Reddit Not Working: What’s Going On and What to Do
Reddit can stop working in a few ways — the app won’t load, the site won’t open, the feed and comments won’t refresh, you can’t log in, or you hit a server error. Some of these are on your phone, browser, or connection; others are on Reddit’s side, like an outage. Because Reddit runs as a mobile app and a website, the right fix depends on where you are browsing and the exact symptom.
If Reddit is blocked on your school, work, or public Wi-Fi, a VPN like Planet VPN can help you reach it and keep your connection private — though it won’t fix an outage, an app bug, or a locked account. Below are the common scenarios and how to solve each one.
Why Is Reddit Not Working?
Reddit trouble usually comes from one of a few places: your internet connection, the app or browser (a full cache or an outdated version), your account, or a Reddit outage. Some are on your end and some are not, so the fastest route is to narrow down the symptom. Start with a few universal checks before diving into a specific fix.
How to Fix
- Close the Reddit app or browser tab and reopen it.
- Check your internet, and switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Update the Reddit app, or refresh and update your browser.
- Clear the app cache, or your browser cache and cookies.
- Restart your device, and reinstall the app if it still fails.
- Check whether Reddit is down before changing more settings.
Is Reddit Down?
Sometimes it really is Reddit’s side. During an outage, the feed will not load, you get “our servers are under heavy load” errors, or the app and site fail for everyone at once. The clue is that lots of people report the same thing at the same time (“is Reddit down,” “Reddit down”). If it is only you, it is a local problem and the sections below will help.
How to Fix
- Check an outage tracker like Downdetector to see whether reports are spiking.
- Check Reddit’s status page (redditstatus.com) for incidents.
- Try both the app and the website to see if both are affected.
- Try another device or network to confirm it is server-side.
- If it is a confirmed outage, wait — there is no fix on your end.
Reddit Not Loading
If the feed, comments, or images will not load, show endless spinners, or a page sits blank, it usually points to your connection, a full cache, a browser extension, or a busy Reddit server rather than a broken account.
How to Fix
- Refresh the page or pull down to refresh the feed.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data to test your connection.
- Clear the cache and cookies, or the app cache.
- Disable ad blockers and other browser extensions.
- Try old.reddit.com or a different browser to narrow it down.
Reddit Won’t Open
If Reddit will not open at all — the app closes on launch, or the website will not load in any browser — the cause is usually a connection or DNS problem, a network that blocks Reddit, or a corrupted app.
How to Fix
- Check that other sites open, then restart your router.
- Change your DNS to a public one such as 8.8.8.8.
- Turn a VPN or proxy off to test, or on if your network blocks Reddit.
- Clear the app cache, or reinstall the app.
- Try the website if the app fails, or the app if the website fails.
Why Can’t I Access Reddit?
If Reddit loads fine on mobile data but not on your school or office Wi-Fi, or you are travelling somewhere it is restricted, you are being blocked rather than hitting a bug. Some networks and a handful of countries filter Reddit, and Reddit itself can distrust certain shared or datacentre IP addresses.
How to Fix
- Test Reddit on mobile data or another network to confirm it is a block.
- Change your DNS to a public one such as 8.8.8.8.
- Use a VPN to get around a school, work, or country-level block.
- If Reddit rejects a VPN IP, switch servers or choose a nearby location.
- On a school or work device, check whether an administrator has blocked Reddit.
Why Is Reddit Not Working on My Phone?
The app is how most people use Reddit, so a broken app usually means a corrupted cache, an outdated version, a stale login session, or low storage. The steps differ a little between iPhone and Android.
Tip: If the Reddit app is broken but the website works fine in your phone’s browser, the problem is the app — not your account or your connection. A reinstall usually clears it.
Reddit Not Working on iPhone
iPhone has no in-app cache clear for Reddit, so a stale cache means offloading or reinstalling the app. A Screen Time restriction or a filtered network can also block it.
How to Fix
- Update Reddit in the App Store.
- Offload or delete and reinstall Reddit to clear its cache.
- Sign out and back in to refresh your session.
- Check Screen Time › Content & Privacy Restrictions is not blocking Reddit.
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, then restart your iPhone.
Reddit Not Working on Android
On Android you can clear Reddit’s cache directly, which fixes most loading and crash problems. It is also worth checking background-data and storage.
How to Fix
- Clear the cache in Settings › Apps › Reddit › Storage.
- Update Reddit from the Google Play Store.
- Allow background data and free up storage.
- Sign out and back in, then restart your phone.
- Uninstall and reinstall Reddit if it keeps failing.
Reddit Login Problems
If Reddit will not let you log in, logs you out, or your password will not work, the cause can be wrong details, a connection problem, too many attempts, or a temporary lock on your account.
How to Fix
- Double-check your username and password, and reset the password if needed.
- Complete any verification email or two-factor prompt.
- Switch networks and update the app or browser.
- Clear cookies on the web, or the app cache, then try again.
- Wait and retry if you have made many attempts, or contact Reddit support.
Common Reddit Errors
Reddit shows a few recurring messages when something goes wrong. Most point to a busy server, too many requests, or a connection problem.
| Error | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “Our servers are under heavy load” / “you broke Reddit” | A server-side error or overload, usually temporary. | Wait a moment and refresh; check whether Reddit is down. |
| 429 / “Too many requests” | Reddit is rate-limiting your device or IP. | Slow down, wait a few minutes, and turn off a VPN that shares an IP. |
| 503 / server error | Reddit’s servers are unavailable or overloaded. | Wait and retry; it is on Reddit’s side. |
| “Network error” | Your connection to Reddit dropped, or an IP it distrusts. | Switch networks, change your DNS, and toggle your VPN. |
How to Fix
- Note the exact message and whether it is about the server, rate limits, or your connection.
- For server errors, wait and refresh — they clear on Reddit’s side.
- For “too many requests,” slow down and switch networks or turn off a shared VPN.
- Clear the cache and update the app or browser for lingering errors.
When a VPN Can Help with Reddit
A VPN helps with the network-and-location side of Reddit. Planet VPN can help when Reddit is blocked on your school, work, or public Wi-Fi, when it is restricted where you are, or when you want to browse privately on a shared network. If a block is what is stopping you, our VPN for Reddit is built for exactly that.
It has limits, though. A VPN cannot fix a Reddit outage, an app bug, or a locked account — and Reddit sometimes distrusts shared VPN addresses, which can bring up extra checks or a “network error.” Use a reputable VPN, switch servers if Reddit refuses to load, and turn it off to test when you are on your own network.
How to Prevent Reddit Problems in the Future
A few habits keep most of these away: keep the Reddit app and your browser updated, clear the cache now and then, and leave enough free storage. Keep ad blockers from over-filtering Reddit, use a stable connection, and check whether Reddit is down before troubleshooting your own setup. If Reddit is blocked on a network you use, keep a reputable VPN ready.
Conclusion
When Reddit is not working, figure out which kind of problem you have before changing things. Check whether the app and the website open, whether the feed loads, and whether you can log in, and whether other people are affected too — that tells you if it is your device, your network, your account, or Reddit’s side. Work through the fixes for your specific symptom, and use Planet VPN when the problem is a network, ISP, school or work, or country-level block.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Why is Reddit not working today?
It could be a loading, app, or login issue on your end, or a Reddit outage. Close and reopen the app or tab, clear the cache, check your connection, and look at an outage tracker to see whether it is Reddit’s side.
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Is Reddit down right now?
Check an outage tracker like Downdetector and Reddit’s status page (redditstatus.com). If lots of people report the same problem at once, it is a server-side outage rather than your device.
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Why is the Reddit app not working on my phone?
Usually a corrupted cache, an outdated app, a stale session, or low storage. Update the app, clear the cache on Android (offload or reinstall on iPhone), sign out and back in, and reinstall if it keeps failing. If the website still works, the problem is the app.
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Why won’t Reddit load?
Usually your connection, a full cache, or a browser extension. Refresh, switch networks, clear the cache and cookies, disable ad blockers, and try old.reddit.com or another browser.
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Why can’t I access Reddit at school or work?
Many school and office networks filter Reddit, and some countries restrict it. Confirm by trying mobile data, then use a VPN to get around the block — switch servers if Reddit rejects a shared VPN IP.
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Why does Reddit say too many requests?
Reddit is rate-limiting your device or IP (error 429). Slow down, wait a few minutes, and turn off a VPN that shares an IP with many users.
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Can a VPN fix Reddit?
A VPN helps when Reddit is blocked on your school, work, or country network. It can’t fix outages, app bugs, or account locks — and because Reddit distrusts some shared VPN IPs, switch servers or turn it off if Reddit refuses to load.