You can delete your own threads from Reddit in seconds, but deleted threads stay visible to you and cannot be recovered

To delete a thread you posted on Reddit, open the thread, tap or click the three dots menu (on mobile) or find the "more options" menu (on desktop), and select Delete. The thread disappears from the subreddit and from other people's feeds when ready. However, deleted threads remain visible in your own profile history unless you also delete your account, and Reddit's servers keep a record that cannot be restored once you confirm deletion.

Deletion is permanent and when ready for other users. If you posted something you regret, deleting it stops new people from finding it through the subreddit or search. But anyone who saw it before deletion may have already screenshotted or quoted it elsewhere.

Key Takeaways

  • Deleted threads vanish from the subreddit and public view within seconds, but you can still see them in your own profile history.
  • Once you confirm deletion, Reddit cannot restore the thread — the action is permanent and cannot be undone.
  • Moderators of the subreddit can still see deleted threads in their moderation tools, so deletion does not hide your post from them.
  • If you want to hide a thread without deleting it, you can archive it instead, which keeps it visible but prevents new comments and votes.

How to delete a thread on desktop Reddit

Log into Reddit and navigate to the thread you want to delete. You must be the original poster to delete it. Look for the three dots or "more" menu in the top right corner of your post — it appears next to the timestamp and the upvote count. Click it to open a dropdown menu.

Select Delete from the menu. Reddit will ask you to confirm the deletion with a popup that says something like "Are you sure?" Click Yes or Confirm. The thread is now deleted and will no longer appear in the subreddit feed or in search results.

How to delete a thread on mobile Reddit

Open the Reddit app and find the thread in your profile or in the subreddit where you posted it. Tap the three dots menu in the top right corner of the post. A menu will appear with options including Delete.

Tap Delete and confirm when Reddit asks you to verify. The thread disappears from public view when ready. If you are using the mobile web version of Reddit instead of the app, the process is the same as desktop — find the three dots menu and select Delete.

What happens to deleted threads in your profile

When you delete a thread, it stops showing up in the subreddit and in other people's feeds. However, the thread still appears in your own profile under your post history. You can see it there, but it shows as "[deleted]" with a note that the content was removed. Other users cannot click on it or see what you wrote.

If you want to completely remove a thread from your profile history, you must delete your entire Reddit account. Some users delete their accounts periodically to clear their posting history for privacy reasons. This is the only way to remove deleted threads from your own profile view.

The difference between deleting and removing a thread

Deleting a thread means you, the poster, remove it. Removing a thread means a moderator took it down because it violated subreddit rules. When a moderator removes a thread, it disappears from the subreddit but you can still see it in your profile. You receive a message explaining why it was removed.

If a moderator removes your thread, you cannot restore it through normal means. You can message the moderators to ask why it was removed and whether you can repost it with changes. Deleted threads, by contrast, are gone because you chose to delete them.

Why moderators can still see deleted threads

Subreddit moderators have access to moderation tools that show deleted posts and comments. This allows them to monitor whether users are deleting threads to avoid consequences for rule-breaking. If you delete a thread that violated the subreddit rules, the moderators can still see it in their logs and may take action against your account, such as a temporary ban or warning.

Deleting a thread does not erase it from the moderators' view or from Reddit's internal records. If you posted something that broke the rules, deletion will not protect you from moderation action.

Archiving a thread instead of deleting it

Reddit automatically archives threads after six months, which means they stop accepting new comments and votes but remain visible and readable. You can manually archive your own thread before that important date if you want to preserve it but prevent further engagement. To archive a thread, open the three dots menu and select Archive instead of Delete.

Archiving is useful if you posted something you are proud of but do not want people to keep commenting on it. The thread stays in the subreddit and in your profile, but it becomes read-only. You can still delete an archived thread at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I recover a thread after I delete it?

No. Once you confirm deletion, Reddit cannot restore the thread. The action is permanent. If you deleted something by accident, you will need to rewrite and repost it. Always double-check before confirming deletion.

Will deleting a thread remove my comments inside it?

No. Deleting the thread removes the original post, but your comments within that thread remain visible to others unless you delete each comment individually. To remove all your words from a conversation, you must delete both the thread and each of your replies separately.

Can the original poster delete comments other people left on their thread?

No. You can only delete your own comments. You can remove other people's comments only if you are a moderator of the subreddit. If someone posted something inappropriate on your thread, report it to the moderators and they will decide whether to remove it.

Does deleting a thread affect my Reddit karma?

Deleting a thread removes the upvotes and downvotes it received, so your karma decreases by the net votes the thread had earned. If your thread had 500 upvotes, deleting it reduces your karma by 500 points.

What if I delete a thread that was pinned by moderators?

You can delete a pinned thread if you are the original poster. The thread disappears from the subreddit even though it was pinned. Moderators cannot prevent you from deleting your own posts, but they may message you asking why you deleted it or requesting that you repost it.