“Whenever I make a new account, it gets banned automatically after two hours.” Switching browsers or clearing cache does not help. That is often a sign of a Reddit IP ban.
So what is Reddit actually banning: your account, your IP, your device, or your behavior pattern? This guide covers how to check the signs, why it happens, and what you can do next to fix or get around a Reddit IP ban.
A Reddit IP ban blocks or limits traffic from your internet address, not just one account. Every device on that Wi-Fi may lose access. Incognito mode or a different browser won't help. Reddit pages may refuse to load entirely.
But from the user's side, it can still feel sudden and confusing. Reddit may stop loading on one network, new accounts may get restricted quickly, and there may be no clear message saying what exactly was blocked.
Reddit does not rely on one simple check. It connects different signals to decide whether an account or network looks risky:
IP address tracking: Every request carries your network address. If a new account appears from an IP linked to abuse or a banned account, Reddit may flag it.
Device and browser signals: Your browser, operating system, cookies, app session, and device environment can help Reddit link activity across accounts.
Cookies and local storage: Even if you log out, leftover browser data can help Reddit connect new accounts back to previously banned ones.
Behavioral patterns: Posting frequency, voting habits, subreddits visited, repeated links, and similar writing style can make a new account look connected to an old one.
Account linkages: Shared recovery emails, phone numbers, or connected logins like Google and Apple may provide extra signals.
There's no official Reddit IP ban checker, but the pattern tells you a lot. If you're wondering, "Is this a shadowban or an IP ban?", here's how to tell the difference.
You see a message like "Your IP has been temporarily blocked."
Reddit won't load on your Wi-Fi, but works again on mobile data.
Every device on the same network faces the same restriction.
Incognito mode or a different browser doesn't help.
New accounts get restricted quickly on the same network.
To help you tell an IP ban apart from other restrictions, here's a quick comparison:
Ban Type | What Happens | How to Check |
IP Ban | Your network is blocked or limited by Reddit. | Reddit works on mobile data but not on Wi-Fi. |
Device or Browser-Linked Restriction | The same device or browser keeps getting flagged. | Reddit still acts strangely after changing networks, but works better on another device or a fresh browser profile. |
Permanent Account Ban | Your Reddit account is suspended or disabled from normal use. | You receive a ban notice or cannot use that account normally. |
Temporary Sitewide Ban | Your account is suspended for a set period. | You receive a suspension notice with a time frame. |
Shadowban | Your posts or comments appear to post, but other users cannot see them. | Log out or use another account to check whether your profile and posts are visible. |
Subreddit Ban | You cannot post or comment in one subreddit. | You receive a moderator notice, but you can still use Reddit elsewhere. |
Rate Limit | Reddit temporarily slows or blocks actions. | You see "You are doing that too much. Try again later." Waiting usually helps. |
Reddit does not always explain the reason clearly. From the user's side, it can feel like Reddit IP banned you for no reason. But in most cases, there is still a trigger: repeated actions, shared IP history, suspicious account links, automation, or activity that looks like ban evasion.
Posting similar content across multiple subreddits too quickly can look like bot behavior to Reddit's filters. Sharing the same link in five communities within a few minutes, repeating similar comments, or posting too often from a new account may trigger restrictions, even if your posts are genuine.
Reddit allows users to have more than one account, but switching between several accounts on the same IP can look risky when the accounts visit the same subreddits, post similar links, upvote each other, or repeat the same behavior. That is why a new account may get restricted quickly if it looks too much like the old one.
Bots, scrapers, and auto-posting tools can create traffic patterns that look unnatural. Too many requests, posts, comments, or account actions from the same browser, account, or IP range may make Reddit treat the session as automated.
"You're using a VPN that tens of thousands of other people are using too, including spammers." Free VPNs, public proxies, and overused IPs may already have a bad history. If someone else used the same IP for spam, fake accounts, scraping abuse, or ban evasion, you may inherit that reputation.
Dorms, offices, cafes, airports, libraries, and shared apartments can put many users behind the same public IP. You may not be the person who burned the IP. You may just be the next person using it, which is why Reddit can feel like it banned you "for no reason."
After you have confirmed your IP is banned, the direct fix is to change your IP address. Here is how.
Many ISPs assign dynamic IP addresses that change when your router reconnects. Unplug your router, wait a few minutes, and plug it back in. If your provider rotates your IP, you will get a fresh address and Reddit may load again. This does not work if your internet plan uses a static IP.
Your phone's cellular network uses a different IP address from your home Wi-Fi. Disconnect from Wi-Fi and use mobile data to access Reddit. You can also turn your phone into a personal hotspot for your laptop. This is the fastest short-term workaround when your home IP is blocked.
The best solution is to connect through a clean Reddit proxy instead of free VPNs or overused public proxy IPs. Residential proxies route traffic through real household networks, which makes the connection look closer to normal user browsing and helps you get around the IP restriction.
Types of IPcook proxies you can use for Reddit:
Rotating residential proxies: Best for public Reddit data research, regional checks, Reddit scraping tasks, and cases where you need fresh IPs. They are useful when you do not want every request tied to the same address.
Static ISP proxies: Better for stable logins, ongoing Reddit brand management, and multi-account management that needs a consistent IP identity. They are a better fit when you want one account to keep the same trusted connection.
👀 Need to bypass an IP ban on another platform? These guides can help:
How to Fix a Discord IP Ban? 5 Steps to Get Unbanned
If you create a new account without changing your browser environment and behavior, Reddit connects the dots and bans you again. Here is what to fix beyond your IP.
Reddit can use browser signals like your operating system, screen resolution, fonts, and WebGL data to build a unique device fingerprint. If your new account uses the same fingerprint as the banned one, a new IP alone will not help.
Use an antidetect browser, such as AdsPower or MoreLogin, to create separate profiles, each with its own cookies, cache, and device signature. Assign a dedicated IP to each profile so Reddit sees every session as coming from a separate environment.
New accounts are watched closely. Spend your first days browsing and upvoting before posting. Stay away from subreddits linked to your old account. Reddit compares new account behavior against previously banned patterns, so looking like a genuinely new user matters.
Use a fresh email address not linked to any banned accounts. Avoid connecting the same Google or Apple login, phone number, or recovery email. One shared detail is enough for Reddit to connect your new account to the old one.
A clean residential IP helps you leave the blocked network behind and keep new Reddit sessions from looking like the old one. If you are tired of the cycle of getting banned and starting over, try IPcook’s free 100 MB residential proxy trial and test whether a cleaner IP fixes your Reddit access.
