How to Delete Reddit Account: Best Steps in 2024

Many users have left social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram due to their lack of data protection; for the same reason, many are saying goodbye to Reddit also, resulting in deleted accounts.

Despite the anonymity provided by usernames on Reddit, the platform still collects and stores a vast amount of user information that can be vulnerable to outside entities. Also, Sharing personal information like location and holiday announcements exposes users to offline and online thefts. It’s important to remember that true privacy is a complex issue that requires constant vigilance.

This article will explore how to delete your Reddit account on the desktop site and mobile app. First, let’s take a quick look at why users delete their accounts.

Controversies Surrounding Reddit

Like other social media sites, Reddit has its share of controversies and scandals that have overshadowed its reputation. The controversies range from the infamous explicit celebrity photo hacks to the rebellion of content moderators. Some regular users who have experienced hacks on their accounts also delete them.

Then there is also the removal of a warrant canary in 2016, which hinted that a government authority might have requested user information. As such, Reddit’s vulnerabilities were lain bare. So you’re right to be concerned about misusing your personal information and poor online security.

If you’re reading this article, you’re considering deleting your Reddit account permanently. The process is long and sometimes tricky, but I’ll show you how to delete your Reddit account in straightforward steps.

Deactivating vs Deleting Your Reddit Account

The term “deactivate account” on Reddit differs from on Facebook or other social media platforms. Deactivating a Reddit account is the same as deleting the account, as deactivated accounts are not recoverable. Hence, there’s no way to temporarily deactivate your account.

You won’t be able to sign up to Reddit with the same username from a previously deactivated account. Additionally, no one else can use the deactivated username to create an account.

Your comments are not automatically removed when you deactivate, but they’re disassociated from your account.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to download your user data from Reddit, as there’s no automated feature. If you want a copy of your data, including posts and comments, you can contact the company and request a download of your account data. It’s an extra step, but it’s worth it if you’d love to have a record of your time on the platform.

Canceling Reddit Premium Subscription

Remember to cancel your Reddit Premium membership before saying farewell to your Reddit account. Deleting your account won’t automatically cancel your subscription, so cancel it beforehand. The process of canceling may vary depending on the payment method you used to subscribe.

For those who subscribed with an Apple ID, canceling your subscription as a Reddit Premium member is easy. Navigate to your device Settings or the Manage Subscriptions section of the Apple App Store. Locate the Reddit Premium subscription in your list, and press cancel. And just like that, you’re unsubscribed.

If you purchased the membership through Google Play, head to the Subscriptions section on Google Play and find Reddit Premium in your list. From there, you can easily cancel your subscription.

It’s also simple if you used a credit card or PayPal. Log in to reddit.com, go to User Settings, and then go to the Subscriptions section. You can easily unsubscribe from there.

How to Delete Your Reddit Posts & Comments

Removing your data on Reddit is a simple process. You can contact Reddit’s support team if you want to delete your Reddit account and all your data. They can delete account information and all your Reddit posts and comments from the platform.

Alternatively, you can manually delete individual posts and comments before deactivating your account:

1. Log in to your Reddit account and select your Profile icon.

2. Click View Profile.

3. Find the post or comment you want to delete and click the three dots (“…”) button underneath it.

4. Click the Delete button.

5. Click Delete again to confirm.

If you’ve had a busy account for a long time, manually deleting every post and comment is an unrealistically tedious process, so you’re better off getting the help of Reddit support. Alternatively, there are third-party tools that can do the job. Since I haven’t used any, I can’t recommend a specific tool, but you can do a quick search and find reputable tools.

It’s also important to note that deleting your Reddit account will not remove any data other users have saved from your posts and comments, such as screenshots and links.

How to Delete Reddit Account Permanently on Desktop

Ready to delete your Reddit account? Please remember that once it is deactivated, it cannot be reactivated. So make sure you want to delete your Reddit account before proceeding.

Follow these easy steps to delete your Reddit account for good.

1. Click the User Profile icon in the top-right corner of the Reddit home page.

2. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Delete Account option.

4. Enter your Reddit username, account password, and the reason for deactivating your Reddit account.

Click on the Delete button to deactivate your account.

How to Delete Reddit Account Permanently on Mobile

You cannot delete your Reddit account on the Android Reddit app. But you can follow these steps to delete your Reddit account on the iOS app:

1. Open the Reddit app and click on your profile picture in the top right corner.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Settings.

3. Click Delete Account at the bottom of the Settings page.

4. After reading the warning, Confirm your decision by clicking Yes, Delete.

Your account will be permanently deleted and disassociated from your activity on the site.

What Is a VPN & How Can It Protect You Online?

If you’re considering deleting your Reddit account—or if you’ve already done so—you’re probably considering your privacy and security online. A premium VPN is the easiest way to secure yourself online and keep your activities private.

A premium VPN service encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address, making it nearly impossible for anyone to track your online activity. Thus, you can browse any site without worrying about hackers, ISPs, or government surveillance.

The exception is if you’re logged in to an account that can associate your activities with you. So, for example, using a VPN wouldn’t anonymize your Reddit posts or stop Google from tracking your activities on your Google account. But VPNs still come in handy, like when connecting to public Wi-Fi or engaging in activities your ISP may frown upon.

VPNs have the added benefit of relocating your connection to a region of your choice, letting you access new content, like foreign libraries, on your favorite streaming services.

Plus, a single VPN account can protect multiple devices. All VPN providers let you simultaneously use one subscription on at least five devices. Choose from the high-quality VPNs below and if you’re not happy, you can use the VPN’s money-back guarantee.

Below are the top three premium VPN services for any internet users, Reddit users included.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is an excellent choice for internet users who want to protect their privacy and security. It’s a great alternative to deleting Reddit. ExpressVPN offers blazing speeds on a server network spread across 105 countries. You can artificially change your location to any country to easily unblock streaming services and other content. It doesn’t record or store any logs of your activities, ensuring your activities are kept private.

ExpressVPN offers industry-standard and proprietary features, making it the best VPN on the market.

2. PIA

PIA VPN is another great choice for internet users who value their privacy. With PIA, your online activity remains encrypted and anonymous. The company has a strict no-logs policy and comes with advanced and highly customizable security features to keep your data safe and secure. PIA has the most servers of any VPN provider, covering 91 countries and offering good speeds.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a good choice for internet users looking for a balance of affordability and security. It offers a wide range of industry-standard security features, plus a no-logs policy that ensures the privacy of your online activity. CyberGhost has a large server network covering 100 countries.

Conclusion

Deleting Reddit accounts can be done on both desktop and mobile devices. Following the steps outlined in this guide will guarantee your account is deactivated and all your data is erased. Remember, deactivating your account is the same as permanently deleting it, as it cannot be recovered.

Once you delete your Reddit account, you can’t reuse your username, but you can request your info, including posts and comments, from Reddit’s support.

If you deleted your Reddit account for privacy reasons, you can further enhance your online privacy and security by using a VPN packed with useful features like ExpressVPN.

Topic: How To Guides, Social Media