Have you ever felt that Reddit is taking over too much of your time? Or you want a fresh start and delete your old Reddit history. If so, how do I delete my Reddit account?
Deleting your Reddit account can feel daunting, especially if you’ve invested years into building up karma points and curating the perfect selection of niche subreddits. But sometimes, a clean break is necessary when an app becomes more of an addiction than a helpful tool.
I should know – I’ve deleted 3 Reddit accounts over the past decade when I sensed my usage was becoming unhealthy. It felt scary to leave behind thousands of karma points and beloved communities each time. But ultimately, it was the right decision to reclaim my productivity.
In this complete guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about how to delete Reddit account from the official website and mobile apps. We’ll also cover crucial decisions like:
Let’s dive into all your options for deleting your Reddit account.
Deleting your Reddit account via the official website is simple, though the option can be a bit hidden within your account settings.
Here is the step-by-step process to delete your Reddit account on the web:
And that’s it – your account will be closed immediately.
However, I recommend first deleting all posts and comment histories manually, which I’ll explain how to do later.
Don’t worry, mobile users; deleting your Reddit account via the iOS or Android apps is also straightforward:
Just like on the desktop, remove your Reddit post history before deactivating your account.
Don’t worry, mobile users; deleting your Reddit account via the iOS or Android apps is also straightforward:
Just like on the desktop, you should remove your Reddit post history before deactivating your account.
My recommendation is yes – take the time to delete your Reddit post history before closing your account.
Here’s why:
When you close your Reddit account, your username is essentially erased from the system. However, your posts and comments remain on Reddit’s servers.
The only change is your username on them switches to [deleted].
So unless you want years of personal opinions, conversations, and possibly embarrassing remarks floating around internet archives forever with your name removed… I recommend scrubbing your post history first.
Manually removing your entire Reddit post history will take patience, but it is worthwhile for protecting your online privacy after closing an account.
Here are a few methods to delete Reddit posts en masse:
I’d recommend manually deleting any extremely popular or identifiable posts/comments before utilizing any automation tools.
Once you deactivate your Reddit account, your unique username essentially ceases to exist on Reddit’s servers. However, all of your existing posts and comments will still show the username [deleted] where yours used to be.
Reddit does this to maintain the integrity of conversations versus having giant holes where deleted accounts are used to post.
So, while your exact username disappears, your post history will remain under the generic [deleted] username if you don’t manually remove everything first.
According to Reddit’s account deletion policies, once your Reddit account is deactivated, it is gone forever, with no option for recovery.
However, some users report still being able to find traces of their old deleted Reddit accounts via Google searches, likely due to archived posts and comments.
So, for true peace of mind, make sure to manually delete all post history before closing your Reddit account. Otherwise, traces of your old username may still pop up here and there.
Unfortunately, all of the precious karma points you’ve accumulated over your years on Reddit will disappear forever when your account is deactivated. So consider taking screenshots as souvenirs if you’re really proud of your totals!
Yes – once your Reddit account is deleted, your unique username technically becomes available for anyone else to claim. Reddit’s terms state they have no obligation to prevent others from re-registering a deleted username.
Yes, you will no longer have access to any subreddits you’ve joined over the years after deleting your Reddit account. Make sure to bookmark any favorites externally if you think you’ll miss them.
After reading this guide, I hope you feel armed with the information needed to permanently delete your Reddit account while avoiding surprises down the road.
Remember – manually removing your post history first is an important step if you want to erase your online footprint. But the choice is ultimately yours based on your personal privacy concerns.
Now you know exactly how to delete a Reddit account via a website or mobile app. It’s surprisingly easy to do…the tough part is deciding whether the benefits of leaving Reddit outweigh quitting completely.
But if you’re positive a clean break from the never-ending scroll is right for you, I wish you well on your new journey beyond Reddit! There are plenty of fulfilling ways to spend time offline.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about permanently deleting your Reddit account. I’m happy to help!
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This has truly been the first time we worked with someone outside of our business that quickly grasped our vision, and that I could completely forget about and would still deliver above expectations.
I honestly can’t wait to work in many more projects together!
Disclaimer
*The information this blog provides is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as financial or professional advice. The information may not reflect current developments and may be changed or updated without notice. Any opinions expressed on this blog are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s employer or any other organization. You should not act or rely on any information contained in this blog without first seeking the advice of a professional. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this blog. The author and affiliated parties assume no liability for any errors or omissions.