Your Reddit account’s email address matters more than most people realize, since it’s the key to password resets, security alerts, and account recovery if something goes wrong.
If you signed up years ago with an email you no longer check, or you’re consolidating accounts under a single address, updating it takes just a couple of minutes.
This guide covers exactly how to change your email address on Reddit, on both mobile and desktop, and what to do if you no longer have access to your old one.
Why Your Reddit Email Address Matters
Reddit uses your email for a handful of important functions beyond just marketing messages.
It’s how you reset your password if you ever forget it.
It’s where Reddit sends security alerts if there’s unusual login activity on your account.
If you ever lose access to your account through a hack or a forgotten password, a current, working email is often the only way back in.
Keeping this updated is a small task that can save you a much bigger headache later.
How to Change Your Email Address on Reddit (Mobile App)
Step 1. Open the Reddit app and tap your profile icon in the top right corner.
Step 2. Tap the gear icon to open Settings.
Step 3. Tap Account settings.
Step 4. Tap Email address.
Step 5. Enter your new email address.
Step 6. Enter your current password to confirm the change.
Step 7. Tap Save.
Reddit will send a verification link to your new email address, which you’ll need to click to fully activate the change.
How to Change Your Email Address on Reddit (Desktop)
Step 1. Log into Reddit through a web browser.
Step 2. Click your username or avatar in the top right corner.
Step 3. Click Settings.
Step 4. Click the Account tab.
Step 5. Find the Email Address section and click Change.
Step 6. Enter your new email and your current password.
Step 7. Click Save Changes.
Just like on mobile, a verification email will be sent to your new address to confirm the update.
Verifying Your New Email Address
Changing the email field alone doesn’t finish the process. Reddit requires verification before the new address is fully active.
Step 1. Check the inbox of the new email address you just added.
Step 2. Look for a message from Reddit with a verification link.
Step 3. Click the link to confirm the address.
Until this step is complete, some Reddit features tied to email, like password resets, may still point to your old address, so don’t skip it.
If the email doesn’t arrive within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder before requesting it again.
Adding an Email If You Never Set One
Some older Reddit accounts were created without an email address attached at all, especially accounts made many years ago.
If that’s your situation, the process is nearly identical, just without an old address to replace.
Go to Settings → Account settings → Email address, and you’ll see an option to add an email rather than change an existing one. Follow the same steps: enter the address, confirm with your password, and verify through the link Reddit sends.
Adding an email retroactively is strongly recommended, since it’s your main fallback if you ever get locked out of your account.
Troubleshooting: Verification Email Not Arriving
If you’re not receiving the verification email after changing your address, try these steps.
Check your spam or promotions folder. Automated emails from Reddit sometimes land outside your main inbox.
Confirm you typed the email correctly. A small typo in the address means the email is going somewhere else entirely. Double-check the spelling before requesting another one.
Request a new verification email. Reddit’s settings page usually includes a Resend verification email option if the first one doesn’t show up.
Try a different email provider. In rare cases, certain email providers filter automated messages more aggressively than others.
Troubleshooting: You No Longer Have Access to Your Old Email
If you’re trying to update your email specifically because you lost access to your old one, and you’re currently still logged into Reddit, this is the easiest scenario. Simply follow the steps above while logged in, since you don’t need your old email to make the change, only your current Reddit password.
If you’re locked out of Reddit entirely and also don’t have your old email, account recovery becomes more difficult, since Reddit typically requires either your linked email or username and password to help you back in. In this case, look for Reddit’s account recovery or help center options to see whether alternative verification is possible for your situation.
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Final Thoughts
Updating your email address on Reddit takes only a few minutes, but the follow-up verification step is what actually activates the change, so don’t stop halfway through.
If you’re still logged into your account, changing your email is straightforward even without access to your old inbox.
Keeping a current, checked email attached to your Reddit account is one of the simplest ways to make sure you can always get back in if something goes wrong.
