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Foued
14 MIN READ
Reddit has become the go-to platform for millions who want quick news updates, niche discussions, or endless entertainment. Its design makes scrolling feel effortless, as content continuously appears without the need for page clicks.
If you’ve ever found yourself suddenly staring at a frozen feed, you’re not alone. Many users encounter interruptions after browsing smoothly for a while, leaving them frustrated and wondering what went wrong.
Sometimes the screen shows blank space, sometimes the same posts loop back, and other times scrolling simply stops responding.
What makes this issue even more frustrating is its unpredictability. It doesn’t just affect one browser or one type of device, it shows up everywhere, from desktops to mobile apps.
For a platform built around endless discovery, that sudden halt feels especially jarring. Knowing why Reddit freezes after scrolling helps narrow down the cause. With the right steps, users can restore smooth browsing across desktop and mobile.
Reddit stops working after scrolling due to overloaded cache, buggy app updates, memory-heavy scripts, weak internet connections, or server delays. Clearing cache, updating the app, or switching networks usually restores smooth scrolling.
Reddit uses infinite scroll, which loads posts dynamically from servers as you reach the end of the feed. When cache becomes corrupted or overloaded, requests fail, leaving users stuck on a frozen screen.
Internet reliability also plays a role. If connections drop or stall, server requests are delayed and new posts do not appear. This problem is frequent on weak Wi-Fi or throttled mobile networks.
The app and browser environment add another challenge. Outdated versions or conflicting extensions break Reddit’s scripts. Updating software ensures compatibility with Reddit’s backend code and restores smooth performance.
Every time new posts load, Reddit stores temporary data in the browser or app cache. If this cache grows too large or becomes corrupted, the system can no longer process fresh content. Clearing cache resets the flow and restores infinite scrolling.
Extensions like ad blockers or privacy shields often interfere with Reddit’s scripts. When these scripts fail, posts do not load beyond a certain point. Disabling extensions one by one helps identify the culprit and restore functionality.
Reddit’s infinite scroll requires uninterrupted server requests. If Wi-Fi drops or mobile data is throttled, new posts fail to load, leaving a frozen feed. Switching to a stable network or restarting the connection usually solves this.
Older Reddit app versions often struggle with new server-side updates. Corrupted installation files can also cause freezes. Updating the app or reinstalling it ensures compatibility and stable scrolling performance.
Sometimes the issue is not on the user’s end but Reddit’s own servers. Traffic surges, outages, or scheduled maintenance can delay content delivery. Checking Reddit’s status page confirms whether the problem comes from server-side disruptions.
Because many of these issues also occur in browsers, the next topic looks at fixing Reddit scroll freezes there.
Browser freezes are fixed by clearing cache, disabling extensions, refreshing DNS, and using private mode. These steps restore infinite scroll by removing corrupted data and stopping script conflicts.
Browsers save temporary files and login data to speed up browsing. Over time, these files can grow too large or become corrupted, causing features like Reddit’s infinite scroll to stop working. To resolve this, you can follow these steps to clear cache and cookies.
Click the menu icon (☰) in the upper-right corner of Firefox. In the dropdown menu, click Settings. These settings control how your browser stores and removes temporary data.
On the left-hand sidebar, select Privacy & Security to access privacy-related options.
The red arrow highlights the “Privacy & Security” tab in the left navigation menu. Most browsers group this under security or privacy tools. It allows you to remove cached files, cookies, and other stored content.
Navigate to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data. Select the Clear Data button to remove stored cookies and cached content from your browser.
Many browsers let you choose which site’s data to delete. This ensures you stay signed in elsewhere while fixing Reddit.
The browser may ask for confirmation before deleting files. Once cleared, outdated or corrupted data is removed.
Fresh data will be loaded from the website instead of old files. If cache or cookie corruption was the issue, scrolling should now work.
Sometimes browser extensions interfere with how websites load content. Add-ons like ad blockers, privacy filters, or script managers can accidentally prevent Reddit from showing new posts. Disabling them helps identify whether one is causing the issue.
Open the menu, select Extensions, and then click Manage extensions.
Use the toggle to disable it (start with ad blockers, privacy or script blockers), then reload the page with Ctrl+R on Windows or Cmd+R on Mac.
If posts appear, the last extension you disabled is the cause.
Leave it disabled, or add reddit.com to Allowed/Exceptions in its settings, save, and reload Reddit.
Check for updates, uninstall if needed, and choose an alternative.
Check for updates. If issues remain, uninstall and choose an alternative.
Turn them back on one by one to confirm no conflicts, or use Incognito/new profile to isolate issues.
Private or incognito mode runs without using saved cookies, cache, or most extensions. If Reddit scrolls smoothly in private mode, the problem lies in your stored browsing data or extensions. This makes it a quick way to confirm whether clearing cookies or disabling add-ons will permanently solve the issue.
Sometimes freezes come from slow or unreliable network resolution rather than the browser itself, and switching your Domain Name System (DNS) can help.
Popular options are Google DNS (8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) and Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 / 1.0.0.1). On Windows, you can change DNS in the Control Panel under Network and Sharing Center by editing your connection properties and entering the new addresses.
On macOS, go to System Preferences > Network, select your active connection, open the DNS tab, and add the new servers.
For routers, log into the admin panel, open Network or Internet Settings, and replace the DNS values. A faster DNS improves loading speeds, reduces interruptions, and ensures Reddit’s infinite scroll works more reliably. A faster DNS means quicker Reddit requests and fewer interruptions when scrolling.
Reddit’s backend scripts are regularly updated, and outdated browsers may not interpret them correctly. Check your browser’s About or Help section for updates and install the latest version. Updating ensures compatibility, better security, and smoother performance when loading infinite scroll.
But freezes aren’t limited to browsers. Mobile users also face them, especially on Android devices, which we’ll look at next.
The Reddit Android app freezes when cache is corrupted, the app is outdated, or DNS filtering blocks requests. Clearing data, updating software, or switching DNS restores smooth scrolling.
If the Reddit app stops responding on your Android device, you can try a few quick steps to get it working again. Follow the instructions below to fix the issue.
Reinstalling Reddit removes corrupted app files and restores a fresh version.
Closing unused apps frees RAM, giving Reddit more memory for infinite scroll. This is key on low-end devices.
Since iOS works differently than Android, the fixes for Reddit freezes on iPhones and iPads deserve their own explanation.
On iOS, Reddit freezes from cached data, blocked scripts, or strict DNS. Resetting DNS in Wi-Fi settings, clearing Safari cache, or reinstalling the app usually resolves scrolling issues.
Steps to fix Reddit on iOS:
Testing in private browsing helps confirm cookie or cache issues. If Reddit works there, clearing saved data is the fix.
Because iOS enforces strict privacy, DNS settings and updates are essential to keeping Reddit stable.
Privacy rules make DNS and updates vital for stability. The same issues also appear on other devices, leading into why it crashes or freezes on mobile.
Reddit crashes on mobile due to corrupted cache, outdated app versions, low RAM, or strict DNS filtering. Clearing app data, reinstalling, or updating software prevents crashes and restores stable scrolling.
Mobile apps rely on local cache and device performance more than desktop browsers. As the Reddit feed loads large images, GIFs, and videos, memory consumption spikes. On devices with limited RAM, this overload forces the app to freeze or close.
Cache corruption also triggers crashes. Clearing app storage through Android or iOS settings resets Reddit’s local data and restores stability. Reinstalling the app ensures all files are fresh and compatible with Reddit’s current backend.
DNS restrictions from school, work, or ISP networks affect mobile use heavily. Changing DNS in system Wi-Fi settings or using a VPN allows Reddit to bypass blocked ports or throttled connections.
When Reddit repeatedly crashes on mobile, it often comes down to resource limits or DNS filtering. Fixing these helps restore smooth scrolling, but the overall performance of the device also plays a major role.
Low RAM, limited storage, and overheating devices cause Reddit scrolling failures. Infinite scroll consumes memory, and underperforming hardware cannot keep up with continuous content loading.
Each Reddit post loads text, images, or video. On low RAM devices, memory runs out, stopping new posts from appearing. Closing other apps frees memory for Reddit.
Storage space matters too. Full storage slows caching and causes freezes. Deleting unused files restores performance.
Overheating makes devices throttle performance. This reduces Reddit’s responsiveness until the device cools.
But when devices are performing normally, the slowdown can come from Reddit’s own servers. Another major factor is heavy ads and media, which we’ll explore next.
Heavy media files, autoplaying videos, and targeted ads increase memory use on Reddit, slowing infinite scroll and causing freezes. Disabling autoplay and using ad controls reduce load and improve performance.
Different types of Reddit content place varying levels of demand on memory. Text loads easily, images use moderate resources, GIFs consume much more, and videos are the heaviest, often pushing low-RAM devices to freeze.
Unlike text-only platforms, Reddit integrates GIFs, videos, and embedded media from external sites. Each asset increases memory demand. When combined with targeted ads and scripts, infinite scroll slows and eventually freezes.
Autoplaying videos are especially resource-heavy. Disabling autoplay in Reddit settings prevents large files from loading automatically, reducing both memory use and bandwidth consumption.
Targeted ads are another factor. While Reddit relies on them for revenue, ad scripts sometimes conflict with feed scripts, interrupting content flow. Using Reddit Premium removes ads, while browser ad managers help balance performance.
Reducing media load also saves data on mobile plans. Lowering video quality or disabling autoplay keeps scrolling smooth without losing key features. Once device performance is optimized, the remaining issues often come from Reddit’s own side, which we’ll look at next.
Sometimes scrolling freezes are caused by Reddit servers, not users. Traffic spikes, outages, or maintenance delay new content delivery, leaving feeds stuck until servers recover.
Reddit servers process billions of requests daily. High traffic slows response times and causes scroll freezes.
Planned maintenance also interrupts service. Reddit posts updates on status.reddit.com during outages. To confirm server issues, do the following.
If servers are down, waiting is the only fix until Reddit restores service.
Outside of servers, caching is another major factor, so let’s examine how cache impacts infinite scrolling.
Reddit relies on dynamic caching for infinite scroll. When cache becomes overloaded or corrupted, requests fail, and the scrolling process halts until cache is cleared.
Each scroll adds to cache. Over time, files may corrupt, preventing new posts from loading.
Clearing cache resets Reddit’s request chain. In browsers, use privacy settings. In apps, go to storage options.
Routine cache clearing prevents recurring freezes and ensures smoother browsing.
Yet caching isn’t the only network layer that matters. DNS and connectivity also play a central role.
DNS filters, ISP throttling, or blocked ports stop Reddit from loading content. Switching DNS providers, using a VPN, or testing another network restores normal scrolling.
DNS translates domain names into IP addresses. If it’s slow or restricted, Reddit requests fail. Fixes include the following.
Public and workplace networks often block Reddit. VPNs and DNS changes bypass those restrictions.
For users who want smoother browsing beyond fixes, there are tools and extensions that improve Reddit performance.
VPNs, DNS changers, script managers, and third-party Reddit clients reduce freezes by bypassing restrictions, optimizing content delivery, and streamlining the app.
These tools can make Reddit faster, more private, and more efficient. Their impact is easier to understand when compared with how other major platforms approach infinite scroll.
Compared to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, Reddit uses heavier dynamic scripts, which consume more memory. Other platforms load feeds in batches, making them less prone to freezes.
| Platform | Scroll style | Performance |
| Heavy scripts | More freezes | |
| Batch loading | Smoother | |
| Image preloading | Balanced | |
| Adaptive feed | Reliable |
Reddit demands more resources because of mixed content and dynamic scripts. Other platforms use lighter approaches to scrolling.
This shows why proactive steps are important, so now we’ll cover how to prevent future Reddit scrolling freezes.
Prevent Reddit freezes by updating the app, clearing cache regularly, keeping devices optimized, and monitoring Reddit’s status page. These proactive steps ensure smoother infinite scrolling over time.
To strengthen these efforts, adopt simple maintenance habits. They provide consistent performance and help prevent freezes from recurring.
These habits minimize risks and keep Reddit stable over time.
By combining prevention with fixes, users can resolve current freezes and avoid future ones.
Reddit freezes after scrolling due to cache overload, device limits, network problems, or server delays. Clearing cache, updating apps, adjusting DNS, or waiting for server recovery restores smooth browsing.
Infinite scroll is resource-heavy, but with fixes and preventive steps, Reddit stays smooth across browsers and apps. Managing cache, optimizing devices, and monitoring servers ensures users enjoy uninterrupted feeds.
About Foued
Foued is the CEO of Media Pantheon, Inc., a full-stack developer, web accessibility expert, and the technical lead behind 1,000+ website builds worldwide. Fluent in English, German, French, and Arabic, he and his team deliver fast, secure, and scalable digital experiences engineered for long-term growth.
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