# Discord Text Formatter

> Format Discord messages with a live preview, make timestamps that show in every reader's own time zone, and build colored text with ANSI code blocks.

- Page: https://linguaholic.com/tools/discord-text-formatter/
- Type: free online tool (Text tools), no sign-up, runs in the browser
- Publisher: Linguaholic (https://linguaholic.com/), made by Marcel Iseli
- Last updated: October 3, 2026
- Open it pre-filled: https://linguaholic.com/tools/discord-text-formatter/?mode=time&t=1791043200
  - `text`: the message to format (on the colored-text tab: the text to color) (for example `hello`)
  - `style`: comma-separated styles applied to each line: bold, italic, underline, strike, spoiler (for example `bold,italic`)
  - `line`: line style: subtext, h1, h2, h3 or quote (for example `h1`)
  - `mode`: format (default), time to open the timestamp generator, or color for colored text (for example `time`)
  - `t`: with mode=time: a Unix timestamp in seconds or milliseconds, or a Discord message ID (for example `1791043200`)
  - `color`: with mode=color: black, red, green, yellow, blue, pink, cyan or white (for example `red`)
  - `theme`: preview theme: dark (default) or light (for example `light`)

## How to use the Discord text formatter

Discord formats messages with **markdown**: a few symbols around your words make them bold, italic, underlined, crossed out or hidden as a spoiler. This formatter has three parts, one per tab:

1. **Format.** Type your message, select a word or a line, and tap a button: **B** for bold, **I** for italic, **U** for underline, **S** for strikethrough, Spoiler, code, headers, small text, quotes, lists, code blocks and links. Tap the same button again to undo it. The **preview** below shows the message the way Discord displays it, in the dark or light theme. Then tap **Copy message** and paste it into Discord.
2. **Timestamps.** Pick a date and time (and its time zone) to get a `<t:…>` code in all nine styles, each previewed in your own local time. Copy one, or tap **Add** to put it in your message.
3. **Colored text.** Give each piece of text its own color, background, bold or underline, or turn a whole line into rainbow letters. The tool writes the `ansi` code block that Discord turns into color.

The counter under the message box keeps an eye on Discord’s limit of 2,000 characters per message (4,000 with Nitro). Everything runs in your browser: your message is not sent anywhere until you paste it into Discord yourself.

## Discord markdown cheat sheet

The formatting codes Discord understands in chat messages, in four short tables. Type the symbols exactly as shown, or let the formatter add them for you.

### Text styles

| Style | Type this | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bold | `**bold text**` | Two asterisks on each side. |
| Italic | `*italic text*` | One asterisk or one underscore: _italic text_. |
| Bold italic | `***bold italic***` | Three asterisks. |
| Underline | `__underlined text__` | Two underscores on each side. |
| Underline italic | `__*underline italic*__` | Styles can be nested. |
| Strikethrough | `~~crossed out~~` | Two tildes on each side. |
| Spoiler | `\|\|hidden text\|\|` | Readers click or tap to reveal it. |

### Headers, small text, lists and quotes

| Style | Type this | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Big header | `# Header` | At the start of a line, with a space after #. |
| Medium header | `## Header` | Two hash signs. |
| Small header | `### Header` | Three hash signs; #### is not a header. |
| Subtext (small text) | `-# small gray text` | Dash, hash, space at the start of a line. |
| Bulleted list | `- item` | A dash or an asterisk and a space. |
| Nested list item | ` - sub-item` | Indent with a space or two. |
| Numbered list | `1. item` | A number, a period and a space. |
| Quote one line | `> quoted line` | Greater-than sign and a space. |
| Quote the rest | `>>> everything after` | Quotes every line to the end of the message. |

### Code and colored text

| Style | Type this | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inline code | ``code`` | Backticks; no formatting happens inside. |
| Code block | ```` code ```` | Three backticks above and below. |
| Code with colors | ````js let x = 1; ```` | A language name after the opening backticks. |
| Colored text | ````ansi … ```` | ANSI codes; build them with the Colored text tab. |

### Links, timestamps and symbols

| Style | Type this | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Masked link | `[link text](https://example.com)` | Shows the text instead of the address. |
| Link without preview | `<https://example.com>` | Angle brackets stop the embed. |
| Timestamp | `<t:1791043200:R>` | Shows in each reader’s own time zone. |
| Escape a symbol | `\*not italic\*` | A backslash shows the symbol itself. |

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I format text in Discord?**

Discord uses markdown: **bold**, *italic*, __underline__, ~~strikethrough~~, ||spoiler|| and `code`. Type your message here, select words, tap a button, check the preview and copy the result into Discord.

**How do I make text small in Discord?**

Start the line with a dash, a hash sign and a space: -# your text. Discord shows it as subtext, smaller and gray. Each small line needs its own -# at the very start.

**How do I spoiler text on Discord?**

Put two vertical bars on each side, like ||hidden text||. Readers tap or click to reveal it. It works the same on desktop and in the mobile apps.

**How do I make text bigger in Discord?**

Start a line with # and a space for a big header, ## for a medium one or ### for a small one. There are only three sizes, and the header must start the line.

**How do I cross out text in Discord?**

Wrap it in two tildes on each side: ~~crossed out~~. Select the words in the formatter and tap S to add them.

**How do I make colored text in Discord?**

Discord colors text inside a code block marked ansi, using ANSI escape codes. Use the Colored text tab to pick text and background colors, then copy the block. It shows on desktop and in the browser; the mobile apps usually show plain text.

**How do Discord timestamps work?**

Write <t:UNIX:STYLE>, where UNIX is seconds since January 1, 1970 (UTC) and STYLE is a letter such as t, d, f, F or R. Discord shows the time in each reader's own time zone. The Timestamps tab builds the code for any date.

**What does R mean in a Discord timestamp?**

R is the relative style. It shows how far away the time is, such as in 2 hours or 3 days ago, and keeps updating, which makes it ideal for countdowns.

**How do I make a masked link in Discord?**

Write the text in square brackets followed by the address in parentheses: [link text](https://example.com). Wrap a plain link in angle brackets, <https://example.com>, to hide its preview.

**Why doesn't formatting work in my Discord name?**

Markdown only works in messages and posts, not in usernames, display names, nicknames or channel names. For those, use styled Unicode letters from a fancy text or bold text generator.

## Related tools

- [Invisible Character](https://linguaholic.com/tools/invisible-character/): Copy invisible characters and blank text for empty names, messages and spacing, or paste text to find and remove hidden characters.
- [Small Text Generator](https://linguaholic.com/tools/small-text-generator/): Turn your text into small caps, tiny raised letters, or tiny lowered letters, then copy and paste it into bios, display names, and messages.
- [Bold Text Generator](https://linguaholic.com/tools/bold-text-generator/): Turn your text into bold letters and numbers you can copy and paste into Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X, in eight bold styles from sans-serif to gothic.
- [Strikethrough Text Generator](https://linguaholic.com/tools/strikethrough-text-generator/): Put a line through, under, or over your text and copy it for Instagram, TikTok, X, and other places that have no strikethrough button.
- [Fancy Text Generator](https://linguaholic.com/tools/fancy-text-generator/): Type once and copy your text in 55 fancy styles, from cursive and gothic to bubble letters and small caps, for Instagram, Discord, TikTok and X names and bios.
- [Word Counter](https://linguaholic.com/tools/word-counter/): Count words, characters, sentences, paragraphs, and pages in real time — plus a readability checker (Flesch, Gunning Fog and more), a plain-English writing check, reading and speaking time, word frequency, and live character limits.