You can edit the text of a post anytime, but you cannot change the title or link after you post
Reddit lets you change the words in a post after it goes live, but with one major limit: the title is locked the moment you hit submit. If you wrote something wrong in the title, you have to delete the whole post and start over. The same goes for the URL if you posted a link. The body text — everything below the title — you can fix at any time, even years later.
This matters because a misleading title stays misleading even if you fix the body. If you want to change what people see first, deletion and reposting is your only option. Most people do this within the first few minutes, before the post gets comments or upvotes.
Key Takeaways
- You can edit the text body of any post you made, but the title and link URL cannot be changed after posting.
- To edit, click the three dots menu on your post and select "Edit" — the option appears on your own posts only.
- Deleted posts cannot be recovered, so make sure you want to remove it before you confirm.
- If you edit a post that already has comments, readers will see an "edited" marker but the comments stay attached to the old version.
- Subreddit moderators can remove or lock your post even if you do not delete it yourself.
How to edit the text in a post you already shared
Open Reddit and find the post you made. On desktop, look for the three dots (called the "more options" menu) in the top right corner of your post. On mobile, swipe left on the post or tap the three dots. Select "Edit" from the menu that appears.
A text box will open with your original post text. Make whatever changes you need. When you are done, click or tap "Save" at the bottom. The edit is live when ready. Reddit adds an "edited" timestamp below your post so other readers know you changed it, but your original words are gone — Reddit does not keep a public history of what you wrote before.
You can edit as many times as you want. Some people edit within seconds to fix a typo, and some edit months later to add new information. There is no limit.
When you need to delete and repost instead of edit
If you made a mistake in the title or posted the wrong link, editing will not fix it. You have to delete the post and create a new one. Click the three dots menu, select "Delete," and confirm. The post disappears from the subreddit when ready, though it may take a few minutes to vanish from search results.
Deleting a post also removes all the comments people left on it. If your post has ten comments and you delete it, those conversations are gone. This is why most people delete within the first few minutes, before anyone has replied. If the post already has discussion, you might choose to leave it up and just edit the body to correct the mistake, even though the title stays wrong.
Once you delete a post, you cannot get it back. Reddit does not have an undo button or a recovery option. If you are unsure, take a screenshot first.
What happens to comments when you edit your post
Comments stay attached to your post even after you edit it. If someone replied to your original text and you change that text, their comment still appears below your post — it does not disappear or move. This can sometimes make the conversation look confusing if you edited something major, because readers see the comment but not the words it was responding to.
You cannot edit or delete other people's comments on your own post. Only the person who wrote the comment can edit or delete it, or a subreddit moderator can remove it if it breaks the subreddit's rules.
How moderators can remove or lock your post
Even if you do not delete your post, a subreddit moderator can remove it if it breaks the subreddit's rules. When a post is removed, it disappears from the subreddit's feed and from most people's view, though you can still see it in your own profile. A removed post is different from a deleted post — the moderator took action, not you.
Moderators can also lock a post, which means no one can add new comments to it, but the post itself stays visible. You might see a note on the post saying "locked" or "removed" with a reason from the moderator. If this happens, you can still edit the text of your post, but readers cannot reply.
Why you might want to delete a post instead of leaving it up
Some people delete posts because they changed their mind about sharing something, or because the post got negative attention they did not expect. Others delete because they shared personal information they later regretted. Deleting removes the post from the subreddit, but it does not may provide that no one saved a copy — other users can screenshot or archive posts before you delete them.
If you are concerned about privacy, deleting is better than leaving it up, but it is not a complete erasure. The internet often keeps copies of things you remove. If the post contained sensitive information like your address or full name, consider whether you want to edit it to remove those details before deleting, in case someone already saw it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit a post I deleted?
No. Once you delete a post, it is gone. You cannot edit it or recover it. If you want to share the same content again, you have to create a new post.
Do people get notified when I edit a post?
No. Reddit does not send notifications to people who commented on or upvoted your post when you edit it. They will only see the "edited" marker if they view the post again after you made the change.
Can I edit a post in a subreddit where I am a moderator?
Yes. You can edit any post you made, regardless of which subreddit it is in. Being a moderator does not change how editing works for your own posts, though moderators have additional powers to remove or lock other people's posts.
What if I edit a post and then want to see what I wrote before?
Reddit does not show you the old version of your post after you edit it. If you think you might want to compare, take a screenshot of the original before you make changes. Some third-party Reddit archive sites may have saved older versions, but this is not may provide.
Does editing a post change when it appears in search results?
Editing the text does not bump your post back to the top of the subreddit or change its position in search results. The post keeps its original timestamp. Search engines may take time to re-index the new text, so old versions might show up in Google results for a while after you edit.