Reddit “We Had a Server Error”: 5 Proven Ways to Fix It Fast
Why You’re Seeing the “We Had a Server Error” or Other Errors
There’s nothing more annoying than seeing the message “We had a server error” right when you’re deep into an interesting Reddit thread. But what does this message really mean?
In simple terms, it’s Reddit’s way of saying something went wrong between your device and their servers. The problem could be on Reddit’s side, like a big outage, or it could just be a small issue with your phone, computer, or internet connection. Let’s go over the most common reasons this error shows up.
1. Reddit’s Servers are Overloaded
Reddit has millions of people using it every day. When a big news story breaks, a post goes viral, or a popular AMA (Ask Me Anything) starts, the servers can get too crowded. Imagine hundreds of people all trying to squeeze through the same door at once—the system can’t handle it, and some users see an error.
Reddit also depends on other companies to help run its site. If one of those companies has a problem, Reddit can go down too. For example, in 2021, a cloud service called Fastly had a major failure that made Reddit and many other big websites crash.
2. Scheduled Server Maintenance or Upgrades
Just like your phone or computer needs updates, Reddit’s systems need regular check-ups and upgrades too. When this happens, parts of the site might go offline for a short time, which can cause the “server error” message to pop up. These outages don’t usually last long, but they can still happen when you least expect them.
3. Unexpected Platform Bugs
No software is perfect—even Reddit. Sometimes a new update or a change in the site’s code can accidentally create a bug. This bug can cause things to break and trigger the “server error” message. The good news? Reddit’s tech team usually spots these problems fast and works quickly to fix them.
4. Your Local Network Connection
Sometimes, the problem isn’t with Reddit at all—it’s on your end. An unstable Wi-Fi connection, issues with your local Internet Service Provider (ISP), or incorrect DNS settings can all prevent your device from maintaining a stable connection to Reddit’s servers. Furthermore, if you’re using a VPN to access Reddit and that VPN service is experiencing downtime or has an IP address that Reddit blocks, you’ll likely see an error message.
5. User Behavior Has Been Flagged
This is the hidden cause that most users overlook. Reddit uses sophisticated systems to detect and flag suspicious activity to combat spam and rule-breaking. These systems rely on your IP address and digital “fingerprint” to monitor behavior. Actions that can get you flagged include:
- Posting low-quality content repeatedly.
- Rapidly switching between multiple accounts from the same IP address.
- Using a timezone that doesn’t match your IP address location.
If your activity is flagged as bot-like or suspicious, Reddit may quietly limit your access. When that happens, you might see a generic error message instead of a clear explanation.
6. Rate Limit
This doesn’t happen often to regular users, but it’s common for people using bots or third-party tools. To protect the site, Reddit limits how many requests one IP address can make in a short time. If too many requests come in too quickly, Reddit will temporarily block you. When that happens, you might see a generic error message instead of the site loading normally.
How to Fix the “We Had a Server Error” Issue on Reddit
Start with the simplest solutions first. In most cases, one of these five proven methods will get you back to browsing in minutes.
1. Refresh the Page
It might sound too easy, but hitting refresh is often the best fix. A small network hiccup or loading glitch can trigger the error, and a quick refresh usually clears it right away.
- On desktop: Press the F5 key or click the refresh button next to the address bar.
- On the Reddit app: Pull down from the top of your feed to reload it.
This is the fastest way to fix the ‘we had a server error’ issue on Reddit.
2. Clear Your Browser Cache and Cookies
Over time, your browser stores data (cache and cookies) to load websites faster. However, this data can become outdated or corrupted, leading to conflicts with the live version of Reddit. Clearing it out gives you a fresh start. Many users have reported this simple step clears the ‘we had a server error’ message quickly.
Here’s how to do it on major browsers:
- Google Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. Select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” then click “Clear data”.
- Mozilla Firefox: Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data. Click “Clear Data,” check both boxes, and confirm.
- Microsoft Edge: Navigate to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data. Choose what to clear and click “Clear now.”
- Safari: Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy > Manage Website Data. Find Reddit, click “Remove,” and then “Done.”
3. Check Your VPN Connection
If you’re using a VPN to get on Reddit, the VPN could be the reason you see an error. Many free or low-quality VPNs recycle IP addresses that spammers have already abused. Once those IPs are in the blocklist, sites like Reddit may block them.
Try these fixes:
- Switch servers: Pick a different location in your VPN app.
- Turn off the VPN: Temporarily disable it and reload Reddit. If the error disappears, your VPN is likely the problem.
4. Try a Different Browser or Device
To see if the problem is with your setup, try opening Reddit in a different way. This helps you figure out what’s really causing the error.
- Switch browsers: For example, try Firefox instead of Chrome.
- Try another device: Log in on your phone or another computer.
- Use Incognito/Private mode: This starts a clean session without saved data or extensions.
If Reddit works fine in one of these options, the issue is probably with your original browser’s settings or an extension.
5. Check Reddit’s Official Status
If you’ve tried everything and Reddit still won’t load, the problem might be on Reddit’s side. In that case, no amount of troubleshooting will fix it.
- Check Reddit Status: Go to redditstatus.com to see real-time updates.
- If the page shows a “Major Outage” or “Partial Outage”, all you can do is wait until Reddit’s team fixes it.
But if the status page shows no issues—and the error keeps happening on all your devices and networks—it could mean something more complicated, like an account flag or an IP block.
Another way to check is by visiting Reddit itself. Go to subreddits like r/redditdown or r/help and see if other users are posting about the same problem. If lots of people are talking about it, then the issue is likely on Reddit’s end. In that case, there’s nothing you can do but wait until Reddit fixes it.
How GeeLark Cloud Phones Prevent Reddit Errors
If you only use one Reddit account, the fixes above will likely solve your problem. But if you’re a marketer, a business owner, or anyone managing multiple accounts, a simple error message might actually be a warning. Reddit’s systems can detect when several accounts are running from the same device or network, and they may quietly block your activity if it looks suspicious.
Many people try “anti-detect browsers” to avoid this. These tools create separate browser profiles with unique digital fingerprints, which work well for websites—but they were designed for desktops, not for apps like Reddit.
GeeLark gives each Reddit account its own cloud phone, complete with a unique digital identity. To Reddit, it looks like real users on separate devices, which makes account linking and sudden bans nearly impossible. With GeeLark, you can safely and efficiently manage all your Reddit accounts from a single computer.
GeeLark lets you:
- Create isolated cloud phone environments.
- Run the official Reddit app on a real Android OS.
- Change mobile device fingerprints (Android version, network, brand, model).
- Assign a different proxy to each cloud phone.
- Keep your Reddit accounts truly separate and secure.
Automate Your Reddit Strategy Like the Pros
GeeLark isn’t just about keeping your accounts safe—it also helps you work faster. One of the biggest time-savers is smart automation, especially when you’re trying to warm up new accounts.
Doing this by hand—browsing, upvoting, and commenting on hundreds of accounts—would take forever. That’s where GeeLark’s automation makes a difference.
In the Automation Marketplace, you’ll find ready-to-use templates that can handle these repetitive Reddit tasks for you, like posting content or warming up new accounts.
If the ready-made templates in the Marketplace don’t fit your exact needs, you can easily build your own custom workflow with a simple drag-and-drop interface—no coding required.
For teams like ProReddit, safety and efficiency have always been their top goals. In the world of farming Reddit accounts, they tried many different tools but never got great results. But when they started using GeeLark, everything changed. They were able to warm up hundreds of new accounts with a survival rate of about 95%, which helped them scale their business securely and efficiently.
Ready to get the same results? Start managing your Reddit accounts with GeeLark today. Don’t wait until your accounts get flagged—protect and grow them the smarter way with GeeLark.