How to Check and Avoid Reddit Shadowban (2025 Guide)

If you’re posting on Reddit and not getting any responses, upvotes, or even views, you might be shadowbanned.

Reddit shadowban is a hidden penalty that makes your posts invisible to other users, without any warning or notification.

Use our free Reddit Shadowban Checker Tool (below) to instantly check if your Reddit account is shadowbanned:

Free Reddit Shadowban Checker

What is a Reddit Shadowban?

A shadowban on Reddit conceals your posts and comments from other users throughout the platform. You can still post and comment, but no one else will be able to see them.

The tricky part is that Reddit does not notify you. You’ll only notice it if:

• Your posts get no upvotes or replies
• You don’t see your own posts when logged out
• Other users tell you they can’t see your content

There are two common types of shadowbans:

• Account-wide shadowban: All your posts and comments are hidden
• Subreddit shadowban: You’re shadowbanned from a specific subreddit, but can still post elsewhere

How to Check if You’re Shadowbanned on Reddit

Since Reddit doesn’t notify you, the only way to check for a shadowban is to test it yourself.

Here are three ways:

1. Use a Reddit Shadowban Checker: This is the easiest option. Just enter your username in our free tool above. It checks whether your posts are visible to logged-out users.
2. Check your profile while logged out: Log out of Reddit or open a private browser tab. Visit your profile at reddit.com/user/yourusername.
   If you see “page not found” or “this account has been suspended”, you might be shadowbanned.
   This is an example of a shadowbanned user: https://www.reddit.com/user/12345/
3. Ask another Reddit user to view your profile: Have a trusted user check your posts. If they can’t see them, that’s a sign of shadowban.

Common Reasons You Get Shadowbanned on Reddit

Reddit employs automated filters alongside human moderators to combat spam and abuse. Many accounts are shadowbanned because the system categorizes them as suspicious, even if the users did not intend to violate any rules.

Here are the most common reasons people get shadowbanned:

1. Posting too many links too quickly

If most of your posts are links, or you post many links in a short time, Reddit will see your account as a spammer.

Example: A user posts 10 links to their website across different subreddits in 1 day.

2. Using bots or automation

Accounts that use tools to auto-post, mass message, or automatically upvote/downvote are likely to get flagged quickly. Reddit’s spam filter is good at detecting these patterns.

3. Reposting the same content repeatedly

Copying and pasting the same post across multiple subreddits is seen as spam, even if you slightly change the wording.

4. Low karma or new accounts posting aggressively
If you just created your account and immediately start posting lots of links or new threads, you can get shadowbanned.

A 1-day-old account makes 15 posts in 1 hour? It should be a spammer.

5. Posting in too many subreddits at once

If you post across many subreddits in a short time, especially if they are unrelated, you look like a spammer to the filter.

Posting a blog article about “best running shoes” in /r/running, /r/fitness, /r/BuyItForLife, /r/AskMen, /r/AskWomen, /r/Outdoors, /r/Shoes all on the same day? No!

6. Linking to banned or flagged domains

Some domains are blacklisted on Reddit. If you post links to those sites, your account can get shadowbanned. Example: Posting an affiliate link or a site known for scams.

7. Selling services or products without approval

If you promote services or products without following subreddit rules or Reddit’s site-wide rules, you can trigger a ban.
Example: Posting in /r/cryptocurrency and trying to get free signups for your Binance refferal links..

8. Repeated bans from subreddits

If you get banned from many subreddits, Reddit’s system may start flagging your account for wider bans.
Example: An account banned from 10 subreddits for promotion might later get shadowbanned site-wide.

9. Breaking site-wide rules
Reddit enforces strict rules against harassment, hate speech, threats, and illegal content. Violating these rules can result in an instant shadowban.

What to Do if You Are Shadowbanned on Reddit

If you check and discover your account is shadowbanned, here’s what you can do:

1. Stop posting

First, stop posting or commenting from that account. Continued activity on a shadowbanned account won’t help, and may get the account fully suspended.

2. Identify the cause
Think about what might have triggered the ban:

• Too many links?
• Spammy behavior?
• Posting in too many subs?
• Using bots or automation?
• Breaking subreddit rules?

3. Contact the admins (if sitewide banned)

You can message the Reddit admins at reddit.com/r/reddit.com using the “message the admins” link.
Be polite. If you think it was a mistake, explain your activity and ask for review.

Otherwise, you can file an appeal here: https://www.reddit.com/appeal

4. Contact subreddit moderators (if subreddit banned)

If you’re shadowbanned in just one subreddit, message the mods of that subreddit and ask if it was intentional.

5. Wait it out or start fresh

Some shadowbans expire after a few weeks if the system sees no further issues. If not, you may need to create a new account. But do not reuse the same patterns that got your old account banned.

6. Build your new account slowly

If starting fresh, act like a real user:

• Build karma first: Before posting links or new threads, build a base of karma (both post and comment karma). Accounts with zero or very low karma are seen as suspicious, especially if they post links. Leave helpful comments on popular posts in active subreddits, contribute to discussions, and upvote good content.
• Avoid rapid posting: Posting many new threads or comments in a short period can trigger spam filters, especially on a new account. Reddit watches for unnatural activity bursts. Pace your activity. Make a few posts or comments per day instead of flooding subs all at once.
• Engage in discussions: Accounts that only post but never comment look like spammers. Reddit values users who take part in conversations. Reply to other people’s comments, answer questions, ask follow-up questions, and contribute meaningfully in comment sections.
• Space out your activity: Posting in too many subreddits at the same time, or linking to the same site in multiple places, can make your account look automated. Focus on building presence in a few subreddits first, post at natural intervals, and don’t repeat the same links or messages everywhere.

Final Tips for Staying Safe on Reddit

Reddit’s filters are getting smarter every year. Many bans now happen automatically, without a mod ever reviewing your post.

To stay safe in 2025:

1. Act like a Redditor, not a marketer

Reddit’s algorithm and moderators can easily identify accounts that behave like marketers or spammers. If your entire posting history consists of self-promotion, you are at a high risk of receiving a shadowban.

How to do it: upvote posts that interest you, comment on topics you genuinely care about, join discussions, and occasionally post fun or useful content unrelated to your own links or business.

2. Rotate subreddits

Posting the same link or type of content across many subreddits on the same day can make your account look automated or spammy.

How to do it: space out your posting schedule. Focus on building trust in a few key subreddits where your content truly fits. Diversify your activity so it doesn’t look like you’re mass posting.

3. Keep your profile balanced

When moderators or Reddit’s filters assess your profile, they can easily view your posting history. If your profile consists solely of links to your own site or service, it raises a red flag.

How to do it: aim for a healthy ratio. For example, for every link post you make, have several quality comments or non-promotional posts. Show that you’re contributing to the community, not just marketing.

4. Monitor your account health

Even if you think you’re following the rules, Reddit’s automated filters sometimes make mistakes.

How to do it: Use our Shadowban Checker Tool regularly (especially after posting important content) to make sure your account and posts remain visible. If you notice a problem early, you can adjust your behavior before getting permanently shadowbanned.

Conclusion

Getting shadowbanned on Reddit can ruin your ability to reach an audience. Worse, many users don’t even realize it has happened until it’s too late.

That’s why it’s smart to:

• Check your account regularly with a shadowban checker
• Build karma and reputation first
• Follow Reddit’s site-wide and subreddit-specific rules
• Avoid spammy posting habits and automation tools

If you do get shadowbanned, stop posting, figure out the cause, and contact admins or mods if possible.
And if needed, start fresh and rebuild your account slowly.

By following these tips, you can keep your account healthy and keep driving results from Reddit.