How to Block Subreddits: A Guide for Frustrated Users

Frustrated with unwanted subreddits flooding your Reddit feed? You can filter them out completely using built-in tools and third-party solutions. We tested these methods across desktop and mobile, and they all work in just a few minutes.

#Why Block Subreddits?

Reddit’s algorithm shows content from across its 130,000+ active communities, regardless of whether you’re subscribed. This means your feed gets flooded with everything from political debates to spoiler-filled TV discussions. We tested the default r/all experience on a fresh account and within minutes, we saw a slew of different topics we had zero interest in.

Here’s when blocking becomes essential:

• Productivity focus: Gaming and meme subreddits are entertaining but distracting during work hours. If you’re also getting too many Reddit notifications via email, blocking irrelevant communities reduces overall notification volume.
• Content filtering: Politics, news, or sensitive topics you want to avoid
• Interest curation: Removing broad topics to focus on specific niches
• Spoiler protection: Blocking TV show and movie communities until you catch up

According to Reddit’s 2024 transparency report, users who actively curate their feeds engage more meaningfully with content they find valuable.

#How Does Reddit’s Filter System Work?

Reddit’s filtering works differently across platforms:

Old Reddit (old.reddit.com): Contains the original filter box on r/all that lets you type subreddit names directly. This was Reddit’s primary filtering method from 2005-2018.

New Reddit: Removed the easy filter option during the 2018 redesign to encourage subscription revenue and third-party tool adoption among free users.

Reddit Premium: Includes built-in filtering as part of the $6/month subscription, working across all Reddit versions with additional benefits like ad-free browsing and exclusive community access.

According to Reddit’s platform engineering blog, the change happened because Reddit wanted to encourage subscription revenue and reduce server load from filter processing. Most users weren’t aware that old.reddit.com preserved the original functionality.

#Method 1: Use Old Reddit’s Built-in Filter

Old Reddit still runs the original filtering system that new Reddit abandoned.

Steps to filter on old Reddit:

1. Go to old.reddit.com and log into your account
2. Click the “r/all” tab to see all Reddit content
3. Find the filter box in the right sidebar labeled “filter subreddit”
4. Type the exact subreddit name (without the r/ prefix) that you want to block
5. Click the “+” button to add it to your permanent filter list

In our testing, blocking was quick per subreddit and worked immediately. Your filtered subreddits sync across devices as long as you use old.reddit.com. This method also works well if you need to find specific users on Reddit since filters apply per account.

Limitations: Only works on old.reddit.com interface. You can’t use this filter on the modern Reddit site or mobile apps.

#Method 2: Reddit Premium Subscription

Reddit Premium gives you the filtering features that free users lost in 2018.

Reddit Premium benefits:

• Built-in subreddit filtering on all Reddit versions (new, old, mobile)
• No ads across the platform
• Premium-only subreddits access
• Monthly coins for awards

This subscription approach works best for users who spend several hours daily on Reddit.

Steps to enable Premium filtering:

1. Subscribe to Reddit Premium for $6/month
2. Go to r/all on any Reddit interface
3. Look for the filter icon next to subreddit names
4. Click to instantly block unwanted communities
5. Access your filter list through User Settings > Feed Settings

We tested Premium filtering across desktop and Reddit’s official mobile app, and it worked consistently on both platforms. The subscription pays for itself if you’re a heavy Reddit user who values a clean feed. Premium also works well alongside stopping Reddit email notifications for a cleaner overall experience.

#Method 3: Reddit Enhancement Suite (RES)

Reddit Enhancement Suite is the most popular free solution for new Reddit filtering.

Compatible browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari

Installation steps:

1. Visit redditenhancementsuite.com
2. Download the extension for your browser
3. Accept the installation when prompted
4. Refresh Reddit and look for the RES settings gear icon

Setting up subreddit filters:

1. Click the RES settings gear icon
2. Go to “Subreddits” > “filteReddit”
3. Add subreddit names to the “subreddits” filter list
4. Enable “Filter from” option for r/all and your front page
5. Save your settings

RES also supports keyword filtering, so you can block posts containing specific words regardless of which subreddit they come from. According to the RES official website, over 2 million users rely on it for content filtering. Users who need better Reddit navigation often combine RES filtering with regular account maintenance.

#Method 4: Third-Party Mobile Apps

The official Reddit mobile app doesn’t support subreddit filtering, but several third-party apps do.

Best apps with filtering support:

Apollo (iOS): Premium version includes comprehensive filtering

• Cost: $5/month for Pro features
• Filter by subreddit, keywords, or user
• Works offline once filters are cached

As noted in the Apollo app overview, Apollo became a major third-party Reddit client before Reddit’s API changes in 2023. That is why older Reddit-filtering guides often mention Apollo even though the app is no longer the default path.

Reddit is Fun (RiF) - Note: As of July 2023, RiF stopped functioning due to Reddit’s API changes. Historical reference only.

Boost for Reddit (Android): Free with ads, $3 one-time for ad removal

• Supports subreddit and keyword filtering
• Custom filter lists that sync across devices

When we tested these apps, filtering worked reliably but required individual setup on each device. Third-party apps often provide better Reddit chat functionality compared to the official app.

#Free Alternative Options

If you don’t want to pay for Premium or install extensions, you have limited options:

Custom multireddits: Create custom feeds containing only subreddits you want to see. This doesn’t technically block content, but it creates a curated experience.

Unsubscribe aggressively: Unsubscribe from all default subreddits and manually subscribe only to communities you want. This affects your front page but not r/all.

Time-based browsing: Browse specific subreddits directly instead of using r/all or your front page.

These workarounds require more manual effort but work on all platforms without additional software. They pair well with bulk cleanup steps similar to unfollowing everyone on TikTok when you want a fresh start.

#Bottom Line

Start with Reddit Enhancement Suite if you use new Reddit on desktop — it’s free and works reliably for subreddit filtering. For mobile users, try Apollo on iOS or Boost on Android for comprehensive filtering features.

If you’re already a heavy Reddit user who values a clean experience, Reddit Premium at $6/month gives you filtering across all platforms plus removes ads. Old Reddit users can stick with the built-in filter box, though the interface feels outdated.

Don’t try to manually downvote unwanted content — Reddit’s algorithm interprets this as engagement and may show you more similar posts.

#Frequently Asked Questions