Reddit Not Working? Fixes for the App, Website and Login

When Reddit stops working, it usually shows up in one of three ways: the site or app won't load, you can't log in, or something you posted doesn't appear. If you use Reddit to follow your industry, answer customer questions or keep an eye on a community you run, that's frustrating, because the fix depends entirely on which of the three you're seeing.

Reddit's help centre doesn't have one single page called "Reddit not working", so I've pulled together everything its own articles say about outages, app versions, browsers, logging in and locked accounts. Where Reddit's help is silent, I'll say so rather than guess.

Check whether Reddit is down for everyone

Reddit's own bug-reporting article starts with the same advice I'd give: look at Reddit's status page to see whether your experience lines up with an ongoing incident. If your problem is already logged there, you can follow along to see when it's resolved, and there's nothing to fix on your side.

The same advice appears in Reddit's article about posts you can't see: if there's an incident, wait until it's over and try again. So before you reinstall anything, spend a minute on the status page.

Updating the Reddit app when it won't open or load

Reddit says the official mobile app needs a minimum operating system: Android 10 or iOS 16. It also says that if you're on an older app version you should update the app, or use the mobile website if your device doesn't meet the minimum operating system.

It adds that below those minimums you may run into bugs in the Reddit app, or you may be unable to download new versions from the App Store or Google Play. If the app has started misbehaving on an older phone or tablet, this is the first thing to check.

1. Open your phone's Settings and check the operating system version.
2. If it's below Android 10 or iOS 16, open Reddit in your phone's browser instead of the app.
3. If it's high enough, open the App Store or Google Play and update the Reddit app.
4. Open the app again and see whether the feed loads.

Using a supported browser when Reddit.com won't load

For the website, Reddit says it recommends an up-to-date operating system and the latest version of your browser. On desktop it officially supports Chrome and Edge from version 116, Firefox from version 117 and Safari from version 15, as well as any browser built on the Webkit or Chromium engines.

On a phone browser, Reddit lists Chrome, Firefox and Safari on iPhone, and Chrome, Firefox and Opera on Android. If you've got an old browser, update it, or try a second browser on the same device. If Reddit loads in one browser and not another, you've found where the problem lives.

When you can't log in to Reddit

The login article on Reddit's help centre has a few details people miss. The first is the most useful: if entering your email and password gives you an error message, try your username and password instead.

• If you signed up with Google or Apple, choose Continue with Google or Continue with Apple, and don't type a password.
• If you signed up with your phone number, choose Continue With Phone Number.
• If you'd rather skip the password, Reddit offers a magic link by email. It expires after ten minutes, so request a new one if it does.
• If you have more than one account on the same email, the magic link goes to the most recently created account.

If you can't remember the password, use the Forgot password link on the login screen. If you're not sure you're even signed in, my guide to logging out of Reddit shows where that option sits, and the reset email has its own list of causes if it never arrives.

Two-factor codes that Reddit won't accept

If you've got two-factor authentication on and the code is being rejected, Reddit lists four things to try. Use one of your backup codes. Check whether you're still logged in on another device, because you can generate fresh backup codes from account settings on a computer. Connect your Google or Apple account and sign in that way. And update your authenticator app, then check your device's time and time zone are correct, since a wrong clock can stop codes working.

Reddit adds that backup codes can only be managed by logging in on a computer's web browser, and that each of the ten codes works once.

A red warning on login means your Reddit account is locked

If you see a red warning and a security message asking you to reset your password, Reddit has locked the account as a precaution after spotting something unusual. You'll also find a notification in your Reddit inbox. Resetting the password gets you back in. Reddit's article says it can't help if the email address on the account is out of date.

If you can't log in at all and resetting fails, Reddit says the account may have been disabled for suspicious activity or for breaking its sitewide rules. In that case you submit an inquiry about your account status through its help centre. My guide to deleting your Reddit account is worth keeping to hand if you decide to start again.

Posts and comments missing on Reddit

Sometimes Reddit works fine and your content just doesn't show. Reddit's article on missing posts gives a handful of reasons:

• Posts are sorted by hot by default, so a brand-new post may not appear until you sort by New.
• A moderator may have removed it for breaking the community's rules.
• If you're new, a community's spam filter can hold your post until you've built a little karma, for instance by commenting elsewhere in that community.
• There may be a Reddit incident, so check the status page.

If you think a moderator removed your post by mistake, Reddit suggests sending them a message through modmail. For a wider look at what you can do with posts, my guide to posting on Reddit from a computer or app covers the basics.

Reporting a Reddit bug that won't go away

If the status page shows nothing and the steps above haven't helped, Reddit says you can report a new bug by making a post in r/bugs, a community watched by Reddit's admins. It asks you to include a description, your device model, your operating system version, the steps to reproduce the problem, what you expected and what happened, and a screenshot or screen recording.

Reddit also warns you to remove personal details such as your legal name, email address and phone number from any screenshots before you post, and to scan recent posts to see whether someone has already reported the same thing. Known bugs being fixed are tracked in r/RedditBugs.

A quick order of checks for Reddit not working

What you see	What Reddit's help says to do
Nothing loads for anyone	Check Reddit's status page and wait if there's an incident
App is slow or buggy	Update the app; need Android 10 or iOS 16 at minimum
Website won't load	Use an up-to-date supported browser
Login error with email	Try your username and password instead
Red warning on login	Reset your password to get back in
Post not visible	Sort by New, check rules and the spam filter

Reddit's help doesn't publish steps for clearing the app's cache or reinstalling it, so I won't pretend otherwise. If your phone is up to date and a fresh install is the next thing you'd try, that's general troubleshooting, not something Reddit's pages list.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Reddit not working on my phone?

Reddit says the app needs at least Android 10 or iOS 16, and that older app versions can cause bugs. Update the app, or use the mobile website if your device is below the minimum.

How do I know if Reddit is down?

Reddit's help centre tells you to check its status page for an ongoing incident. If your problem is listed there, you can follow along until it's resolved.

Why can't I log in to Reddit with my email?

Reddit says to try your username and password instead if your email gives an error. Accounts made with Google, Apple or a phone number need those sign-in buttons.

What does it mean if Reddit shows a red warning when I log in?

It means Reddit locked the account as a security precaution. Reset your password to get back in, as long as the email on the account is up to date.

Where can I report a Reddit bug?

Post in r/bugs with your device model, operating system version, the steps to reproduce it and a screenshot, after checking the status page. Remove any personal details first.