Reddit, founded in 2005, has become one of the most popular websites in the world, with over 50 million daily active users. But for some people, the never-ending stream of content and conversation becomes too much to handle. If you feel like you need to take a permanent break from Reddit, deleting your account is an option – but keep in mind that the process is irreversible. Here‘s a step-by-step guide to deleting your Reddit account forever.
Why You Might Want to Delete Your Reddit Account
There are a few common reasons people end up deleting their Reddit accounts:
It‘s too distracting or addictive. The endless scroll of content sucks up too much time out of your day. You want to break the habit for good.
You‘re concerned about privacy. Even if you use a pseudonym on Reddit, your comments and upvotes paint a picture of who you are. You‘d rather not have that data stored on Reddit‘s servers indefinitely.
You want a fresh start. Years of conversations have left your account identity feeling stale. You‘d rather create a new account and reinvent yourself.
Too much negativity. Reading angry, troll-filled threads every day leaves you feeling drained. You don‘t want that negativity in your life anymore.
If any of the above resonates with you, deleting your Reddit account may provide a welcome sense of relief. Just know that once you go through with it, the decision is permanent.
What Happens When You Delete Your Reddit Account
Deleting your Reddit account erases all personal data associated with it:
Your username becomes available for anyone else to claim.
Your karma score resets to zero.
Your saved posts and comments disappear (so if there‘s anything you want to save, back it up first!)
Your inbox messages vanish.
Your subscriptions and mod roles all dissolve.
In essence, it‘s like you never had a Reddit account at all. So if you eventually decide you miss Reddit, you‘ll have to start brand new rather than resurrect your old account.
Step-by-Step Guide to Deleting Your Account
If you‘re absolutely certain you want to delete your Reddit account, here is the process:
Sign in to your Reddit account through the desktop website. You can‘t permanently delete your account from the mobile app.
On the upper right corner, click your username to access your user settings.
On the left sidebar under account details, click Delete Account.
Reddit will ask if you‘re sure you want to delete your account. Click Yes.
Enter your current account password to confirm your identity.
After following these steps, your Reddit account will be gone for good. All of your content and data will be erased from Reddit‘s servers.
Before Taking the Plunge…
Before you permanently terminate your Reddit account, consider taking these precautions:
Download any conversations, posts or comments you might want to reference later. They will no longer be accessible after account deletion.
Unsubscribe from any subreddits you are a member of. Though subscriptions get erased with your account anyway, Unsubscribing removes content from your home feed.
Consider deactivating your account for a while rather than deleting it right away. That way, if you change your mind, you can simply reactivate it.
If you take care of these housekeeping items beforehand, the permanence of account deletion likely won‘t come as a shock down the road.
FAQs About Deleting Your Reddit Account
Here are answers to some common questions about erasing your Reddit presence for good:
Can I reactivate my Reddit account after deleting? No. Once deleted, accounts cannot be restored. The only option is starting from scratch.
What happens to my comments/posts? Your comments and posts remain on Reddit but lose attribution to your deleted account. They cannot be edited or deleted, as they no longer belong to you.
Can anyone else claim my old username? Yes. Usernames from deleted accounts enter circulation for anyone to claim on a first-come, first-served basis.
Is there a waiting period before my account fully deletes? No. Your account disappears from Reddit‘s system instantly upon confirming deletion.
Deleting your Reddit account cuts ties with the platform for good. If you are comfortable losing your account history and karma score permanently, then this guide will assist you through the termination process smoothly.
