Is Your Reddit Account Invisible?

What 'Shadowban' Really Means

Unlike a regular ban where you're notified and locked out of your account, a shadowban is invisible. To you, everything seems perfectly normal. You can still post, comment, and vote. The catch? Everything you do is sent into a void. Your content is automatically hidden from all of Reddit, visible only to yourself and the admins. It's Reddit's primary tool to combat spammers, bots, and rule-breakers without alerting them that their actions are being neutralized, preventing them from simply creating a new account.

The Telltale Signs: Are You Talking to Yourself?

Besides using our checker, there are a few classic symptoms that point to a shadowban. If you notice any of these, it's a strong indicator that you have a problem:

• No Engagement: Your new posts receive zero upvotes or downvotes, and your comments are never replied to.
• Profile Invisibility: Log out of your Reddit account or use a private browsing window, then try to view your own user profile (e.g., `reddit.com/user/yourname`). If you see a "profile not found" page, you're almost certainly shadowbanned.
• Invisible Comments: Get the direct link to one of your recent comments. Open this link in a private browsing window. If your comment doesn't appear in the thread (or shows as `[deleted]` or `[removed]`), you're invisible.

Top Triggers: How Regular Users Get Shadowbanned

It's not just malicious bots that get caught. Reddit's automated systems can sometimes flag normal users by mistake. To stay safe, avoid these common triggers:

• Spam-Like Behavior: Posting the same link or comment across many different subreddits in a short amount of time is a huge red flag.
• Using URL Shorteners: Reddit's spam filters often block comments and posts containing URL shorteners (like `bit.ly`). Always use the full, direct link.
• Vote Manipulation: Asking for upvotes, using multiple accounts to upvote your own content, or participating in voting rings is a serious violation.
• Suspicious Activity: Rapidly upvoting or downvoting a large number of items, or following a massive number of users quickly, can make you look like a bot.

What to Do If You're Shadowbanned

If our tool confirms your fears, the most important thing is not to panic. The only way forward is to appeal directly to the Reddit admins. Visit the official Reddit Appeals Page. When you write your appeal, be polite, honest, and concise. Acknowledge the potential mistake if you think you know what caused it, or explain why you believe the shadowban was an error. The admins are real people; a courteous message is far more effective than an angry one.