How to permanently delete a Reddit account — what happens to your posts and comments.
⏱ 2 min readEasyUpdated June 2026
Quick Answer
On desktop: click your username → User Settings → scroll to the bottom → Deactivate Account. Enter your username and password, check the confirmation box, and click Deactivate. This is permanent — the account cannot be recovered.
How to Delete (Deactivate) Your Reddit Account
1
Go to reddit.com and log in
Account deletion is only available on the desktop website — not the Reddit app. Open reddit.com in a browser and sign in.
2
Click your username → User Settings
Click your username in the top right corner. Select User Settings from the dropdown menu.
3
Scroll to the bottom → Deactivate Account
Scroll all the way to the bottom of the Account tab in User Settings. Click Deactivate Account (in red).
4
Enter credentials, confirm and deactivate
Enter your username and password. Read and check the confirmation box acknowledging the action is permanent. Click Deactivate. The account is immediately deleted.
What Happens to Your Posts and Comments?
Your posts and comments are not automatically deleted when you deactivate your account. They remain on Reddit but appear as posted by [deleted] — the username is removed but the content stays. If you want to delete your post and comment history before deactivating: use a tool like Power Delete Suite or Redact (redact.dev) to bulk-delete your content first, then deactivate the account. Doing both ensures both the account and content are removed.
Want a break rather than permanent deletion?Reddit does not have a temporary deactivation feature like Facebook’s “deactivate” option. Deleting on Reddit is permanent. If you want to step back temporarily: simply log out and do not log in. You can also uninstall the app, set a long random password you will not remember, or use a website blocker. Keep the account if there is any chance you might want it later.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — Reddit account deletion is permanent and irreversible. Once deactivated, the account and username cannot be recovered. You would need to create a new account with a different username (the old username may become available after a period, but it does not restore the original account, karma, history or subscriptions).
The easiest method: Redact (redact.dev) — a free browser extension that bulk-deletes your Reddit posts and comments. Connect your Reddit account, select what to delete, and run the tool. It takes time for large histories. Power Delete Suite is another option. Reddit’s own interface only allows deleting one post or comment at a time — impractical for large histories. Always bulk-delete content before deactivating the account, as the account deactivation alone does not remove your posts.