What Is a Private Reddit Account
Before diving into the detailed steps, it’s important to clarify that Reddit doesn’t offer a full “private mode” like Instagram or Facebook. Instead, you can take certain steps to:
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Hide your profile content from public view
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Disable follower lists
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Prevent others from seeing your online status
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Limit what Reddit tracks about you
So while you can’t make your entire account 100% invisible, you can significantly reduce your digital footprint with the right settings.
Make Your Reddit Account Private in 5 Steps
1. Hide Your Upvotes and Downvotes
By default, other users can see which posts and comments you upvote or downvote. To hide this:
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Go to your Reddit profile on desktop.
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Click the "Settings" gear icon in the top right corner.
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Navigate to "Privacy & Security."
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Find “Show upvotes on my profile” and turn it OFF.
This hides your voting history from others.
2. Make Your Comments and Posts Less Traceable
Unfortunately, all posts and comments you make are still visible on your profile unless deleted or made via alt accounts. Here's what you can do:
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Consider using a throwaway Reddit account for sensitive topics.
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Delete any old posts/comments you don’t want tied to your profile.
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Use Reddit's profile settings to customize what shows on your public page.
3. Turn Off Active Status (Online Indicator)
Reddit shows a green dot next to your username when you're online. To disable this:
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On desktop or mobile, go to User Settings > Profile.
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Toggle off “Show my online status.”
No one will know when you're browsing.
4. Disable Your Follower List
Reddit allows users to follow others, and your follower list is visible by default. To hide it:
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Visit User Settings > Profile.
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Toggle off “Allow people to follow you.”
Now, no one can follow your account or view your follower count.
5. Stop Personalized Ads and IP Tracking
Reddit tracks your activity for advertising. To limit this:
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Go to Settings > Privacy & Security.
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Turn off:
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“Personalize ads based on your Reddit activity”
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“Personalize ads based on information from our partners”
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“Allow Reddit to use your activity for research”
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These won’t make your account invisible, but will reduce third-party tracking.
However, to permanently stop IP tracking and pop-up ads, we recommend using a proxy VPN like UFO VPN.
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What Others Can See & Can't See on Private Accounts
Even if you set your Reddit account to be as private as possible, some information remains visible to others — Reddit doesn’t offer a full “invisible mode” like some platforms. Here’s what will still be public and what gets hidden when you tighten your account's privacy:
✅ Publicly Visible:
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Your username – This is always visible when you post or comment.
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Your posts and comments – These remain visible unless you delete them individually or stop posting publicly.
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Subreddits you post in – While Reddit doesn't show a list of your subscriptions, users can infer the subs you engage in based on your post/comment history.
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Account age – People can still see how long you've been on Reddit.
❌ What Gets Hidden When You Go Private:
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Your “Following” tab – This can be hidden from others in your settings.
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Upvoted content – You can choose to keep your upvotes private, so others won’t know what you’ve liked.
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Your active status – You can toggle this off to stop Reddit from showing when you're online.
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Profile bio and posts – You can control who sees your profile activity, including hiding all recent posts and comments from your profile tab.
Tips for Staying Invisible on Reddit
If you want to take your privacy game up a notch, consider the following:
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Use UFO VPN when
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Don’t connect your email or phone number unless necessary.
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Regularly clear your Reddit search and browsing history in the app or browser.
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Post in sensitive subreddits with throwaway accounts instead of your main.
Final Thoughts
Reddit doesn’t offer a magic “make Reddit account private” button, but with the right settings, you can minimize how much of your activity is visible to other users and advertisers. From hiding upvotes to blocking followers and using VPNs, you can regain a sense of digital anonymity. Whether you’re a casual scroller or an active commenter, taking these steps ensures you’re using Reddit on your terms—and staying in control of your personal information.
FAQs
1. Can I make my Reddit profile completely private?
No. Reddit does not currently allow full-profile privacy. You can hide some content (like upvotes and online status), but posts and comments remain publicly visible.
2. Will others still see my posts if I follow these steps?
Yes—unless you delete them or post in private subreddits. However, your profile will show less activity overall if you turn off voting visibility and remove old posts.
3. Can people see what subreddits I subscribe to?
Not by default. Reddit removed public subreddit subscriptions from profiles. However, subreddit moderators can still see your activity within their communities.
4. Does Reddit track me even when I’m logged out?
Yes, through cookies and device tracking. Use incognito mode and a VPN to reduce this.
5. Is using a VPN with Reddit safe?
Absolutely. A VPN helps hide your IP and location from Reddit and third-party trackers. It’s a good practice for privacy-conscious users.
