that someone has fallen asleep.

3. The Most Important Fact: Idle vs. Notifications

3.1. Do You Still Get Notifications When Idle? Yes!

This is the most common misunderstanding. The “Idle” status does not stop notifications.

If your status is “Idle,” you will still receive all desktop popups and mobile push notifications for Direct Messages (DMs) and mentions (pings).

3.2. Want to Stop Notifications? Use “Do Not Disturb” (DND)

If you need to focus or don’t want to be bothered, do not use “Idle.” You must use “Do Not Disturb” (DND).

• Idle (Moon): “I might be away.” (Notifications are ON)
• Do Not Disturb (DND ⛔): “I am busy, do not bother me.” (Notifications are OFF)

4. Don’t Confuse the ‘Yellow Moon’ with the ‘Yellow Border’

Be careful not to confuse these two different “yellow” indicators.

• Yellow Moon (🌙): This is your “Idle” status.
• Yellow Border (🟨): This is a yellow outline that appears around a window or your entire screen. This is an OS-level security warning that appears when you are screen sharing (Go Live). It has nothing to do with your Idle status.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: My friend is “Idle” all the time. What does that mean?

A1: This usually means one of three things:

1. They left their PC on with Discord running but aren’t using it.
2. They manually set their status to “Idle” and forgot to change it back.
3. (Rarely) A network issue is preventing their status from updating correctly.

Q2: Can I turn off the automatic “Idle” status?

A2: No. This is a core feature of Discord and cannot be disabled.

Q3: Is it rude to message someone who is “Idle”?

A3: No, not at all. You can message them, and they will receive the notification. Just be aware that they are likely AFK, so you shouldn’t expect an immediate reply.

Q4: Can I use a Custom Status with the Idle moon?

A4: Yes, you can. Your Custom Status (e.g., “Studying 📚”) will display underneath your base status. This means you can show both the yellow “Idle” moon and your “Studying 📚” message at the same time.

6. Conclusion: How to Use the Idle Status

This guide covered everything about Discord’s yellow “Idle” moon.

Here are the key takeaways:

• The moon icon means “Idle,” or inactive for 5+ minutes.
• It is not the same as “Offline.”
• In a voice call, the moon is the unofficial sign of being AFK or asleep.
• Most importantly: You still get all your notifications when Idle.
• If you want to stop notifications, use “Do Not Disturb” (DND).

Understanding the “Idle” status helps you better communicate your availability and understand the status of your friends.