8 Easy Ways to Fix Reddit Chats Not Working
- Ensure you're not facing a common disruption by checking Reddit's server status for any reported outages and make sure your app is up to date, as newer versions often fix known bugs.
- To improve chat functionality, you can try adjusting your chat and messaging settings, switching to a different device, or clearing your browser's cache and cookies, which might resolve some of the technical issues causing chat malfunctions.
- If after attempting various fixes the problem still exists, consider reaching out to Reddit's support team for more personalized troubleshooting or explore alternative communication methods on Reddit, such as private messaging.
If you have been using Reddit since the days of Private Messaging or have recently joined the app, you likely know about the Chats feature that allows users to message others instantly. Despite several improvements, some users still encounter issues with their Reddit chats when joining groups or starting personal messages with others.
Here’s a quick look at some potential error messages and issues:
- Messages Failing to Send
- Can’t Send Messages
- Reddit Chats Loading or Not Working
- Chat Limits:
- Active Chats Opened
Now that you know the causes, let’s discuss the solutions.
1. Check Reddit Status
Most of the time, issues like “Reddit chats not working” arise from problems with the Reddit servers. You can monitor the “Reddit Status” X (Twitter) account or visit websites like Downdetector to check for server problems.
If there’s a spike in reported outages, your Reddit chat issues might be due to server problems. In this case, waiting for Reddit to resolve the issue is your best bet before checking your chats again.
2. Message Someone Else
Another way to troubleshoot your chats is by messaging someone else instead of repeatedly messaging the same person. It’s possible that the other user may have blocked your account. If you can’t send messages or see their profile, you’ll need the user to unblock you to resolve the issue.
If that’s not the case, the person you’re trying to contact might have been suspended from Reddit. You’ll retain your chat history with them but won’t be able to send new messages. To determine if the user is suspended, open their profile, and if you see “This account has been suspended“, they’re unreachable on Reddit.
3. Switch to a Different Device
Switching the device you use for Reddit might be a quick fix for non-functioning chats. Sometimes, bugs appear only on a single device and can be resolved by switching to another one.
If you are using Reddit on your computer or Mac, consider switching to the Reddit mobile app to see if it makes a difference.
4. Check Your Internet Connection
A stable and high-speed internet connection is essential for using any social media platform today. To resolve internet issues, you can try methods like switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data, restarting your internet router, and checking your internet speed to ensure you have a fast connection.
5. Change Chat and Messaging Settings
While chat and messaging settings primarily manage who can send you messages, tweaking these settings may resolve the problem.
- Open Reddit in your browser and click on your profile at the top right.
Click on your profile - From the drop-down menu, click on the User Settings option.
Select user settings - Next, navigate to the Chats & Messaging section.
Chats & Messaging tab - For the “Who can send you chat requests” and “Who can send you private messages” settings, select Everyone to allow any Reddit user to message you.
Select everyone
6. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies
If your Reddit chats are working in Microsoft Edge but not in Chrome, try clearing the cache and cookies on the latter. Although cache and cookies help with faster loading and store your browsing habits, they can sometimes cause unexpected issues.
- Open your Chrome browser and tap on the three horizontal lines at the top right corner.
Open up Chrome - From here, click on the Settings option.
Click on Settings - Once in settings, click on the Privacy and Security option from the sidebar.
Head over to Privacy and Security - Select the “clear browsing data” button.
Select clear browsing data - Finally, check the cookies and cached images options and hit the Clear data button.
Check cookies and cached data
7. Clear App Data
While browsers provide the option to clear all cache data, mobile phones let you clear specific app cache data.
- Go to your phone’s Settings and open the Apps tab.
Open up apps - Find Reddit in the list and tap on it.
Tap on the Reddit app - Next, tap on the Clear Cache option to delete cached data. If you use an iPhone, tap on the Offload App option to clear cached data.
Clear cache
8. Update or Reinstall the Reddit App
If you have a pending update for your Reddit app, it’s advisable to install it, as updates often fix previous bugs and errors. Uninstalling and then reinstalling the Reddit app can also help check if the issue is resolved.
9. Contact Reddit Support or Appeal Suspension
If none of the above steps work, you can contact Reddit support to help resolve the problem or submit an appeal. Be sure to provide detailed information about the issue you’re facing and the troubleshooting methods you’ve tried to expedite the process.
Submitting an appeal ensures that your account is functioning correctly. Sometimes, Reddit moderators and admins can “Shadowban” accounts for suspicious activity. Shadowbans often occur without prior warning and may be why your Reddit chats aren’t working.
If you believe your account has been unjustly shadow-banned, you can request Reddit to review your account for reinstatement.
