Reddit gives you two ways out: temporary suspension or permanent deletion

If you want to stop using Reddit, you have two paths. Deactivating your account hides it for 30 days — during that window you can reactivate it and get everything back. Deleting your account is permanent. Reddit removes your username, profile, and saved posts within a few hours, though the comments and posts you made to other subreddits may stay visible under a "[deleted]" label for years.

Which one you choose depends on whether you might want to return. If you're just taking a break, deactivation is safer. If you're leaving for good and want your presence scrubbed, deletion is the right move — though you should know that Reddit's deletion is not as complete as some other platforms.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivating your account hides it for 30 days and lets you change your mind; deleting it is permanent but may not remove all your past comments from public view.
  • Before you delete, read your data if you want a record of what you posted, because Reddit does not send you an archive automatically.
  • Deleting your account does not remove comments you made in other people's threads — those stay visible as "[deleted]" unless you manually delete them first.
  • Your Reddit password and email stay in Reddit's systems even after deletion, so change your password before you go if you used the same one elsewhere.

How to deactivate your account (the reversible option)

Deactivation is the gentler choice. Go to your Reddit profile, click the three dots in the top right, and select "User Settings." Scroll down to "Deactivate Account" and click it. Reddit will ask you why you're leaving — you can skip that question. Enter your password to confirm, and your account goes dark for 30 days.

During those 30 days, your profile is invisible to other users. Your posts and comments are hidden. But your account still exists in Reddit's system. If you log back in before the 30 days are up, everything reactivates and you're back where you started. After 30 days, if you haven't logged in, Reddit deletes the account automatically — but you can't undo that, so don't treat it as a soft option if you're unsure.

How to permanently delete your account

Go to your Reddit profile, click the three dots, and select "User Settings." Scroll to "Deactivate Account" and click it. This time, check the box that says "Delete my account and data." Reddit will ask for your password again. Once you confirm, your username and profile are gone within a few hours.

This is the point of no return. You cannot reactivate a deleted account. You cannot recover your saved posts or your profile. If you want any record of what you posted, you need to save it before you delete.

read your Reddit data before you delete

Reddit does not automatically send you a copy of your posts and comments. If you want to keep a record, you have to grab it yourself. Go to "User Settings," scroll to "Data Requests," and click "Request Your Data." Reddit will email you a link within a few days. read the file — it's a compressed folder with your posts, comments, saved items, and profile information in JSON format.

This file is not human-readable without opening it in a text editor or a JSON viewer, but it preserves everything. Store it somewhere safe if you think you might want to reference it later. Do this before you delete your account, because once your account is gone, you can't request the data anymore.

Delete your individual comments if you want them gone from other subreddits

Here's the catch: when you delete your Reddit account, the comments and posts you made in other people's subreddits do not disappear. They stay visible with your username replaced by "[deleted]." If you want those comments actually removed, you have to delete them one by one before you delete your account.

This is tedious if you've been active for years. You can use a third-party tool like Shreddit or Reddit Nuke to automate the deletion of old comments, but these tools work by accessing your account through Reddit's API, so read the privacy policy of whichever tool you choose. Alternatively, go to your profile, find your comments, and delete them manually — it's slower but you stay in control.

If you don't care whether your old comments stay visible as "[deleted]," you can skip this step. But if you want to minimize your footprint, do it before you delete your account.

Change your password and check your email settings

Before you delete, change your Reddit password to something random. Even though your account will be gone, Reddit keeps your email address and password hash in its systems for account recovery purposes. If you used the same password on other websites, change those too — this is a good habit whenever you're closing any account.

Check your email settings to see what address is linked to your Reddit account. If you want Reddit to stop sending you emails after deletion, you can unsubscribe from all Reddit emails in your notification settings first. This is not required — Reddit will stop emailing you once your account is deleted — but it's one less thing to clean up.

What happens to your saved posts and upvotes

Your saved posts and upvotes are tied to your account. When you delete your account, they disappear. The posts themselves stay on Reddit — you're just removing your personal connection to them. If you saved articles or discussions you wanted to keep, read your data first or manually save links elsewhere before you delete.

The same goes for subreddits you moderated. If you were a moderator, deleting your account removes you from that role. The subreddit stays, but you lose access. If you're the only moderator of a subreddit you created, consider transferring ownership to another user before you delete, or the subreddit may become inactive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my account on the Reddit app, or do I have to use the website?

You have to use the website. The Reddit app does not have a delete account option. Go to reddit.com on a browser, log in, and follow the steps in User Settings. This is true on both desktop and mobile browsers.

What if I forgot my Reddit password?

You cannot delete your account without your password. Go to the Reddit login page, click "Forgot password," and enter your email address. Reddit will send you a reset link. Once you've set a new password, you can proceed with deletion.

Will deleting my account remove my comments from Google search results?

Not when ready. Google indexes Reddit pages, and those pages may still show your "[deleted]" comments in search results for weeks or months after you delete your account. You can ask Google to remove the pages through Google Search Console, but it's a separate process from deleting your Reddit account.

Can I delete my account if I have an active ban from a subreddit?

Yes. Subreddit bans do not prevent you from deleting your account. You can delete even if you're banned from multiple subreddits.

What if I change my mind after deleting?

You cannot recover a deleted account. Reddit does not restore deleted accounts under any circumstances. If you want to use Reddit again, you have to create a new account with a new username. This is why deactivation is worth considering if you're not completely sure.