Discord Message Timestamp Localizer

WHAT IT DOES

This script converts Discord message timestamps to your local timezone, displaying them in a readable format. When you view a Discord chat, timestamps are shown in UTC or the server's timezone. This script detects each timestamp element, parses the raw timestamp data, and reformats it using your browser's local timezone. Timestamps are displayed as "Today at 3:30 PM," "Yesterday at 10:15 AM," or "Jan 15 at 2:45 PM" depending on your chosen date format. You can choose between relative (Today/Yesterday/Day name), short (MMM DD, YYYY), or long (Weekday, Month DD, YYYY) formats. An option to show the original UTC timestamp on hover lets you see the original time for reference. The script updates dynamically as new messages load, so all timestamps are always in your local time.

WHERE IT RUNS

The script runs on all Discord pages (discord.com/channels/* and discord.com/app*). It works on chat messages in servers, DMs, and group chats. It supports both desktop and mobile views.

HOW TO USE

After installation, the settings panel appears on the left side of the screen with the gear emoji (⚙️). Open the panel to configure the script:

- The "Enable timestamp localization" toggle enables or disables the script.

- Choose the date format from the dropdown: "Relative (Today/Yesterday/Day name)," "Short (MMM DD, YYYY)," or "Long (Weekday, Month DD, YYYY)."

- Toggle "Show original timestamp on hover" to see the original UTC time when you hover over a timestamp.

- Click "Refresh timestamps" to manually re-scan the chat for timestamps.

The script works automatically—just open any Discord chat and the timestamps will be localized.

TECHNICAL SECTION — REAL MECHANISM

The script detects Discord pages by checking the URL for discord.com/channels or discord.com/app. It finds timestamp elements using selectors like .timestamp, .message-timestamp, .timestampCompact, and time[datetime]. For each timestamp, it parses the datetime attribute or the text content to extract the original timestamp. The datetime attribute is parsed as a JavaScript Date object. If the datetime attribute is not present, the script attempts to parse the timestamp from the text content (e.g., "3:30 PM") and uses the message's date context to determine the full date. The local time is formatted using toLocaleTimeString and toLocaleDateString with the user's browser locale. The date format setting determines which formatting function is used. When the hover option is enabled, the original UTC timestamp is stored in the title attribute, which displays as a tooltip on hover. A MutationObserver watches for DOM changes and re-processes timestamps when new messages are loaded. A WeakSet tracks processed timestamps to avoid duplicate work.

THE PANEL

The settings panel is built with BotGentz's BGPanel component. It is draggable via its header, allowing you to reposition it anywhere on the screen. The panel snaps to the left edge by default but can be moved freely. Click the gear emoji to collapse the panel into a small bubble, and click the bubble to expand it again. The panel remembers its position per page session. Press the Escape key to quickly close or minimize the panel. The panel includes a status flash bar that provides visual feedback when settings are changed or actions are performed. All settings save automatically via GM_setValue.

PLEASE NOTE

This script requires the free BotGentz browser extension to run. It does not function as a standalone Chrome extension and does not use chrome.* APIs. Discord frequently updates its interface, which may affect the selectors used to find timestamp elements. If the script stops working, please check for updates. The script relies on the datetime attribute or text parsing to extract timestamps—if Discord changes the timestamp format, detection may fail. The script stores only your preferences via GM_setValue. No data is sent externally—all data is stored locally in your browser. The script never reads or writes password fields, hidden inputs, or file inputs. All DOM operations use safe methods (style properties, textContent, appendChild) and never use innerHTML.