Discord has evolved far beyond its origins as a gaming chat app. In 2026, it stands as a comprehensive social hub for virtual parties, study sessions, and live music-listening rooms. Simultaneously, YouTube Music has cemented its place as a global streaming giant, offering an unparalleled library of tracks, rare remixes, and live performances.
Naturally, users are eager to bridge these two platforms. However, unlike its seamless integration with Spotify, Discord still lacks a native connection for YouTube Music, leaving many users frustrated. Fortunately, effective workarounds exist. This guide covers every functional method to play YouTube Music in Discord in 2026, including a stable, no-bot solution that ensures 24/7 ad-free playback.
Part 1. Can You Connect YouTube Music to Discord?
The short answer is no, YouTube Music cannot be directly connected to Discord.
Unlike Spotify, YouTube Music does not provide an official Discord integration. You cannot link your YouTube Music account to Discord or broadcast what you are listening to with a single click. Discord only supports native integrations for a few platforms, and YouTube Music is not one of them.
However, you can still play YouTube Music in Discord using several workarounds. In 2026, there are three practical ways to do this:
Method 1 - Using Discord YouTube Music Bots
This was once the most popular solution. Music bots such as Rythm, Groovy, and Jockie Music used to stream YouTube audio directly into Discord voice channels.
However, in recent years, this method has become unreliable. Due to YouTube's strict API policies, copyright enforcement, and IP blocking, many bots no longer support YouTube Music properly. Tracks often fail to load, playback stops unexpectedly, or entire bots go offline.
Method 2 - Screen Sharing YouTube Music in Discord
Discord allows you to share a browser tab or application window with sound. This means you can open YouTube Music in your browser, start playing a track, and share that tab with others in a voice channel so they can hear it in real time.
This method is easy to use and requires no extra software, but it has limitations such as audio compression, ads, and playback stopping when you leave or minimize the window.
Method 3 - Playing Local YouTube Music Files in Discord (No Bots)
This is the most stable and professional solution in 2026. By converting YouTube Music tracks into standard audio formats such as MP3, WAV, or FLAC, you can play them through your computer's media player and route the sound directly into Discord. Since Discord only sees this as system audio, there are no ads, no API limits, and no bot failures.
Each of these methods works differently and suits different use cases. In the following sections, we will walk through them in order of practicality and stability.
If you are interested in showing your YouTube Music listening status on Discord (similar to Spotify Rich Presence), this is only possible through desktop-based tools - not on mobile. You can find detailed instructions in FAQs later in this guide.
Part 2. How to Play YouTube Music in Discord Without Bots [Best]
If you're looking for the most reliable, high-quality, and ad-free way to play YouTube Music in Discord, using local audio files is the best solution in 2026.
Unlike Discord YouTube Music bots or Discord screen sharing, this method is not affected by:
- YouTube blocking or restrictions
- API changes or rate limits
- Ad interruptions
- Network buffering and lag
- Bot shutdowns, bans, or outages
Once YouTube Music is converted into standard audio files such as MP3 or WAV, Discord treats it like any normal system sound. This gives you complete control over playback and allows you to run music in Discord 24/7 without relying on unstable third-party bots.
To make this work, you'll need to download YouTube Music as MP3 or other audio formats first. This is where AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder comes in.
Why Choose AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder?
AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder is designed for users who want full control over their YouTube Music library. It allows you to download YouTube Music in bulk and convert tracks into multiple audio formats in high quality. You can also customize output settings such as bitrate, sample rate, and audio channels, making it ideal for Discord playback.
AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder
- Download YouTube music to MP3, WAV, and more formats
- Convert YouTube entire albums or playlists up to 30X speed
- Keep original audio quality and metadata
- Batch conversion of multiple tracks at once
- Remove DRM and all ads in YouTube Music
Phrase 1. How to Convert YouTube Music for Discord
Below is a complete step-by-step guide to downloading YouTube Music and preparing it for Discord listening.
- Step 1. Launch and Activate AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder
- Download and install AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder on your Windows or Mac computer. Launch the program and activate your license to unlock all features.
- Step 2. Set Youtube Output Format for Discord
- Click the menu icon > Preferences > Conversion. Here, choose your preferred output format such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, or AIFF. You can also customize bitrate, sample rate, and audio channels as needed. Under the Output tab, select a destination folder and enable ID3 tag retention so your music keeps song titles, artists, and album covers.
- Step 3. Add YouTube Music Tracks for Conversion
- Click the YouTube icon on the main interface to open the built-in web player. Log in to your YouTube Music account, browse your tracks, playlists, or albums, and click the green "+" button to add them to the conversion list.to add it to the conversion list.
- Step 4. Start the Conversion Process
- Go to the Converting tab and click 'Convert'. Once the process is complete, your ad-free YouTube Music files will be saved locally on your computer and ready for Discord playback.
Phrase 2. How to Play Converted YouTube Music on Discord
After converting your YouTube Music tracks, you can easily share them in Discord.
Step 1. Join a Discord voice channel or create one.
Step 2. Set your system audio (or virtual audio cable) as the input device in Discord settings.
Step 3. Play the YouTube music converted MP3 or WAV files on discord using a media player such as VLC, iTunes, or Windows Media Player.
Step 4. Everyone in the voice channel will hear the music in real time.
Bonus Tip: How to Play Downloaded YouTube Music in Discord via Spotify
You can also use Spotify as a bridge to play your downloaded YouTube Music on Discord with rich presence support.
1. Add Converted YouTube Music to Spotify
Step 1. On your computer, first, you need to open your Spotify and go to its "Settings".
Step 2. In the "Local Files" part, please switch on "Show Local Files" and scroll down to press "Add A Source" in "Music Library".
Step 3. Then, add your YouTube Music records from your local folder and click "Open". After the syncing step, you are able to find downloaded YouTube Music audio on "Your Library" > "Local Files".
Step 4. Next, scroll down to click "Create Playlist" > "Add Songs" on "Your Library" to add the YouTube Music files to a playlist.
See also: How to Add Local Files to Spotify
2. Play Downloaded YouTube Music in Discord
Step 1. Open and log in to your Discord on your computer. Next, select "Settings" > "User Settings".
Step 2. Please hit the "Connections" section under the "My Account" list.
Step 3. Next, click the "Spotify" logo and then you will see the Spotify web page. Click the "Confirm" button.
Step 4. Once linked, return to Spotify and start playing your local YouTube Music playlist. Discord will now display your Spotify listening status, allowing others to see and join your session.
Pros and Cons of Playing YouTube Music on Discord Without Bots
No ads or interruptions after conversion;
High audio quality (supports MP3, FLAC, WAV, etc.);
Zero latency compared to screen sharing;
Works on any Discord server, including private and restricted ones;
Not impacted by YouTube blocking, throttling, or region limits;
Supports offline playback once files are downloaded
Requires downloading YouTube Music tracks in advance;
Needs third-party software for music conversion;
Not a real-time streaming solution for new songs
Part 3. How to Stream YouTube Music to Discord Using Screen Share
Discord screen sharing is the simplest official method to enjoy YouTube Music in a Discord voice channel without installing extra software. It works well for casual listening sessions, but it's not ideal for long-term use or dedicated music servers.
With screen share, Discord captures both your screen and system audio, allowing others in the channel to hear whatever is playing in your browser.
Step 1. Open YouTube Music in a supported web browser (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox).
Step 2. Join a Discord voice channel.
Step 3. Click 'Share Your Screen' at the bottom of the Discord window.
Step 4. Select the browser tab where YouTube Music is playing.
Step 5. Enable 'Share Tab Audio' before starting the stream.
Step 6. Click 'Share' and start playing music. Everyone in the voice channel will now hear the audio in real time.
Pros and Cons of Using Discord Screen Share for YouTube Music
No third-party apps or bots required;
Works with the official YouTube Music web player;
Quick and easy to set up;
No DRM or format conversion needed
Audio quality depends on your internet connection (usually compressed);
Noticeable latency between listeners;
Music stops when you stop screen sharing;
Ads will play unless you have YouTube Music Premium;
High CPU and bandwidth usage;
Not suitable for 24/7 music streaming or large servers (Music stops when you leave)
Part 4. How to Play YouTube Music in Discord via Discord Music Bots [Outdated]
Discord music bots were once the most popular way to play YouTube Music in Discord voice channels. They were convenient, hands-free, and required no downloads. However, by 2026, most YouTube Music Discord bots have become unreliable or completely unusable.
Why YouTube Music Bots Stop Working in Discord
1. YouTube Actively Blocks Bot IP Addresses: Most Discord YouTube Music bots run on shared cloud servers. When thousands of users stream music from the same IP range, YouTube quickly detects the abnormal traffic and blocks access.
2. API and Streaming Restrictions: Google strictly limits how YouTube audio can be accessed and streamed. Music bots typically bypass official APIs, which violates YouTube's usage policies and leads to frequent shutdowns.
3. Copyright and Automated Enforcement YouTube uses automated copyright detection systems to identify large-scale audio streaming. Discord music bots are a primary target, causing them to go offline without notice.
That is why bots randomly go offline, randomly stop playing tracks, or disappear entirely.
Can You Still Use YouTube Music Discord Bots?
While this method is increasingly unreliable, a functional bot may still exist for those persistent enough to find them. If you manage to locate a working Discord YouTube Music bot and wish to proceed despite the technical limitations, the following steps outline the general setup process.
Step 1. Open the Discord website or desktop app and log in to your account.
Step 2. Go to your Discord server, click the server name, and select 'App Directory'.
Step 3. Search for a YouTube-compatible music bot, such as Rythm (availability may vary).
Step 4. Click 'Add App', choose the server you want, and click 'Continue'.
Step 5. Review the permission requests and confirm authorization.
Step 6. Join a voice channel and use the bot's commands (for example, /play or !play [YouTube URL]) to attempt playback.
Playback quality, uptime, and availability are unpredictable.
Part 5. FAQs about Discord & YouTube Music
Is it legal to stream YouTube Music in Discord?
Technically no. Streaming via bots or screen-share violates YouTube's Terms of Service (ToS) regarding public distribution. However, Discord's official 'Watch Together' activity is a 100% legal and integrated way to listen with friends. Another compliant option is to play locally downloaded YouTube Music files in Discord, since you are sharing system audio rather than rebroadcasting the streaming service itself.
Are there open-source YouTube Music desktop clients with Discord support?
Yes. The YouTube Music Desktop App (by th-ch) is the most popular and trusted option. It is a free, open-source, cross-platform desktop client for YouTube Music that includes built-in Discord Rich Presence support. This allows Discord to display what you are listening to in real time, similar to Spotify integration.
How to Get YouTube Music Discord rich presence?
Use the YouTube Music Desktop App (th-ch) or the PreMiD browser extension to make it. These tools bridge your browser data to Discord to display your 'Now Playing' status in real-time.
Option 1 (Best): Use the YouTube Music Desktop App (th-ch). Open the app, go to Settings (the gear icon) > Plugins, and enable the Discord Rich Presence toggle. After authorizing, your Discord status will update with the song details and cover art.
Option 2: Install the PreMiD browser extension and its desktop companion app, then add the YouTube Music 'Presence' from their store. Refresh your YouTube Music tab. Your Discord profile will now show the music you are playing.
Conclusion
In 2026, there is no direct way to connect YouTube Music to Discord, but you still have several reliable options. While screen sharing and music bots can work in some situations, the most stable and ad-free solution is to play YouTube Music in Discord using local audio files. By converting YouTube Music to MP3 or WAV and streaming it through Discord, you get full control, better sound quality, and zero interruptions - making it the best way to enjoy YouTube Music together on Discord.
Roger Kelly
Staff Editor
