# Reddit Shadowban Checker: Am I Shadowbanned on Reddit? > Use a Reddit shadowban checker to test your account in a minute. Learn the difference between shadowbans, subreddit bans and AutoMod removals, and how to appeal. Canonical: https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/reddit-shadowban Last updated: 2026-10-26 Category: Reddit. The fastest Reddit shadowban checker is your own profile, seen logged out. Open a private browser window and go to reddit.com/user/yourname. If your profile loads, you aren't shadowbanned site-wide. If Reddit says the page can't be found while you can still see it when logged in, your account is very likely shadowbanned. Our free [shadowban checker](https://scheduleforyou.com/tools/shadowban-checker) fills in that link for you and walks you through the other tests. Most "my posts disappeared" problems on Reddit aren't site-wide shadowbans, though. They're removals by one subreddit's moderators or its AutoModerator. This guide explains each kind of restriction, how to check, and how to appeal or get unbanned. ## Quick answer: which Reddit restriction do you have? | What you notice | Most likely cause | Who decides | | --- | --- | --- | | Your profile shows "not found" to logged-out visitors | Site-wide shadowban | Reddit's admins or spam systems | | Posts vanish in one subreddit only | AutoModerator or a moderator removal | That subreddit's mod team | | A message says you're banned from a subreddit | Subreddit ban | That subreddit's mod team | | A banner or email says your account is suspended | Account suspension | Reddit's admins | | "You're doing that too much" | Rate limit on new or low-karma accounts | Reddit, automatically | ## What a Reddit shadowban is Unlike most platforms, Reddit really does shadowban. A site-wide shadowban hides your profile, posts and comments from everyone else, while your account keeps working normally from your side. You can post, comment and vote, but nobody sees any of it, and moderators may see your posts land in their spam queue. Reddit mainly uses shadowbans against spam and suspected bots, because telling a spammer they've been caught just prompts them to make a new account. Real people get caught too, especially new accounts that post a lot of links. Reddit has said it prefers to tell people when an account is actioned, so many cases now show up as a suspension notice instead, but silent shadowbans still happen at the time of writing. ## Shadowban vs subreddit ban vs AutoModerator vs suspension ### Site-wide shadowban Applies across all of Reddit. Your profile looks missing when logged out, and your comments don't appear to others anywhere. You usually get no message. ### Subreddit ban A subreddit's moderators can ban you from that community only. Reddit normally sends you a message saying you've been banned and, for temporary bans, for how long. You can still post everywhere else. ### AutoModerator and spam filter removals Each subreddit can set up AutoModerator, a rules bot that silently removes posts or comments matching conditions the mods choose: account age, karma, certain words or link domains. Subreddits can also use Reddit's own filters, which can hold content from newer or lower-reputation accounts. To you, the post looks live. To everyone else it's missing or shown as [removed]. This is often called a "subreddit shadowban," but it only applies to that community. ### Account suspension A suspension is Reddit's formal penalty for breaking its rules. It can be temporary or permanent, and Reddit tells you by message, email or a banner when you log in. A suspended account can't post, comment or vote. ## Am I shadowbanned on Reddit? How to check ### 1. Open your profile while logged out This is the test that matters most. Use a private or incognito window and visit your profile URL. If it opens, you're not shadowbanned site-wide. If it says the user doesn't exist, while you know the account is active, that's a strong sign of a shadowban. A suspended account shows a suspension notice instead, and a deleted account can look similar to a shadowban, so rule those out. ### 2. Check a comment from a private window Open a thread you commented in, without logging in, and look for your comment. If it's missing or shows as [removed] in one subreddit only, that's a moderator or AutoModerator removal, not a site-wide shadowban. ### 3. Post in r/ShadowBan At the time of writing, r/ShadowBan is a community-run test subreddit where a bot replies to say whether your account appears visible. It's useful as a second opinion, but it's run by volunteers, so treat it as a test rather than an official answer. ### 4. Check your inbox and email Look in your Reddit inbox and the email linked to your account for messages about subreddit bans or suspensions. Only trust links that go to reddit.com. ### A word on third-party Reddit shadowban checkers Sites that check your Reddit status can only do what the logged-out profile test does: look at what's publicly visible. That's useful, but it isn't inside information. Never give a checker site your Reddit password. ## Why new accounts and links trigger Reddit's spam filters Reddit's spam systems and most subreddit AutoModerator rules look at patterns that bots share. These raise the odds that your content gets filtered: - **A brand-new account with little or no karma**, posting right away - **Mostly links**, especially to the same website again and again - **Self-promotion** that outweighs genuine participation in the communities you post to - **Copy-pasted comments** or the same post across many subreddits at once - **Posting or commenting very fast**, which also triggers rate limits - **Vote manipulation**, such as asking others to upvote or using several accounts to vote - **Several accounts used together** in a way that looks coordinated The fix is mostly patience: comment genuinely in a few communities, read each subreddit's rules before posting links, and spread posts out. ## How to appeal a Reddit shadowban or suspension If you think a site-wide shadowban or suspension is a mistake, use Reddit's official appeal form, which is linked from Reddit's help center and from suspension notices. You'll be asked for your username and a short explanation. Keep the appeal brief and factual: say what you use the account for, acknowledge anything that might have looked like spam, and say what you'll do differently. Submit once; repeated appeals don't speed things up. Reddit doesn't publish a fixed timeline, and not every appeal succeeds. Don't respond to people offering to "unban" your account for money. Only Reddit's admins can lift a site-wide action, and the appeal is free. ## How to get unbanned from a subreddit Reddit's admins don't overturn ordinary subreddit bans; each community's moderators decide. To ask for a ban to be lifted: 1. **Read the subreddit's rules** and work out which one you likely broke. 2. **Message the moderators through modmail**, using "Message the mods" on the subreddit's sidebar or About page, not a direct message to one mod. 3. **Be polite and brief.** Say which post or comment it was about, acknowledge the rule, and ask whether they'd consider lifting the ban. 4. **Accept the answer.** Some communities have a strict no-appeal policy, and arguing can get you muted from modmail. Don't create a new account to get around a ban. Ban evasion breaks Reddit's rules and can lead to all of your accounts being suspended site-wide. If you believe moderators are breaking Reddit's own rules, rather than simply enforcing theirs, Reddit has a way to report that; our guide on [how to report a subreddit](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/how-to-report-a-subreddit) explains the options. ## How to avoid getting shadowbanned again - Build some history before posting links: comment helpfully in communities you care about. - Keep self-promotion a small part of what you post. - Post one thing at a time rather than the same post to many subreddits. - Use one account, or keep any second account clearly separate. - Re-run the logged-out profile test now and then, especially after a burst of activity. For how other platforms handle the same problem, see our guides to [Facebook shadowbans](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/facebook-shadowban) and [common social media myths about shadowbans](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog/social-media-shadowban-myths). ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I know if I'm shadowbanned on Reddit? Open your profile in a private window while logged out. If Reddit says the user can't be found but the account works when you're logged in, you're very likely shadowbanned site-wide. If only some posts in one subreddit are missing, it's a subreddit removal. ### Can a subreddit shadowban you? Not site-wide, but a subreddit's AutoModerator can be set to remove everything you post there without telling you, which looks the same within that community. Message the moderators if you think that's happening. ### How long does a Reddit shadowban last? There's no published length. Some are lifted after an appeal; others stay in place until Reddit reviews the account. Suspensions state their length when they're temporary. ### How do I get unbanned from Reddit? For a site-wide shadowban or suspension, use Reddit's appeal form. For a ban from one subreddit, send the moderators a polite modmail message. Don't use another account to get around either kind. ### Does a Reddit shadowban checker need my password? No. A real check only looks at what's public, such as your logged-out profile. Any site that asks for your password is not one to trust. ### Can I schedule Reddit posts with Schedule For You? No. Schedule For You doesn't support Reddit. It covers X, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest and Google Business Profile. ## Related - [All guides](https://scheduleforyou.com/blog) - [Pricing](https://scheduleforyou.com/pricing)