Reddit gives you 30 days to change your mind after you request deletion

When you delete a Reddit account, the site doesn't erase your data when ready. Instead, it puts your account into a 30-day grace period. During those 30 days, you can log back in and cancel the deletion request. After 30 days pass, Reddit begins removing your account and most of the information tied to it from their servers.

What actually gets deleted depends on what you posted. Reddit removes your username, email address, and password from their active systems. Your posts and comments are typically removed from the site itself — other users won't see them anymore. However, Reddit keeps some data for legal and safety reasons, and anything you posted may have been copied elsewhere before deletion (other websites, archives, screenshots).

The deletion process is one-way. Once the 30-day period ends and your account is gone, you cannot recover it. You can create a new Reddit account with the same email address after deletion is complete, but the old account and its history will not return.

Key Takeaways

  • Deletion requests take effect after 30 days, during which you can cancel and keep your account active.
  • Your username, email, and password are removed from Reddit's systems, but posts you made may exist in archives or screenshots elsewhere.
  • You must log in to your account to start deletion — Reddit does not delete accounts by email request or through a contact form.
  • After deletion is final, you can create a new account with the same email, but the old account cannot be recovered.

How to start the deletion process

Go to Reddit.com and log into the account you want to delete. Click your profile icon in the top right corner and select User Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see the Deactivate Account section.

Click the red Deactivate Account button. Reddit will ask you to confirm your password. Type it in and click Deactivate again. You will see a message saying your account has been deactivated and will be deleted in 30 days. At this point, you are logged out automatically.

If you are using the Reddit mobile app instead of the website, the path is slightly different. Open the app, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, tap Settings, scroll to the bottom, and tap Deactivate Account. The confirmation steps are the same.

What happens during the 30-day waiting period

For the next 30 days, your account is deactivated but not permanently deleted. Your username will no longer appear on Reddit, and your profile page will show as deleted to other users. However, your posts and comments may still be visible on the site — Reddit does not automatically remove them during this period.

If you change your mind, log back in with your username and password before the 30 days end. You will see an option to cancel the deactivation. Click it, and your account returns to normal. Your posts, comments, and profile will be visible again.

If you do nothing and let the 30 days pass, Reddit begins the permanent deletion process. This can take a few additional days to complete across all their servers.

Removing your posts and comments before deletion

Reddit does not automatically delete your posts and comments when your account is deactivated. If you want them gone before the 30-day period ends, you need to delete them yourself. This is worth doing because anything you posted may have been saved, screenshotted, or archived by other users or third-party websites.

To delete individual posts, go to your profile, find the post, click the three dots next to it, and select Delete. Repeat this for each post and comment you want removed. If you have years of posts, this can take a long time.

Some users use third-party tools like Shreddit or Reddit Nuke to delete many posts at once. These tools log into your account, find all your posts and comments, and delete them in bulk. Be cautious with any third-party tool — only use ones with public source code and good reviews, and change your Reddit password afterward as a safety step.

What Reddit keeps after your account is deleted

Even after the 30-day period ends and your account is gone, Reddit retains some information. They keep logs of your activity for security and legal purposes — this data is not publicly visible but exists in their systems. If you were reported for breaking Reddit's rules, that report and any investigation notes may remain on file.

Reddit also keeps information they are required to retain by law, such as payment records if you ever purchased Reddit Premium or made a donation. Tax and financial records are kept for the time period required by law in the United States.

Anything you posted before deletion may still exist elsewhere. Other websites archive Reddit posts, users save screenshots, and search engines may have cached your content. Deleting your Reddit account does not remove these copies.

Deleting your data without deleting your account

If you want to keep your Reddit account but remove your personal information, you have another option. Go to User Settings, scroll to Privacy and Safety, and look for options to control what data Reddit collects and shares. You can turn off personalized ads, limit data sharing, and adjust your privacy settings.

However, this does not delete your posts, comments, or account history. It only changes how Reddit uses your data for advertising and analytics. If you want your posts gone but your account to remain, you must delete them manually or use a bulk deletion tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete my Reddit account without logging in?

No. Reddit requires you to log in and confirm your password to start the deletion process. If you have lost access to your account, contact Reddit's support team through their help center. They can verify your identity through your email address and information with account recovery or deletion.

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

Not when ready. Google may take weeks or months to remove cached pages from its index. You can request removal faster by using Google Search Console to tell Google your content is gone. Reddit's deletion does not control how search engines handle old links to your posts.

What if I delete my account and then want to use the same email for a new Reddit account?

You can reuse the email address after the 30-day deletion period is complete. Wait until you receive confirmation that your old account is fully deleted, then sign up for a new account with that email. Reddit will treat it as a fresh account with no connection to the old one.

Does Reddit delete my account if I don't use it for a long time?

No. Reddit does not automatically delete inactive accounts. Your account will remain active indefinitely unless you manually request deletion. Even if you have not logged in for years, the account still exists unless you go through the deactivation process.

Can I read my data before deleting my account?

Reddit does not offer a built-in data read feature like some other platforms do. If you want to save your posts and comments, you must manually copy them or use a third-party tool to archive them before deletion. Once your account is deleted, Reddit will not provide your data to you.