Ever sit there scrolling Reddit at 2 AM thinking, “Man, I need to delete this thing”?
You’re not alone.
Deleting your Reddit account sounds easy… until you actually try.
People get confused. Stuff doesn’t disappear the way you expect. And suddenly, you’re wondering if your posts will haunt the internet forever.
If you’re looking for a real guide on how to delete your Reddit account, not some tech-jargon-filled mess, you’re in the right spot.
Let’s break it down like we’re grabbing coffee — no suits, no sales pitches.
How to Delete Reddit Account — Quick Steps First (If You’re in a Hurry)
Alright, straight to it. Here’s the fast version if you just want to get it done:
Log into Reddit on your browser (desktop or mobile browser, not the app).
Click your profile icon > User Settings.
Hit the Account tab.
Scroll down until you see Deactivate Account.
Reddit will ask you to enter your username and password again.
Confirm you really want to nuke it.
Boom. Your Reddit account is gone.
Reminder:
Deleting the Reddit app doesn’t delete your account. You gotta do it through the website.
If you wanted the quick fix, there you go.
But if you care about what happens to your posts, your comments, and your info, keep reading. Seriously. It matters.
Things You Should Know Before Deleting Reddit
Before you smash that deactivate button, a few things you should know (or you’ll regret it later):
1. Deactivating vs. Deleting Reddit account isn’t the same thing.
Reddit calls it “deactivate,” but in real talk — it’s permanent.
There’s no temporary “deactivate Reddit profile” option. When you delete, you’re wiping it out forever.
2. Once you delete it, it’s done. Forever.
No takebacks.
You can’t reactivate your Reddit account once it’s gone. Your username is locked too. Even you can’t reuse it.
3. Your posts and comments won’t magically vanish.
Even after you delete your Reddit account, your old posts and comments stay live.
They’ll just show as posted by “[deleted]” instead of your username.
If you care about privacy, you gotta remove Reddit comments and delete Reddit posts first.
4. Deleting Reddit ≠ Clearing your history.
If you want to clear Reddit history (like saved posts, browsing history, chat logs), you need to do that manually before hitting deactivate.
5. Cancel Reddit Premium before deleting your account.
Otherwise, you could get charged even after you’re gone.
Real talk:
Deleting Reddit sounds easy but if you don’t handle your data right, it’s like burning your house but leaving your mailbox standing. People can still dig through it.
📌 Also see this: What Social Media Platform Pays the Most in 2025?
How to Delete Your Reddit Account on Desktop
Most people use a computer when they’re ready to pull the plug.
Here’s how to delete Reddit account step-by-step if you’re on a PC or Mac:
1. Open Reddit in your browser.
Chrome, Firefox, Safari, whatever you like.
Don’t use the app. Apps don’t let you deactivate.
2. Log in to your Reddit account.
Top-right corner, hit the little profile icon.
3. Go to “User Settings.”
Click on the dropdown > User Settings.
4. Click on the “Account” tab.
It’s the first tab in settings.
5. Scroll down. Find “Deactivate Account.”
It’s hidden at the bottom. Reddit doesn’t exactly make it obvious.
6. Fill out the short form.
It’ll ask for your username and password again.
There’s an optional feedback box — you can skip it.
7. Confirm and delete.
Hit that final button. No turning back after this.
👉 Important: Before you confirm, double-check if you want to delete any posts or comments manually. Once you’re deleted, you can’t go back.
How to Delete Reddit Account on Mobile (App Users, Listen Up)
If you’re using the Reddit app on your phone thinking you can delete your account from there… bad news.
You can’t delete your Reddit account through the app.
But don’t worry. Here’s what you can do instead:
1. Open your phone’s browser (Chrome, Safari).
Go to Reddit.com.
2. Request the Desktop Site.
On Chrome: Tap the three dots > check “Desktop Site.”
On Safari: Tap the “aA” icon > request desktop site.
3. Log into Reddit.
4. Follow the desktop steps above.
Profile icon > User Settings > Account > Deactivate.
Heads up:
Trying to delete Reddit from the app itself just won’t work. Reddit doesn’t allow it. You’ll only see basic settings, not full account settings.
If you just delete the app, your account and data are still there. Like a ghost account.
How to Delete Reddit Posts and Comments Before Deleting Your Account
Big mistake alert:
Most people think if they delete their Reddit account, their posts disappear too.
Nope.
If you care about your privacy, you need to manually delete your posts and comments first.
Here’s how:
Manually delete posts/comments
Go to your profile.
Find your posts or comments.
Click the three dots.
Hit Delete.
Use third-party tools
If you have a mountain of posts (like hundreds), deleting one by one will feel like death by a thousand cuts.
Use tools like:
Shreddit (for mass deleting posts/comments)
PowerDeleteSuite (works with old Reddit UI)
Both are free.
Both are lifesavers if you’ve been over posting memes since 2012.
Pro Tip:
Even after you delete posts, cached versions might live somewhere on the internet. Nothing is truly gone. But it’s still way better than leaving everything open.
Can You Reactivate a Deleted Reddit Account?
Nope.
Once you delete your Reddit account, it’s gone forever.
You can’t reactivate it.
You can’t use the same username again.
You can’t ask Reddit support to bring it back.
There’s no “temporary deactivate Reddit profile” like Instagram. Reddit’s deactivation is permanent.
This is why you need to know the difference between deactivating and deleting Reddit account, because Reddit uses tricky words but the end result is: your account is wiped out.
Common Issues When Trying to Delete Reddit
Deleting your Reddit account should be simple. Sometimes it’s not.
Here’s what can trip you up:
1. Forgot your password?
- You’ll need to reset it before you can delete your account.
- No password = no deletion.
2. Reddit Premium subscription active?
- If you’re paying for Reddit Premium, cancel that first.
- You have to cancel Reddit premium before deleting account, or Reddit might block you from deactivating.
3. Clearing your Reddit history?
- Deleting your account doesn’t automatically clear Reddit history.
- If you want to wipe saved posts, upvotes, browsing history, you gotta clean that stuff yourself before deleting.
4. Two-Factor Authentication Issues?
- If you set up 2FA and lost access to your authenticator app, it’s a mess.
- You’ll need to recover your account before deleting.
Moral of the story:
Make sure everything’s unlocked and canceled before you start.
Alternatives to Deleting Your Reddit Account
Maybe you’re second-guessing yourself right now.
That’s normal.
Instead of fully deleting Reddit, you could:
Delete old posts and comments but keep the account.
Change your username details (make yourself anonymous).
Unfollow all subreddits to kill your feed.
Set time limits on Reddit usage with your phone settings.
Sometimes taking a break or scrubbing your account clean can fix the real issue.
You don’t always have to go nuclear.
Final Thoughts: Deleting Reddit the Right Way
If you’ve made it this far, you’re serious about deleting your Reddit account.
Respect.
Just remember:
Deleting your account is permanent.
Your posts and comments don’t vanish unless you delete them first.
You can’t get your account back once it’s gone.
Handle your data. Handle your privacy. Don’t rush it.
Make sure you’re leaving on your terms.
How to delete Reddit account the right way? Now you know.
Stay smart out there.
FAQs About Deleting Reddit Account
Q1. Does deleting Reddit account remove posts and comments?
Nope. Your posts and comments stay unless you delete them manually. They’ll just show as posted by “[deleted].”
Q2. Can you delete Reddit account without password?
No, you need to log in and confirm with your password. Forgot it? Reset it first.
Q3. What happens if you just delete the Reddit app?
Nothing. Your account, posts, comments — all still there. You have to delete the account through the website.
Q4. Can you temporarily deactivate Reddit?
Nope. Reddit doesn’t have a temporary deactivate option like other apps.
Q5. Will my username be available for someone else after I delete?
No. Once deleted, your username is locked forever. No one can use it again.
