You open Discord and see a red badge on the server icon, but when you click the server, the New Mentions tab shows no new messages. This mismatch makes you miss important replies, @mentions, and thread updates. The issue usually stems from a corrupted local cache, a stalled notification service, or a misconfigured message request filter. This article provides four targeted fixes to force the New Mentions tab to refresh and display all pending mentions correctly.
Key Takeaways: Fixing the New Mentions Tab That Stops Updating
- Ctrl + R (Windows) or Cmd + R (Mac): Forces a full UI refresh without restarting Discord.
- User Settings > Notifications > Suppress @everyone and @here: Turn off this setting temporarily to test if filtered messages are blocking the tab.
- %appdata%/discord/Cache (Windows) or ~/Library/Application Support/discord/Cache (Mac): Manually delete the cache folder to remove corrupted data that prevents the tab from updating.
Why the New Mentions Tab Stops Updating
Discord maintains a local database and cache file on your computer that stores every mention, reply, and thread notification. When a new mention arrives, Discord writes it to this local store and then updates the New Mentions tab. If the cache file becomes corrupted — due to an incomplete write, a disk error, or a sudden app crash — the tab may freeze and stop showing new entries even though the server badge continues to count correctly.
A second common cause is Discord’s notification filtering system. The Suppress @everyone and @here setting hides certain mention types from the tab. If you have changed this setting recently, legitimate mentions may be blocked without your knowledge. Additionally, the Message Requests feature for direct messages can divert mentions from users you do not share a server with, leaving the tab empty even when a mention exists in the requests folder.
Steps to Force the New Mentions Tab to Refresh
Perform these steps in the order shown. Test the New Mentions tab after each step before moving to the next. You do not need to restart Discord between steps unless instructed.
- Press Ctrl + R (Windows) or Cmd + R (Mac)
This keyboard shortcut triggers a full UI reload without closing the app. All tabs, including New Mentions, reset their state. If the cache is only temporarily stuck, this action clears the glitch. After pressing the keys, wait five seconds and check the tab. - Toggle the Suppress @everyone and @here Setting
Go to User Settings > Notifications. Find the toggle Suppress @everyone and @here. If it is enabled, disable it. If it is disabled, enable it, wait ten seconds, then disable it again. This forces Discord to re-evaluate which mentions to display in the tab. Return to the server and check the New Mentions tab. - Delete the Discord Cache Folder
Close Discord completely. Press Windows key + R, type%appdata%/discord, and press Enter. On Mac, open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, type~/Library/Application Support/discord, and press Enter. Locate the folder named Cache and delete it. Empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. Restart Discord. The app rebuilds the cache automatically. The New Mentions tab should now display all pending mentions. - Check Message Requests for Direct Message Mentions
If the missing mention is from a direct message rather than a server, open Discord and click the Home icon (the Discord logo in the top-left). Look for a button labeled Message Requests near the top of the friend list. Click it. Any mentions from users you do not share a server with appear here. Accept the request to move the mention into your main inbox. - Reinstall Discord
If none of the above steps work, uninstall Discord completely using Windows Settings > Apps or the Mac Applications folder. Download the latest installer from discord.com. Install and log in. A fresh installation replaces all corrupted cache files and resets every notification setting to default.
If Discord Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
New Mentions Tab Shows Old Mentions But Not New Ones
This symptom indicates that the local database index is corrupted. The tab can still read old data but cannot write new entries. Perform step 3 again (delete the Cache folder). After restarting Discord, send yourself a test mention by typing @yourusername in a channel where you have permission. If the test mention appears in the tab, the fix worked. If it does not, proceed to step 5 (reinstall).
Badge Count on Server Icon Does Not Match New Mentions Tab
The red badge counts all unread messages, not just mentions. The New Mentions tab only shows messages that contain @yourusername, @everyone, @here, or a reply to your message. If the badge shows a high number but the tab shows zero, you likely have many unread messages that are not mentions. This is expected behavior. To confirm, right-click the server icon and select Mark As Read. The badge disappears, but the New Mentions tab may still contain actual mentions.
Mentions From Threads Do Not Appear
Discord treats thread mentions differently. If you are mentioned in a thread you have not joined, the mention may appear only in the thread itself and not in the New Mentions tab. To see these mentions, click the Threads icon at the top of the channel list (it looks like a hashtag with a plus sign). If you want all thread mentions to appear in the tab, go to User Settings > Notifications and enable Notify me about thread messages for the specific server.
New Mentions Tab Behavior: Desktop App vs Browser vs Mobile
| Item | Desktop App (Windows/Mac) | Browser Version |
|---|---|---|
| Cache location | %appdata%/discord/Cache | Browser cache (managed by the browser itself) |
| UI refresh shortcut | Ctrl + R or Cmd + R | F5 or Ctrl + R |
| Message Requests location | Home icon > Message Requests | Same as desktop app |
| Suppress @everyone setting | User Settings > Notifications | Same path |
| Reinstall method | Uninstall from OS settings, download from discord.com | Clear browser cookies and site data for discord.com |
The browser version does not use a separate local cache folder. Instead, it relies on the browser’s own storage. If the tab fails to update in the browser, clear the site data for discord.com in your browser settings and reload the page with F5. On mobile, the fix is simpler: force close the app and reopen it. The mobile app does not expose a cache deletion option.
The New Mentions tab now should display every pending mention correctly after applying the appropriate fix. For ongoing reliability, set a recurring reminder to clear the Discord cache every two weeks. This prevents the cache file from growing large enough to cause corruption again. If you manage a server, also check the server’s Server Settings > Roles > Manage Permissions to ensure the Mention @everyone, @here, and All Roles permission is granted only to roles that actually need it, reducing the volume of mentions that could overwhelm the tab.