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Decode a Discord snowflake

Every Discord ID (for a user, message, channel, guild, or role) is a snowflake: a 64-bit number that embeds the exact millisecond it was created. That means any ID tells you when the thing behind it was made. Here is the layout and the formula.

Open the snowflake decoder

The bit layout

  • Bits 63-22 (42 bits): milliseconds since the Discord epoch.
  • Bits 21-17 (5 bits): internal worker ID.
  • Bits 16-12 (5 bits): internal process ID.
  • Bits 11-0 (12 bits): a per-process increment, reset each millisecond.

The formula

  • Discord epoch = 1420070400000 (2015-01-01T00:00:00Z).
  • Timestamp (ms) = (snowflake >> 22) + 1420070400000.
  • In JavaScript, use BigInt so precision survives:
  • new Date(Number(BigInt(id) >> 22n) + 1420070400000)

Worked example

  • ID 175928847299117063
  • 175928847299117063 >> 22 = 41944705796
  • 41944705796 + 1420070400000 = 1462015105796 ms
  • new Date(1462015105796) → 2016-04-30T11:18:25.796Z

FAQ

What is a Discord snowflake?

The 64-bit ID Discord assigns to every user, message, channel, guild, and role. The first 42 bits are a millisecond timestamp, then 5 bits of worker ID, 5 bits of process ID, and a 12-bit per-process increment.

How do I get the creation date from a Discord ID?

Shift the ID right by 22 bits and add the Discord epoch: new Date(Number(BigInt(id) >> 22n) + 1420070400000). Or paste it into the snowflake decoder.

What is the Discord epoch?

1420070400000 ms, the first second of 2015. Snowflake timestamps count from here, not the Unix epoch.

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