Why do my Reddit posts keep getting removed?
Almost always a silent AutoMod removal - your post looks live to you but vanishes for everyone else. The cause is nearly always one of six things: a karma gate, an account-age gate, a banned keyword, a link in a text-only sub, a blocked domain, or missing flair.
- 01Quick answer (TL;DR)
- 02Symptom - Cause - Fix table
- 03Silent AutoMod removals explained
- 04Check removal risk before posting
- 05Karma and account-age gates
- 06Banned phrases that trigger AutoMod
- 07Removed vs. shadowbanned?
- 08How to tell if AutoMod removed your post
- 098 common mistakes
- 10Pre-post checklist
- 11FAQ
Why do Reddit posts get removed - the short answer
The overwhelming majority of silent Reddit post removals are caused by AutoModerator - a bot each subreddit's mod team configures independently. The six most common triggers are: (1) your account karma is below the sub's minimum threshold (often 50 to 2,000 combined), (2) your account is younger than the sub's age gate (7 to 90 days), (3) your post title or body contains a banned phrase like "DM me," "discount code," or "check my profile," (4) you included a link in a sub that only allows text posts, (5) your domain is on the sub's blocklist, or (6) you skipped required post flair. None of these trigger a notification to you - the post just disappears. The fix for each is different, and the diagnosis table below maps every symptom to a cause and a fix.
Symptom, cause, and fix for every removal type
Find what matches your experience, then follow the fix column. If you see your post vanishing within seconds, start at row one.
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Post vanishes within seconds of submitting | AutoMod karma or account-age gate | Build comment karma to the sub's threshold (often 50-500+). Check sidebar rules for the exact number. |
| Post visible to you when logged in, invisible to others | Silent AutoMod removal (most common) OR spam filter | Open an incognito window and search for your post. If it is gone, AutoMod removed it. Message the moderators politely. |
| Post shows for a few minutes then disappears | Human mod review triggered by AutoMod flag | A mod reviewed and removed it. Re-read the subreddit rules. Your content or format likely violated a specific rule. |
| "Your post has been removed" notification received | Rule violation caught by human mod | The removal reason is usually in the notification. Appeal via modmail if you genuinely believe it was an error. |
| Post removed in a sub that normally allows your topic | Missing required flair, link in a text-only sub, or banned keyword in title | Add the required flair, remove the URL from the post body, or rephrase the title without the flagged phrase. |
| Post removed only from certain subreddits | Your domain is on that sub's blocklist OR account karma is below the per-sub threshold | Message the sub's mod team to ask if your domain is blocked. If karma, build it via comments over 2-4 weeks. |
| Every post removed across all subreddits | Account shadowban or global spam flag | Check your shadowban status at reddit.com/user/[username] while logged out. If page shows "page not found," you are shadowbanned. |
| Post removed with no mod message and no AutoMod reply | Sub has quiet AutoMod set to remove-without-comment | Most subs do this deliberately. Contact the mod team via modmail asking why. Frame it as a genuine question, not a complaint. |
If you cannot find your symptom in the table above, the most productive next step is to message the subreddit's moderators via modmail. Ask specifically: "Can you tell me what rule my post violated?" Most mods reply within 24 hours and can point you to the exact AutoMod trigger.
How silent AutoMod removal works
When you submit a post to a subreddit, it does not go directly to the public feed. It passes through AutoModerator first. AutoMod is a rule engine that each subreddit's mod team configures via a YAML-style config file. If your post matches any of the configured removal rules, AutoMod sets the post's status to "removed" before it ever appears publicly.
The key detail: Reddit's default setting for AutoMod removals is "remove without notifying the poster." This is intentional. Mod teams found that notifying users led to arguments, ban-evasion attempts, and brigading. So the post sits in your own profile view looking perfectly fine. You see it at the top of your submission history. But open the same URL in an incognito window - or log out - and it is simply not there.
This is also why posts sometimes appear for 2-5 minutes before disappearing. AutoMod can be configured with a delay: "remove after 10 minutes if score is below 1." The post goes live, gets no upvotes, and gets cleaned up automatically. Some large subreddits use this to allow a brief window of visibility while filtering low-effort posts before they pollute the new feed.
What "removed" looks like from the poster's side
Your post appears normally when you view your own profile. The URL works for you. Comments you leave on the post are visible to you. But every other logged-out user or logged-in user who is not a mod sees nothing at that URL. This is Reddit's standard removal behavior, not a bug. The post is in a "removed" state only mods can see in the mod queue.
What AutoMod actually checks
AutoMod evaluates every post against rules defined by the subreddit's mod team. Common checks include: account karma (combined, post, comment, or sub-specific), account age in days, keywords in the title or body, the post type (link vs. text), whether the domain is on a blocklist, whether flair was selected, and whether the post frequency from that account exceeds a per-sub limit. Any single match can trigger removal - and the rules are cumulative. A post that passes the karma check can still be removed for a keyword match.
Know a subreddit's removal rules before you hit post
SubredditAnalyzer flags removal rates, link policy, account-age and karma gates per subreddit, so your post clears AutoMod the first time.
Avoid the removalKarma thresholds and account-age requirements by community tier
These are the real ranges you will encounter. "Strict" does not mean large - some 50,000-member subs have tighter gates than 2-million-member subs. Check every sub individually before posting.
Open communities
AutoMod gates are low or absent. Human mods review flagged posts after the fact.
Mid-tier (conditional promo)
Self-promotion allowed in weekly threads or with explicit value. AutoMod gates active on new posts.
Quality technical communities
Near-zero tolerance for promotional posts. Gates are strict AND human mods review everything that passes AutoMod.
Finance and health communities
Flair is mandatory. Promotional domains are blocklisted. Moderation is active and consistent.
Large general communities
Post type rules are strict (questions only in AskReddit, for example). Off-format posts removed instantly.
Does karma in one sub count for another sub?
It depends on how the subreddit's AutoMod is configured. Most gates check your total combined karma sitewide. But some subreddits - particularly technical ones - check your karma within that specific sub. Accumulating 2,000 karma in gaming subs does nothing for your standing in r/webdev. The safest approach: spend 2-4 weeks commenting substantively in your target sub before attempting a post. See the companion guide on how much karma you need to post on Reddit for per-subreddit breakdowns.
Phrases that get your post auto-removed (with alternatives)
AutoMod keyword lists are set per subreddit, but these eight phrases appear on the default removal list that many moderators copy when setting up a new sub. Even one of these in your title or post body can silently kill the post.
Soliciting private contact is a near-universal AutoMod flag. It signals a spam or scam account. Even legitimate offers are removed automatically in over 60% of quality subreddits.
Affiliate and referral language is blocked sitewide by default in most niche subs. The phrase pattern triggers removal before a human ever reads the post.
Classic Instagram-speak that AutoMod in most subs flags instantly. Reddit is not a follower platform. Directing people off your post body is treated as a redirect scam.
"Free download," "free trial code," and "get it free" all match spam-pattern lists in subs like r/software, r/deals, and tech communities. Use "no cost" or "open access" instead.
Urgency language is hard-coded as a spam indicator in most AutoMod configurations. It reads like ad copy, which triggers removal in communities that ban self-promotion.
Direct commerce language is blocked in virtually every non-commerce subreddit. Even r/Entrepreneur removes blatant CTA posts. Reserve these phrases for Reddit Ads.
The phrase is specifically flagged in AutoMod libraries because it is a classic sockpuppet tactic. If you link your own content, say "I wrote this" instead.
Vote manipulation and sharing solicitation violates Reddit's sitewide rules and most subreddit rules simultaneously. AutoMod catches the pattern before a human sees the post.
Safe alternatives to common trigger phrases
Is your post removed - or are you shadowbanned?
These are two very different problems with different fixes. Run through these checks in order to know which one applies to you.
Open the post URL in an incognito window (or log out)
If your post is visible in incognito, it is live - the issue is something else (maybe you are looking at the wrong sub or the post is in a different sort order). If the URL returns "page not found" or shows nothing, go to step 2.
Visit your profile while logged out
Go to reddit.com/user/[yourusername] in an incognito window. If your profile loads normally and shows your comment history, you are NOT shadowbanned. Your posts are being removed at the subreddit level (AutoMod or mod action). Skip to step 4.
If the page returns "page not found" or "this user does not exist," you are shadowbanned at the sitewide level. All your posts and comments are invisible to everyone. Go to step 3.
If you ARE shadowbanned
Submit an appeal at reddit.com/r/ShadowBan. Mods there run checks and can advise on the appeal process. Reddit Admin shadowbans are applied for spam-like behavior: posting the same URL to many subs, using VPNs flagged as spam sources, or having multiple accounts that triggered previous bans. You can also check the dedicated guide on how to check if you are shadowbanned on Reddit.
If your post is removed (not shadowbanned)
Check your inbox for a removal reason notification. If there is none, message the subreddit's mod team via modmail: "Hi, my post [title] was removed. Can you tell me what rule was violated so I can fix it?" Most mod teams respond within 24 hours. Meanwhile, review the sub's full sidebar rules and the diagnosis table above to identify the likely cause.
- Your profile is visible when logged out
- Other posts from your account are still up
- Only the specific post is gone
- Fix: appeal to sub mods or repost correctly
- Profile returns "page not found" when logged out
- ALL posts and comments are invisible to others
- You appear to post normally but nothing is visible
- Fix: appeal to Reddit Admin via r/ShadowBan
How to confirm AutoMod silently removed your post
There is no dashboard that tells you "AutoMod removed your post." You have to infer it from a short sequence of checks. Here is the fastest path from suspicion to confirmation.
- 1
Open the post URL in incognito
Copy your post's URL from your profile. Open a private/incognito browser window (one where you are not logged into Reddit). Paste the URL. If you see the post, it is live. If you see an error or empty page, proceed to the next step.
- 2
Check the subreddit's new feed
Go to the subreddit directly and sort by "New." Look for your post title. If your post does not appear in the new feed within 10 minutes of submitting but is still in your profile, AutoMod intercepted it before it entered the public queue.
- 3
Search for your post by title
Use Reddit's search: "site:reddit.com/r/[subreddit] [your post title]" in Google. A live post appears in Google results within 1-2 hours (Google crawls Reddit quickly). No results = the post was not indexed = it was removed before Google's crawler saw it.
- 4
Check your notification inbox
Visit reddit.com/message/inbox. Look for a message from the subreddit's AutoModerator or a mod. Most subs send no notification for AutoMod removals. If you DO see a removal notice, it will usually state the reason - follow that reason to the relevant section above.
- 5
Message the mod team
If all signs point to a silent removal, send a modmail: "Hi, I submitted a post [title] about [topic] a few hours ago but it does not appear in the new feed. Could you tell me if AutoMod removed it and why?" This is the most reliable way to get a definitive answer.
Modmail script that actually gets responses
"Hi mods, I submitted a post [title + URL] recently and it does not appear in the sub's new feed. I am not sure if AutoMod flagged something or if I missed a rule. Could you take a look and let me know what I can fix? I want to contribute correctly to the community. Thanks." Short, non-confrontational, and specific - mod teams respond to this format at a much higher rate than to complaints.
8 mistakes that get posts removed on Reddit
These cover the vast majority of removal cases. Most people who ask "why does Reddit keep removing my posts" are hitting at least two of these simultaneously.
Posting from a brand-new account. Reddit's automated systems apply aggressive spam detection to any account under 7 days old that posts content. Even legitimate posts from brand-new accounts are silently routed to a spam queue in most active subreddits.
Including a URL in a text-post-only subreddit. Roughly 40% of popular subreddits restrict link posts entirely or ban URLs in post bodies. AutoMod catches this and removes the post before any human sees it. Check the sub's rules for 'no links' or 'text posts only' before submitting.
Not selecting the required post flair. Many subreddits require a post flair before submission. If you skip it - or if the flair options did not load on your device - AutoMod removes the post within seconds. Always check if flair is required before posting.
Using a domain that is on the sub's blocklist. Subreddit moderators can add specific domains to an AutoMod blocklist. If your site, blog, or shared link uses a blocked domain, the post is auto-removed regardless of your account standing. Blocklists are not publicly visible - you can only find out by asking the mod team.
Copying and pasting the same post to multiple subreddits. Reddit's spam detection correlates identical post content across subs. Submitting the same text or URL to four or more subs within 24 hours flags your account sitewide and can lead to a shadowban within hours.
Writing a post title with a trigger phrase. AutoMod checks titles against a keyword list before the post even completes submission. Phrases like 'DM me,' 'limited time,' 'promo code,' and 'check my profile' are removed before any content analysis happens.
Having a low engagement rate in the first hour. Some subreddits - especially large ones with millions of members - run AutoMod rules that remove posts scoring below a minimum vote threshold in their first 60 minutes. Posts that die in the new feed without organic engagement get auto-cleaned from the sub.
Posting too frequently in the same subreddit. Most subreddits have post-frequency limits per user: some allow only one post per 24 hours, others limit to once per 7 days. Exceeding this triggers auto-removal. The limit is in the sidebar rules - usually listed as 'post frequency' or 'reposts.'
Most of these can be avoided before you submit. Tools like SubredditAnalyzer surface per-subreddit link policies, karma gates, and removal rate data so you know the rules before you risk a post. The companion guide on how to promote on Reddit covers the full warming and posting playbook.
Run this checklist before every Reddit post
If every item below checks out, your post has a strong chance of clearing AutoMod. One "no" is enough to get removed silently.
Stop guessing the rules. See them before you post.
SubredditAnalyzer shows removal rates, karma gates, link policies, and posting windows for any subreddit - so you know whether your post will clear AutoMod before you submit it.
Try SubredditAnalyzerReddit post removal FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about why posts get removed and what to do.
Why does Reddit remove my posts without telling me?+−
Reddit's AutoModerator is configured by each subreddit's mod team to remove posts silently - meaning no notification to the poster. This is a deliberate choice: mods find it reduces argument and ban-evasion attempts. The post looks live to you when logged in but is invisible to everyone else. To check, open an incognito browser and search for your username and post title.
How much karma do I need to post without getting removed?+−
It depends on the subreddit. Low-barrier communities like r/SideProject accept accounts with 50+ comment karma. Mid-tier communities like r/Entrepreneur typically require 200-500+. Technical communities like r/programming or r/webdev can require 1,000+ and may enforce a combined karma+account-age gate. Some subs require karma earned specifically within that sub, not just sitewide totals.
How old does my Reddit account need to be to post?+−
Most communities that enforce age gates require at least 7-30 days. Strict subreddits often require 30-90 days. The account age gate is usually combined with a karma gate - so both must be met simultaneously. A 60-day account with no karma still gets auto-removed in many quality subs.
What is the difference between a removed post and a shadowbanned post?+−
A removed post is visible only in your own profile when logged in; it appears normally to you but not to others. A shadowban is a sitewide status where your entire account's posts and comments are invisible to everyone except you - you appear to post normally but nothing reaches anyone. To check for shadowban, visit reddit.com/user/[yourusername] while logged out. 'Page not found' means you are shadowbanned.
Can I get my removed post reinstated?+−
Yes, via modmail. Open the subreddit, click 'Message the Moderators,' and politely explain why you believe the removal was in error. Include a link to the removed post. Do not be argumentative - mods receive hundreds of requests. If your post genuinely violated a rule, accept it and repost without the violation. Repeated appeals for clearly-rule-violating posts can result in a ban.
Why does my post get removed in some subreddits but not others?+−
Each subreddit has its own AutoMod configuration, karma thresholds, domain blocklists, and flair requirements. A post about a software tool might be fine in r/SideProject but auto-removed in r/webdev because the latter has stricter self-promotion rules. There is no universal Reddit policy that covers all subs equally - you have to check the sidebar rules of each individual community before posting.
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