Chat settings are not account deletion
Restricting chat requests changes who can start a new conversation with you. It does not delete your account, remove your posts, or hide your profile from search. Treat these as separate decisions with separate controls.
Reddit lets a person choose who may send chat requests, including Nobody or an allowlist of specific users. Source
One important exception: the restriction is not absolute.
Subreddit moderators and Reddit administrators can still send chat requests despite those restrictions. Source
Decision table
| Your goal | What to adjust | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Stop unsolicited chat requests | Chat request audience setting | Does not delete your profile or posts |
| Allow only certain people to message you | Allowlist of specific users, where offered | Does not block moderators or administrators |
| Leave Reddit entirely | Account deletion process | Is not the same as changing chat settings |
| Keep your profile out of public view | Profile and post visibility settings | Is not controlled by chat request settings |
| Find old accounts you own | Review your own known handles | Does not verify identity or reveal private data |
Use the table to separate three questions that are often confused: who can contact you, who can see you, and whether the account still exists.
Review existing conversations
Changing the request audience affects new requests, not conversations already open. Before you tighten settings, do a short self-review:
- List open chat threads and note anyone you do not recognise.
- Check whether any thread contains links, payment requests or pressure to move to another app.
- Decide which threads to leave or mute, and which to keep.
- Change the request audience only after you have reviewed what is already there.
This keeps the control change from being mistaken for a cleanup of old messages.
What this does not cover
Chat request restrictions do not hide your account, and they do not remove your public posts. If your concern is a forgotten public profile elsewhere, a username lookup can help you review your own known handles. It returns public matches as leads, not proof of ownership, and it does not access private posts. See our guide to finding forgotten online accounts and our methodology for how matches are presented.
TraceSeek checks 3,000+ platforms, and the first scan is free. A scan takes 20-30 seconds according to the product fact sheet. It does not change Reddit settings, see private information, or verify a person’s identity.
Key facts
- Reddit lets a person choose who may send chat requests, including Nobody or an allowlist of specific users.
- Subreddit moderators and Reddit administrators can still send chat requests despite those restrictions.
- Chat request settings are separate from account deletion and from public profile visibility.