← Back to all guidesReddit holds a detailed record of your activity going back to account creation: every post, every comment, everything you upvoted, everything you saved, and a history of subreddits that maps closely to your interests. The export process is straightforward, but there are important gaps — and some things Reddit stores that it does not hand over. This guide covers what you get, what you do not, and what the files look like once downloaded.
What Reddit knows about you
Reddit's data archive covers the content you created and the activity you logged while using the platform. Your upvote and save history in particular is a surprisingly precise map of your interests over time.
- Posts — every submission you have made across all subreddits, with title, content, subreddit, score, and timestamp
- Comments — your full comment history with content, subreddit, thread, score, and timestamp
- Upvotes and downvotes — every post you voted on (this is the most revealing section)
- Saved posts and comments — your saved content list
- Subreddit subscriptions — all subreddits you follow
- Chat messages — private direct messages sent through Reddit's chat system
- IP log and login history — recent login activity with timestamps
- Account information — username, email, karma breakdown, account creation date
- Preferences and settings — notification preferences, content settings, and UI preferences
- Moderation activity — if you moderate any subreddits
- Awarded posts and comments — where you gave or received Reddit awards
What is NOT in the Reddit export
Reddit's export has some notable gaps that are worth knowing before you rely on it as a complete archive.
- Deleted posts and comments — once deleted by you or a moderator, they are not in the export
- Posts and comments removed by AutoModerator or removed for rule violations — these may not appear
- Private message history (old-style inbox PMs) — these are separate from chat and may not be fully included
- The content of posts you upvoted — you get the post IDs, but not the full text of the posts themselves
- Your full browsing/viewing history — Reddit tracks what you read but does not include this in the export
- Images and videos you uploaded via Reddit hosting — media files are not included in the archive
How to request your Reddit data
- Open Reddit on desktop (reddit.com) and sign in.
- Click your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Select "User Settings" or "Settings".
- Navigate to the "Privacy & Security" section.
- Scroll down to "Request a copy of your data" and click "Request".
- Reddit will send a confirmation email immediately.
- The archive is usually ready within a few minutes to a few hours for smaller accounts.
- When ready, Reddit emails a download link.
- Download the ZIP file before the link expires.
What is inside the archive
The export is a ZIP file containing CSV files, one per data category. All files open cleanly in Excel or Google Sheets.
- posts.csv — all your submitted posts with title, subreddit, content, score, timestamp, and whether it was removed
- comments.csv — every comment with full text, subreddit, thread title, score, permalink, and timestamp
- upvoted_posts.csv — the posts you upvoted, with post IDs and subreddits
- downvoted_posts.csv — the posts you downvoted
- saved_posts.csv — your saved posts list
- saved_comments.csv — your saved comments list
- subreddits.csv — the subreddits you subscribe to or have joined
- messages.csv — private messages and chat history
- ip_logs.csv — login IP addresses and timestamps
- account.csv — your profile details, karma totals, and account settings
- moderation.csv (if applicable) — your moderation activity
- awardings_received.csv and awardings_given.csv — Reddit award history
The upvotes file — what it reveals
upvoted_posts.csv is the most revealing file in the export, and the one most people do not think about until they see it.
Every post you have upvoted over your account's history is recorded here. The combination of subreddit names and post titles creates a precise map of your interests, hobbies, political views, health concerns, and personal life — often going back years.
- Each row contains the post ID and the subreddit it came from
- The subreddit list alone reveals communities you never expected to have on record
- Upvotes are not visible to other users, but they are stored and exported in your archive
- This data is not deleted when you delete posts or comments — upvotes persist on your account
- Reddit does not offer a way to bulk-delete your upvote history through the official interface
How to read the files
- Open any CSV in Excel or Google Sheets via File > Import or by double-clicking
- posts.csv and comments.csv are the most useful to browse — sort by date to see your oldest or most recent activity
- Use a COUNTIF on the subreddit column to see which subreddits you have been most active in
- messages.csv can be read directly in a spreadsheet
- ip_logs.csv is worth checking for any unfamiliar locations or timestamps — this can indicate unauthorised account access
Third-party tools for deeper analysis
Reddit's own export is functional but limited. A few third-party tools offer more depth, particularly for users who want to review or delete their history.
- Redditmetis (redditmetis.com) — analyses public profile activity and gives stats on posting patterns and most active subreddits
- Arctic Shift archive — useful for finding deleted posts and comments that are no longer in the official export
- PowerDeleteSuite — browser-based tool for bulk-deleting your posts and comments before account closure; overwrites content then deletes to help prevent archiving
- Note: third-party tools that use Reddit's API are subject to rate limits and policy changes since Reddit restricted API access in 2023
Before you delete your Reddit account
If you are closing your Reddit account, there are important steps to take before deletion. Simply deleting the account does not remove your posts and comments — they remain visible under a deleted username.
- Request and download your data export first — wait for the archive and verify it is complete.
- Use PowerDeleteSuite to overwrite and delete your posts and comments before closing the account.
- PowerDeleteSuite first overwrites post and comment content with placeholder text, then deletes — this two-step process reduces the chance of the original content being cached.
- Delete or save any content from subreddits you moderated.
- Then proceed with account deletion via Settings > Account > Deactivate account.
Reddit API changes and what they mean for your data
In 2023 Reddit significantly restricted its API access, affecting many third-party tools. The official export remains available and unaffected.
- Pushshift — which many users relied on to retrieve deleted comments — has been largely shut down
- This makes the official export more important: it is increasingly the only reliable source for your own history
- Third-party apps like Apollo and Reddit is Fun no longer work — if you used them, their local caches may be the only copy of your history outside the official export
Where to store it
- posts.csv and comments.csv are the most valuable — keep these permanently
- upvoted_posts.csv may contain sensitive inferences — treat it like health or financial data
- Store in a folder named reddit-2026-04
- Off-site copy: ProtonDrive (go.getproton.me/SH2aK) for end-to-end encrypted storage
- pCloud (partner.pcloud.com/r/155235) is a good option for long-term archiving
- The files are small — even years of activity compresses to a few MB — so storage cost is not a concern
Quick version
If you want the short checklist instead of the full guide, use the service page.
FAQ
How long does Reddit's data export take?
Usually a few minutes to a few hours. Large accounts may take longer. Reddit emails you when the archive is ready.
Does the export include my deleted posts and comments?
No. Content deleted before the export is not included. Third-party archives may have cached versions, but coverage is inconsistent after Reddit's 2023 API changes.
Does Reddit include my full upvote history in the export?
Yes. upvoted_posts.csv contains every post you have upvoted, identified by post ID and subreddit.
What format are the files in?
All CSV. They open directly in Excel or Google Sheets.
Does exporting delete my Reddit data?
No. Exporting creates a copy. Data stays on Reddit's servers unless you separately delete it or close your account.
How do I delete all my Reddit posts and comments before closing my account?
Use a bulk delete tool like PowerDeleteSuite before closing. Simply deleting the account leaves your posts visible under a deleted username.
Does the export include private messages?
Chat messages are included. Old-style PM inbox messages may be partially included — check the messages.csv file in your archive.
What happened to Pushshift and third-party Reddit tools?
Reddit restricted API access in 2023, causing many third-party tools to shut down. The official export is unaffected.
Are my subreddit subscriptions included?
Yes. subreddits.csv lists all subreddits you subscribe to.
What is the most sensitive data in the Reddit export?
The upvote history. It contains a detailed record of your interests including communities that may be sensitive, political, health-related, or personal — and it is not visible to other users but is included in your export.