How do I convert UNIX timestamps for Discord messages?

Converting UNIX Timestamps for Discord

Converting UNIX timestamps (also called epoch time) to Discord timestamp format is straightforward using our specialized tool. This process allows you to take any UNIX timestamp and transform it into a format that Discord can interpret and display as a properly formatted time.

What is a UNIX Timestamp?

Before diving into the conversion process, let's clarify what a UNIX timestamp is:

A UNIX timestamp represents the number of seconds that have elapsed since January 1, 1970, at 00:00:00 UTC (the "UNIX Epoch"). This standardized way of tracking time is widely used in programming and computer systems.

UNIX timestamps can be expressed in two common formats:

• Seconds format: 1714499130 (10 digits for recent dates)
• Milliseconds format: 1714499130000 (13 digits, used in JavaScript)

Discord's timestamp system uses the seconds format (10 digits).

Step-by-Step Conversion Process

Here's how to convert any UNIX timestamp for use in Discord:

Method 1: Using Our UNIX Converter Tool (Recommended)

1. Visit our UNIX to Discord Converter
2. Enter your UNIX timestamp in the input field
3. Click "Convert Timestamp"
4. Our tool will generate all seven Discord timestamp formats
5. Copy your preferred format
6. Paste directly into your Discord message

Our tool automatically handles both seconds and milliseconds formats, converting milliseconds to seconds if needed.

Method 2: Manual Conversion

If you prefer to convert manually:

1. Ensure your timestamp is in seconds (if it's 13 digits, divide by 1000)
2. Format it as: <t:TIMESTAMP:FORMAT>
3. Replace TIMESTAMP with your UNIX timestamp in seconds
4. Replace FORMAT with your desired format code (t, T, d, D, f, F, or R)

For example, to convert the UNIX timestamp 1714499130 to a full date/time format in Discord:

<t:1714499130:F>

Common Sources of UNIX Timestamps

You might encounter UNIX timestamps in various contexts:

• API Responses: Many web APIs return dates as UNIX timestamps
• Database Records: Timestamps are often stored in UNIX format
• Developer Tools: Browser consoles can generate timestamps (try Math.floor(Date.now()/1000) in a JavaScript console)
• Discord Snowflakes: Discord IDs contain timestamps that can be extracted (use our Snowflake Decoder)

Practical Examples

Here are some examples of how you might use converted UNIX timestamps in Discord:

Example 1: Event Planning from API Data

Suppose you're building a Discord integration for a gaming tournament site that provides event times as UNIX timestamps. If the API returns 1714499130 as the tournament start time, you could format a Discord announcement like this:

@everyone Tournament Registration Open!

The tournament begins <t:1714499130:F> (<t:1714499130:R>)

Register now through the website and prepare your teams. Good luck!
      

Example 2: Converting Historical Dates

If you want to reference a historical date, you can convert it to a UNIX timestamp first, then to Discord format. For example, to reference the release date of a game that came out on September 17, 2013:

First, convert the date to UNIX time: 1379376000

Then format for Discord:

Grand Theft Auto V was originally released <t:1379376000:D>, which was <t:1379376000:R>!

Feel old yet?
      

Working with Different Timestamp Formats

Different systems may provide timestamps in different formats. Here's how to handle the most common scenarios:

JavaScript Date.now() (Milliseconds)

JavaScript's Date.now() returns milliseconds. Divide by 1000 and round down:

const discordTimestamp = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);

ISO-8601 Date Strings

If you have an ISO date string like "2024-04-30T16:30:00Z", convert it to UNIX time:

const discordTimestamp = Math.floor(new Date("2024-04-30T16:30:00Z").getTime() / 1000);

Human-Readable Dates

For human-readable dates like "April 30, 2024", convert to UNIX time:

const discordTimestamp = Math.floor(new Date("April 30, 2024 16:30:00").getTime() / 1000);

Troubleshooting UNIX to Discord Conversions

If your Discord timestamps aren't displaying correctly after conversion, check these common issues:

• Timestamp in milliseconds: If your Discord timestamp shows a date far in the future (like the year 56000), your UNIX timestamp was likely in milliseconds and needs to be divided by 1000
• Format syntax error: Ensure you're using the correct syntax: <t:TIMESTAMP:FORMAT> with no spaces
• Invalid timestamp: Very old dates (before the UNIX epoch) or very distant future dates may not display correctly

Our UNIX to Discord Converter helps avoid these issues by validating timestamps and converting between formats automatically.

Ready to convert your UNIX timestamps for Discord? Try our UNIX to Discord Converter for instant, accurate conversion to all Discord timestamp formats.