How to Delete a Reddit Account: Complete Procedure

Decided to leave Reddit? Whether it's for privacy, digital detox, or you simply don't use it anymore, deleting a Reddit account is permanent and irreversible. Before proceeding, it's important to understand what happens to your content and how to save what you need.

Quick fix (TL;DR)

• Deletion can only be done from desktop browser (not the app)
• Go to reddit.com > Settings > Delete Account
• Posts and comments stay online as "[deleted]"
• Manually delete content before removing the account
• The action is immediate and irreversible

What happens when you delete your account

Important consequences to understand:

• ✅ Your profile disappears
• ✅ You can no longer log in with those credentials
• ✅ The username is retired (not reusable)
• ❌ Posts and comments are NOT automatically deleted
• ❌ Awards given or received are not refunded
• ❌ Remaining Reddit coins are lost

Step-by-step guide

Step 1 — Save your data (optional but recommended)

Before deleting, request a copy of your data:

1. Go to reddit.com from a desktop browser
2. Click your avatar > User Settings
3. Go to the Privacy & Security tab
4. Under "Data Request" click Request your data
5. You'll receive an email with a download link (within a few days)

The archive includes: posts, comments, messages, votes, and settings.

Step 2 — Manually delete posts and comments

Since content stays after account deletion:

Manually:

1. Go to your profile (reddit.com/user/yourusername)
2. Under each post/comment click the three dots > Delete
3. Repeat for all content you want removed

With a script (for lots of content):

• Use browser extensions like Nuke Reddit History or Shreddit
• These overwrite comments before deleting them (more secure)

⚠️ Note: even after deletion, external archiving services may have saved copies.

Step 3 — Revoke third-party app access

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security
2. Scroll to Third-party app authorizations
3. Revoke access for all connected apps
4. If you use "Log in with Reddit" on other sites, create alternative logins

Step 4 — Delete the account

The procedure must be done from a desktop browser:

1. Go to reddit.com and log in
2. Click your avatar in the top-right
3. Select User Settings
4. Scroll to the bottom of the Account tab
5. Click Delete Account (in red)
6. You'll be asked for:
   • Username (for confirmation)
   • Password
   • Reason for deletion (optional)
   • Checkbox: "I understand that deleted accounts aren't recoverable"
7. Click Delete

The account is deleted immediately.

Step 5 — Verify deletion

After deleting:

1. Try logging in with old credentials — it should fail
2. Search for your old username — the profile shouldn't exist
3. Your old posts/comments will show "[deleted]" as the author

Common mistakes to avoid

• ❌ Trying to delete from the mobile app — it's not possible
• ❌ Deleting the account without first removing sensitive posts and comments
• ❌ Forgetting that the username can never be reused
• ❌ Not revoking connected third-party apps
• ❌ Thinking you can recover the account later — it's immediate and final

Alternatives to deletion

If you're not 100% sure:

• Disable notifications: less distraction without deleting
• Uninstall the app: remove temptation from your phone
• Permanent logout: sign out of all devices and remove saved credentials
• Use an alt account: create a new account with less personal info

Reddit doesn't offer a "temporary deactivation" like Instagram, so deletion is the only definitive option.

If you're cleaning up your social media accounts, you might also be interested in our guide on how to delete an Instagram account.