Deleting your Reddit account is a permanent, irreversible process. It’s crucial to understand what this action does and, more importantly, what it doesn’t do.

This guide will walk you through the essential first step of deleting your content, followed by the final step of permanently deactivating your account on any device.

Step 1: Delete Your Posts and Comments (The Critical First Step)

This is the most misunderstood part of deleting a Reddit account.

Warning: Deleting your account does NOT delete your posts and comments.

When you deactivate your account, all your posts and comments remain on the site. Your username will be removed and replaced with [deleted], but the content itself will still be public. If you want your content gone, you must delete it before you deactivate your account.

Method 1: Manual Deletion (For Light Users)

If you only have a few dozen posts or comments, you can delete them one by one.

1. Log in to Reddit and go to your Profile.
2. Click the “Posts” or “Comments” tab.
3. For each item, click the three-dot menu (…) and select Delete.
4. Confirm the deletion and repeat for every item.

Method 2: Using a Script or Extension (For Active Users)

Manually deleting thousands of comments is not practical. Most users opt for a third-party tool to “nuke” their post history.

While we cannot endorse a specific tool, you can search for popular browser extensions or scripts designed to “bulk delete Reddit posts.” These tools will automatically go through your profile and delete your entire history. This is the most effective way to scrub your content before deactivating.

Step 2: How to Permanently Delete Your Reddit Account

Once your content is gone, you can proceed with the permanent deactivation. The steps are different for desktop and the mobile app.

On a Desktop Web Browser (New Reddit UI):

1. Log in to the Reddit account you wish to delete.
2. Click your username/profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select User Settings from the drop-down menu.
4. Make sure you are on the Account tab.
5. Scroll to the very bottom of the page and click the red Deactivate Account button.
6. A pop-up will appear. You must re-enter your username and password to confirm.
7. Check the box stating, “I understand that deactivated accounts are not recoverable.”
8. Click Deactivate. Your account is now permanently deleted.

On the Reddit Mobile App (iOS or Android):

1. Open the Reddit app and tap your profile icon in the top-right corner.
2. Tap Settings at the bottom of the menu.
3. Scroll down to the “Support” section.
4. Tap Delete account.
5. You will be asked to re-enter your password to confirm your identity.
6. Follow the final on-screen prompts to confirm the permanent deactivation.

Important: What You MUST Know Before Deleting

Before you click that final button, understand these key points:

• It is PERMANENT: There is no “undo” button. You can never get your account back once it is deactivated.
• Your Username is GONE: The username will be permanently unavailable and can never be reused by you or anyone else.
• Content Remains (Unless Deleted): As stated in Step 1, all your posts and comments will remain visible under the [deleted] username unless you remove them first.
• You Must Create a New Account: If you wish to use Reddit again, you will have to start over with a brand new account.

Conclusion

Deleting your Reddit account is a simple but final decision. The most important step is to decide what to do with your post and comment history. By scrubbing your content first and then following the deactivation steps, you can ensure your data is removed to your satisfaction.