Where to find your unsaved Reddit posts on your computer
Your Reddit drafts live in the compose window on the web version of Reddit. To see them, go to reddit.com in your browser, click the Create button in the top left, and select either Post or Comment depending on what you saved. Reddit stores drafts automatically as you type — you do not have to save them manually. Any post or comment you started but did not submit will appear in that compose window the next time you open it.
Drafts are stored locally in your browser, which means they stay on the computer where you wrote them. If you switch to a different browser or a different computer, your drafts will not appear there. Clearing your browser cache or cookies can also delete your drafts, so be careful when doing routine browser cleanup.
The draft system works the same way whether you are on the old Reddit design or the new one — the compose window is the entry point either way.
Key Takeaways
- Click Create at the top left of reddit.com, then choose Post or Comment to open the compose window where your drafts appear.
- Reddit saves drafts automatically as you type; you do not need to click a save button.
- Drafts are stored only on the browser and computer where you wrote them, not across devices.
- Clearing your browser cache or cookies will delete your drafts, so avoid that if you have unsaved work.
- You can edit, delete, or submit a draft from the compose window at any time.
How the Reddit compose window works
When you click Create and choose Post, a new window opens on the right side of your screen. This is where you type your title, select a subreddit, add text or a link, and format your post. As you type, Reddit saves what you have written to your browser's local storage. If you close the window without submitting, that text stays saved.
The next time you open the compose window for a post, you will see your previous draft text already there. You can pick up where you left off, edit it, or delete it and start fresh. The same process works for comments — start typing a reply, close the window, and your text will be there when you open the reply box again.
Reddit does not show you a separate "drafts folder" or list. Instead, each draft appears in the compose window itself. If you have multiple drafts, you will need to open the compose window, check what is there, and manage them one at a time.
Why your draft might not appear
If you open the compose window and do not see a draft you thought you saved, the most common reason is that you cleared your browser data. When you delete cookies, cached files, or browsing history, Reddit's local storage gets wiped along with it. This is permanent — Reddit does not back up drafts to your account on its servers.
Another reason is that you may be using a different browser than the one where you wrote the draft. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each store their own local data separately. A draft you started in Chrome will not appear if you switch to Firefox, even on the same computer.
If you switched computers or logged out and back in, your draft will also be gone. Reddit drafts are tied to your browser profile, not to your account credentials. Restarting your computer or closing and reopening your browser will not affect your drafts — they will still be there.
How to keep your draft safe while you work
If you are writing something long or important, copy the text to a text editor or document as backup. Open Notepad, Google Docs, or Word, paste your draft there, and save it. This way, even if something goes wrong with your browser, you still have your work.
Avoid clearing your browser cache while you have active drafts. If you need to clear cache for other reasons, do it after you have submitted or deleted the drafts you care about. Some browsers let you clear cache while keeping cookies — that option is safer for Reddit drafts, since cookies are what Reddit uses to store them.
Do not rely on Reddit drafts for anything you cannot afford to lose. The system is convenient for quick posts and comments, but it is not a permanent storage method.
Submitting or deleting a draft
Once your draft is open in the compose window, you can submit it by clicking the Post or Comment button at the bottom of the window. The button label changes depending on whether you are posting or commenting. After you submit, the draft is gone and your content appears on Reddit.
To delete a draft without submitting it, click the X or Cancel button in the compose window. Reddit will ask you to confirm that you want to discard your text. Once you confirm, the draft is deleted and cannot be recovered.
There is no way to recover a deleted draft, so double-check before you confirm the deletion if your post is something you spent time on.
Drafts on Reddit's mobile app versus the web
The Reddit mobile app has its own draft system that is separate from the web version. A draft you save in the mobile app will not appear on the web, and vice versa. If you use both the app and the web version, you will need to manage your drafts in each place separately.
The mobile app stores drafts the same way the web version does — locally on your device. If you uninstall the app or clear its data, your mobile drafts will be deleted. The web version and the app do not sync drafts between them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see my Reddit drafts on my phone if I wrote them on my computer?
No. Drafts are stored only on the device and browser where you wrote them. A draft you created on your PC in Chrome will not appear on your phone, even if you use the same Reddit account. You would need to copy the text and paste it into the mobile app or web version on your phone manually.
What happens to my drafts if I log out of Reddit?
Your drafts stay in your browser's local storage and will still be there when you log back in. Logging out does not delete them. However, if you clear your browser data or cookies, your drafts will be deleted along with it.
Can I schedule a Reddit post to publish later from a draft?
Reddit does not have a native scheduling feature for posts. You can save a draft and submit it whenever you want, but you cannot set it to post automatically at a future time. Some subreddits have bots that can schedule posts, but that requires special setup and is not a Reddit feature.
How long does Reddit keep my draft saved?
Reddit keeps drafts saved indefinitely as long as you do not clear your browser data or cookies. There is no time limit — a draft can sit in your compose window for weeks or months. However, browser updates or system changes can sometimes clear local storage unexpectedly.
Can I export or back up my Reddit drafts?
Reddit does not offer a built-in export feature for drafts. Your best option is to copy the text from the compose window and paste it into a document or text file on your computer. This gives you a backup that is not dependent on your browser.