Experiencing Discord stuck on ‘Checking for Updates’ can be frustrating, especially when you’re looking forward to connecting with friends or community members. Here are 10 ways to resolve this issue so you can get back to chatting and gaming in no time.

1. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, the simplest solution is the best. Before trying more complex fixes, restart your computer. This can often clear up issues with processes that may have gotten stuck.

2. Run Discord as Administrator: Right-click on the Discord icon and select ‘Run as administrator’. This can provide Discord with the necessary permissions it might need to execute updates successfully.

3. Check Your Internet Connection: A stable internet connection is crucial for updates. Ensure your network is stable, and try resetting your modem or router if needed.

4. Disable Windows Firewall Temporarily: Sometimes Windows Firewall may prevent Discord from updating. Try disabling it temporarily to see if that’s the case (make sure to turn it back on afterward).

5. Close Discord from Task Manager: Press `CTRL+SHIFT+ESC` to open Task Manager, find any running instances of Discord, and end them before attempting to relaunch the application.

6. Delete Discord Cache Files: Navigate to `%appdata%/Discord` and `%localappdata%/Discord` in your File Explorer address bar and delete the folders found there to remove any potentially corrupted cache files.

7. Use Discord Web Version: If the desktop app isn’t working, you could use the web version of Discord as a temporary workaround while sorting out the update issue.

8. Disable VPN or Proxy Server: If you are using a VPN or proxy server, try disabling it as these can sometimes interfere with Discord’s ability to check for and download updates.

9. Reinstall Discord: Uninstalling and then reinstalling a fresh copy of Discord can often resolve update-related issues by replacing all program files, including any that are corrupted or outdated.

10. Update Your Operating System: Finally, ensure your operating system is up-to-date as this can affect how apps like Discord run and update on your machine.

Implementing these steps will largely solve the ‘Discord stuck on checking for updates’ issue and have you back in touch with your community swiftly. If none of these solutions work, consider reaching out to Discord support for further assistance.