Reddit search works best when you know what they posted, not who they are
You cannot search Reddit by real name or email address the way you can on Facebook or LinkedIn. Reddit is built around usernames and post content, not identity. If you know what subreddit someone frequents, what they posted about, or roughly when they posted, you can find them. If you only know their real name, Reddit's search tools will not help you directly.
The most practical approach depends on what information you actually have. If someone mentioned a specific detail — a job title, a hobby, a location, an unusual story — searching for those words in the relevant subreddit often works faster than trying to identify the person first. Reddit's search is designed to find posts and comments, not accounts.
Key Takeaways
- Reddit does not have a people search feature; you search by post content, subreddit, or username if you already know it.
- Searching for specific details someone mentioned (a job, a story, a location) in the subreddit where they posted is more effective than searching for a real name.
- Reddit's native search works within individual subreddits; Google site search (site:reddit.com) often returns better results across all of Reddit.
- If someone posted a photo, reverse image search on Google Images may find the post even if you do not know their username.
- Reddit usernames are permanent and visible on every post and comment, so if you find one post by them, you can see their full history.
Search by what they posted, not who they are
Start with the subreddit where you think they posted. If you know they asked about a specific problem, shared a story, or discussed a particular topic, use Reddit's search box at the top of that subreddit. Type in a distinctive phrase or detail from what you remember them saying. Reddit's search looks through post titles and the text of posts in that community.
Be specific. Searching for "job interview" in r/jobs will return thousands of results. Searching for "job interview at Google, nervous about the coding round" is much more likely to surface the exact post. The more unusual or specific the detail, the faster you will find it.
If you do not remember which subreddit they used, try r/AskReddit, r/self, or r/offmychest — these are where people often share personal stories. You can also search across all of Reddit using Google: type site:reddit.com followed by the detail you remember. Google's index of Reddit is often more complete than Reddit's own search.
Use Google Images if they shared a photo
If the person posted a photo and you have a copy of it, reverse image search is often faster than text search. Go to Google Images, click the camera icon, and upload the image or paste the image URL. Google will show you every place that image appears online, including the Reddit post where it was originally shared.
This works even if the Reddit post is old or if you do not remember any text from it. The image itself becomes the search term. Keep in mind that if the photo has been reposted many times, you may see copies on other sites before you find the original Reddit post.
Check their post history once you find one post
Once you find a single post or comment by the person, click on their username. This takes you to their profile, where you can see every post and comment they have made on Reddit. Their username appears in the top left of their profile page, and you can see their entire history sorted by date.
Reddit usernames are permanent and public. If someone posted under the username "jane_smith_2019", that username will appear on every single thing they have posted. You can browse their history to confirm it is the right person, see what communities they participate in, and find older posts they may have made.
Search Reddit's old data if the post is very old
Reddit's own search function sometimes fails to find very old posts — anything more than a few years old may not appear in results. If you are looking for something from 2015 or earlier, try Pushshift, an archive of Reddit data. Go to pushshift.io and search by subreddit, username, or keyword. Pushshift indexes Reddit posts that may no longer appear in Reddit's native search.
Pushshift is a third-party tool run by researchers and is not affiliated with Reddit. It is free to use and does not require an account. Keep in mind that deleted posts do not appear in any search, including Pushshift — once a user deletes something, it is gone from public view.
Ask in the subreddit if you remember the context
If you remember roughly when someone posted and what they were asking about, you can post in that subreddit asking if anyone remembers the thread. Subreddit communities often remember notable posts, especially if they were popular or sparked a long discussion. A post like "Does anyone remember the thread from 2021 about someone quitting their job on their first day?" may get responses from people who saw it.
This method works best in smaller, tighter-knit subreddits where regulars recognize each other. In very large subreddits like r/AskReddit, your post asking about another post may get buried quickly. Check the subreddit's rules first — some communities do not allow meta posts about other posts.
Understand what you cannot do
Reddit does not publish a directory of users. You cannot search by email address, real name, or location the way you can on other platforms. If someone used a completely anonymous username and never mentioned identifying details in their posts, there is no way to find them through Reddit's tools.
Reddit also does not show you who viewed your profile or who is looking at your posts. If you are trying to find someone because you think they are looking for you, Reddit does not provide that information. You would need them to contact you directly or to post something you can find through search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search Reddit by someone's real name?
No. Reddit's search does not have a real name lookup. If someone posted using their real name in a post or comment, you might find that post by searching for the name plus a detail about what they posted. But Reddit does not index people by their real identity the way Facebook does.
What if I only know their username but cannot find their profile?
Type their username directly into Reddit's search bar or go to reddit.com/user/username. If the account has been deleted, suspended, or made private, you will not be able to see their posts. Deleted accounts leave behind their comments and posts, but the username shows as "[deleted]".
Can I find someone if they deleted their account?
Their posts and comments remain visible, but the username shows as "[deleted]". You can still read what they wrote, but you cannot click through to a profile or see their full history. Pushshift may still have a record of their username before deletion.
Is it against Reddit's rules to search for someone?
Searching for someone's posts is not against the rules. Harassment, doxxing (publishing someone's personal information), or using search to stalk someone is against Reddit's policy and may violate laws. Searching for a public post someone made is different from trying to find their real identity or contact information.
Why does Reddit's search sometimes not work?
Reddit's search function is notoriously unreliable, especially for older posts or posts with common keywords. This is a known issue. If Reddit's search does not work, try Google site search (site:reddit.com plus your search terms) or Pushshift instead.