Can You Still View Deleted Reddit Threads?
Reddit made major changes to its API in April 2023, introducing a pricing model for what was previously free. This decision led to widespread protests, with many subreddits temporarily shutting down. The API changes also forced several third-party tools used to view deleted Reddit content to cease operations.
While some tools stopped working, others continue to function, albeit with limitations. Many of these tools can only retrieve comments and posts deleted before June 2023. However, you can still access deleted Reddit content using the following methods.
1. Reveddit
Reveddit is a user-friendly tool for viewing deleted Reddit posts and comments. To use it, visit reveddit.com and enter a subreddit name, a username, or a post URL in the search field.
Key Features:
- Displays deleted threads and comments within a subreddit.
- Allows direct URL searches.
- Enables quick access by replacing “reddit” in a thread URL with “reveddit.”
- Fetches data from Pushshift, an extensive Reddit archive.
Limitations:
- Only displays comments removed by subreddit moderators.
- Cannot retrieve comments deleted by the original poster.
2. Resavr
Resavr focuses exclusively on retrieving deleted Reddit comments, but it does not restore deleted posts.
Key Features:
- Displays recently deleted Reddit comments.
- Provides a link back to the original Reddit thread for context.
- Features a simple, easy-to-navigate interface.
Limitations:
- Cannot search for specific threads or posts.
- Limited to displaying comments of a certain length.
3. The Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine, also known as the Internet Archive, stores snapshots of web pages, including Reddit threads.
How to Use:
- Visit web.archive.org.
- Enter the URL of the Reddit post.
- Browse available snapshots on the displayed calendar.
- Click on a snapshot date to view the saved version of the thread.
Limitations:
- Only works if the post was archived before deletion.
- Cannot retrieve comments deleted before the page was saved.
4. Unddit
Unddit is a powerful tool that restores both deleted comments and removed posts.
How to Use:
- Add the Unddit bookmarklet to your browser.
- While viewing a Reddit post, click the bookmark to reveal deleted content.
- Alternatively, replace “reddit.com” in the post URL with undelete.pullpush.io.
Key Features:
- Shows both moderator-removed and user-deleted comments.
- Provides an easy-to-use interface.
Limitations:
- May require browser setting adjustments (e.g., disabling strict tracking protection in Firefox and Edge).
5. PushPull
PushPull is a search-based tool designed to help users find deleted and existing Reddit posts.
Key Features:
- Allows searches by username, subreddit, and timeframe.
- Displays deleted and active posts in a convenient list format.
- Users can filter search results based on specific dates.
Limitations:
- Works best when the timeframe of the deleted post is known.
- May not retrieve every deleted post due to API restrictions.
Summary
If you’ve ever encountered a deleted Reddit post and wanted to know what was removed, these tools offer potential solutions:
- Reveddit: Best for viewing moderator-removed comments and posts.
- Resavr: Great for browsing recently deleted comments.
- Wayback Machine: Useful for archived Reddit posts.
- Unddit: A versatile tool for both moderator and user-deleted content.
- PushPull: Best for structured searches of deleted posts and comments.
Even though Reddit has made it harder to access deleted content, these tools continue to provide ways to retrieve missing posts and comments. Whether you’re curious about a removed discussion or need to recover lost information, these methods can help bring deleted Reddit content back to life.