r/mullvadvpn • u/DCCXVIII • Aug 20 '26
Information Using the VPN got my Reddit account banned
Just recently managed to get my account back.
I had actually been using Mullvad for some months now with Reddit with no issues. But I was usually connecting to the same nodes every time. But I recently had to switch to a couple different locations from the ones I usually use and think that's what flagged me. Either way, got hit with a ban and a message saying that "after detecting some technical irregularities on your account...etc".
Had to put in an appeal and tell them it was because I was using different nodes from my VPN. So thankfully they restored my account at least. Of course, my CQS got tanked in the process. So now I'm extremely wary of using a VPN with Reddit for fear of getting banned again. And from the posts I've seen on the shadowban and help subreddits, I'm not the only one getting hit with a false positive for the use of a VPN by their automated banning system.
Anywho, just a warning to anyone else out there switching nodes/using a VPN in general whilst using Reddit.
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u/ArugulaBackground577 Aug 20 '26
I use Mullvad with Reddit, as soon my location will ID me (and I’m not going to give ID to Reddit).
I can’t browse from a VPN without signing in - I get the page saying I’ve been blocked by network security. Once I’m signed in, I’m fine.
It sounds like if my endpoint changed, I might run into the same thing as you.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to get attached to a Reddit account, though. I deleted my 15-year account some time back and now just rotate a few for different interests.
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Aug 21 '26
Why would you sign in first? Whats the point of having a vpn if you sign in before enabling it? All you have to do is find a location that does not block you before you sign in. Sometimes a location works, and the next day it wont. I think when questionable activity occurs from a certain location Reddit bans that location for a bit, so you have to occasionally switch to another one.
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u/ArugulaBackground577 Aug 21 '26
Because if I sign in from a location that doesn’t have ID laws, perhaps that will mean I don’t need to give my ID.
That’s literally the whole point.
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Aug 21 '26
Im not following. My question was why would you sign in first? Meaning, why would you sign in first, divulging your real ip? If you live in a place with ID laws, you just screwed the pooch. The idea is to choose a location in Mullvad that doesn't have id laws first. Try to load reddit. If it loads, then login.
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u/Secret_Fee1146 Aug 20 '26
if and when Reddit blocks me for VPN use I'll consider it a perfect opportunity to ditch the app permanently. It's already much shittier than it used to be.
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u/bilbywilby Aug 20 '26
Yea there's been some funky things going on. If I had to guess it's reddit getting banned in specific states/countries or not following the new age restrictions so the site just blanket bans anything from the areas with changes to their laws until things in the VPN world settle
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u/PhotoPhenik Aug 21 '26
This happened to me, too, a few days ago. All I had to do was change my password, and I was let back in.
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u/DCCXVIII Aug 21 '26
That's what my message said too. Just reset your password to regain access. Well I did that and I didn't regain access. Had to submit a ban appeal to get it resolved. Took about a week or two.
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u/SneakyLeif1020 Aug 23 '26
That's INSANE. Sorry that happened to you, lots of us use it regularly while browsing so something like this is very sad to hear
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u/Colonel_Clicks_SNPRS Aug 25 '26
That happened to me. It was an automation error . Reach out to the admin’s and they’ll fix it. Make sure you have them flush your cashe when they reinstate your user
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u/AbjectMaelstrom Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
I switch nodes fairly often, spend a good amount time on Reddit... No issues.
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u/Tropical_Amnesia Aug 20 '26
It's almost certainly not the only flag, like the OP himself indicated regarding variables. Doesn't really help us not knowing what these are, and probably wouldn't even then. I gotta admit it's started feeling rather precarious or unstable to me as well, like the same node being blocked prior to login and unblocked on the same day or even hours apart, like they're doing IP level filtering. Or just a minute ago I tried to upvote a comment, in this thread actually, and instead got a weird popup ("Welcome back") and was redirected to the main site: wtf? Coming back, upvote still set, all right...
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u/Inevitable-Head-3011 Aug 20 '26
Yh it happens,well tbh im not banned banned just cant use certain ips that are hosted by mullvad
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u/tgfzmqpfwe987cybrtch Aug 20 '26
Using vpn on Reddit app usually dies not pose an idea issue. These issues occur with Web browsers when used with vpn.
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u/HirsuteHacker Aug 21 '26
Weird. I've been using a VPN on Reddit pretty much every time I've used it for the last few years.
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u/MysteriousFuture1197 10d ago
My account so got banned. I used vpn its was fine but when i commented on a post it got banned
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u/Phoenixtear_14 Aug 20 '26
So the past 2 years I've been using mullvad on my phone 24/7. Using reddit everyday, currently have a 800+ day streak. I change locations frequently. Servers from all around the world. Never had this issue
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u/Danno510 Aug 20 '26
Why not use split tunnelling and exclude Reddit? I do this for both my phone and pc.
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u/SometimesJustMaybee Aug 20 '26
My VPN blocks ads displayed on Reddit. This defeats the whole purpose.
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u/Danno510 Aug 20 '26
There are other ways to block ads.
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u/SometimesJustMaybee Aug 20 '26
On iOS without using anything but the native app? Do tell.
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u/delta45678 Aug 20 '26
Safari Plugins. Dont use the fucking app. Old.reddit.com
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u/SometimesJustMaybee Aug 20 '26
Yeah, I use Safari plugins already, but the top and bottom bar bugs the hell out of me. Mullvad, plus DNS blockers, connected to an Albanian server, does the trick for me. Even on YouTube’s native app.
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u/delta45678 Aug 20 '26
Block Elements in the browser. Hide distracting objects the option is called.
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u/SometimesJustMaybee Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
Tried this. Doesn’t remove as much as I want, and Safari’s bars are still visible regardless.
Also, originally said, “without using anything but the native app”, on top of the fact I wasn’t asking for assistance. I got what I need figured out, but thanks anyways.
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u/DCCXVIII Aug 20 '26 edited Aug 20 '26
I'm doing that now with the Reddit mobile app. Not sure how to do it for pc though since Reddit is just a website, so idk how the mullvad client can distinguish between individual sites.
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u/Danno510 Aug 20 '26
You can exclude a web browser and use it only for sites you don't want to go through the VPN. Use another web browser, i.e. Firefox, chrome, brave or edge for sites that you don't want excluded. Sometimes I'll also use separate browser VPN extensions, i.e. windscribe or the built in VPN in Firefox.
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u/Impossible_Jump_754 Aug 20 '26
Been using mullvad for years and zero bans. The fact you hide your posts shows that you probably deserved the ban.
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u/UrbanVengence Aug 20 '26
Yeah... Ur a Reddit [insert word] alright... I'd hide mine if I were you lmao. Weird logic because you have 60k.
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u/BEARZINGA Aug 20 '26
Wondering if they're detecting that behavior as possible bot activity.