Reddit Account Keeps Getting Locked? Why and What to Do

Getting locked out once is annoying. Getting locked out again after you've reset your password is worse, especially if you use Reddit to run a community, answer customer questions or keep up with your industry.

I'll be straight with you about something first. Reddit's help centre explains what a lock looks like and how to get back in, but it doesn't publish a list of what triggers one, or say why a lock might repeat. So this page sticks to what Reddit does say, and then to the security advice it gives, which is the most useful place to look if it keeps happening.

How to tell your Reddit account has been locked

Reddit says that when you log in to a locked account you'll see a red warning and a security message asking you to reset your password. You'll also get a notification in your Reddit inbox with more information.

It describes the lock as an extra precaution: occasionally, if Reddit detects technical irregularities with an account, it may lock it to prevent potential misuse. That's different from a ban, where Reddit sends a message explaining the rule you broke, what action was taken and how to appeal.

Getting back into a locked Reddit account

Reddit's steps depend on whether there's an email on the account.

• If an email address is connected, reset your password. Reddit suggests checking your account settings first to confirm the address is correct, so the reset email goes to the right place.
• If there's no email but you can still reach the account, add an email in account settings and then reset the password.
• If the email on the account is out of date, Reddit says it can't help.

That last point is the one that catches people out on a repeat lock. If your inbox address has changed, update it while you can. Reddit's password-reset steps, including what to do when the reset email doesn't turn up, are in the same help centre, and the reset email itself can take up to an hour.

Why a Reddit lock can keep coming back

Reddit doesn't say. What its help does give is a list of the signs and causes of a compromised account, and a repeat lock is a good reason to check them. Look for these:

• An email saying your password or email address changed when you didn't ask for that.
• Authorised apps on your profile that you don't recognise.
• Unusual IP history on your account activity page.
• Votes, posts, comments or chat messages you don't remember making.

If any of those ring true, the lock may have been doing its job. Reddit says to reset your password, and that if your email was changed to one you don't recognise you'll get an email explaining how to change it back. You'll need to enter the original email from before the change and reset the password.

The habits Reddit says leave an account open to being compromised

Reddit lists the common ways accounts get compromised. Check yourself against them honestly:

• Simple passwords.
• Reusing the same username and password across several sites.
• Logging in from an unsecured Wi-Fi network.
• Forgetting to log out on a public computer.
• Sharing an account with other people.
• Authorising apps that aren't secure to use your Reddit account.

Sharing is worth a second look if you manage a brand or client account. Handing the same login to a team feels convenient, but Reddit lists it as a risk. If you have to share access, a password manager and two-factor authentication make it safer, and my guide to logging out of Reddit is worth reading so you can end sessions on shared computers.

Reddit's own security advice after a lock

Reddit's recommendations for keeping an account safe are short and practical:

1. Use a strong, unique password.
2. Add two-factor authentication.
3. Use a password manager.
4. Keep a current, verified email on the account, so you can get security notices and use the reset system.
5. Don't share the account.
6. Don't leave it logged in on shared devices or let the browser save your password there. Reddit says you can use the account activity page to log out of all active sessions.

Reddit also warns that it will never email you to ask for your password, so be wary of any message that does.

When the lock is really a spam flag or a ban

Not every blocked account is locked. Reddit separates a few cases in its account status overview. A banned account comes with a message in your inbox. An account that is disabled or locked and can't log in may be down to suspicious activity or breaking the sitewide rules. And an account flagged for spam or inauthentic activity can log in, but its posts, comments, messages and profile page don't show up as expected.

For the spam flag, Reddit says to log in from a browser, go to the appeals page, and submit the form if you think the flag was a mistake. If your account is disabled and password resets fail, Reddit says to submit an inquiry about your account status.

If your Reddit account has been hacked as well as locked

If you can't get back in using the options above, Reddit says to submit a request and choose Security problems, then I think my account has been hacked. Include the username of the affected account and why you're concerned. Reddit also says you'll only get a reply if it's able to help with access.

If you decide the account isn't worth keeping, my guide to deleting your Reddit account covers the steps, though it's worth getting your data and anything you need out first.

A calm order of steps when your Reddit account keeps locking

1. Reset your password using the email on the account.
2. Check the email address in settings is current and verified.
3. Look for the compromise signs: unknown apps, unusual IP history, activity you don't remember.
4. Switch on two-factor authentication and save the backup codes somewhere safe.
5. Stop reusing the password and stop sharing the login.
6. Log out of every active session from the account activity page.
7. If the lock still keeps returning, submit a request to Reddit through its help centre.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my Reddit account keep getting locked?

Reddit says it may lock an account as a precaution when it detects technical irregularities. It doesn't publish why a lock repeats, so check for signs of compromise and tighten your security.

How do I get back into a locked Reddit account?

Reddit says to reset your password using the email address on the account. If there's no email but you can still reach the account, add one first.

Is a locked Reddit account the same as a banned one?

No. Reddit says a ban comes with an inbox message about the rule you broke and how to appeal, while a lock asks you to reset your password.

What if my email address on the account is out of date?

Reddit says it won't be able to help if the email is out of date, so update it while you still have access.

How do I stop my Reddit account being compromised?

Reddit advises a strong, unique password, two-factor authentication, a password manager, a current verified email, and not sharing the account.