How to Fix “We Have Encountered an Error” on Reddit

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Android

How to Fix “We Have Encountered an Error” on Reddit: A red bar may appear at the top of Reddit displaying the message “We have encountered an error. Please try again later.” This error usually occurs when accessing a subreddit or posting content and typically indicates a temporary server or communication issue. In some cases, it may be caused by cached or corrupted browser data interfering with Reddit’s scripts.

Other causes include server outages, maintenance, or network issues between your device and Reddit.

Troubleshooting Prerequisites

Before diving into advanced fixes, try these quick checks to rule out common causes of the Reddit error.

Check Reddit’s Server Status

First, verify whether Reddit is experiencing a widespread outage. Server-side issues can trigger the “We Have Encountered an Error” message for all users. You can check Reddit’s real-time status on platforms like Downdetector or Reddit’s official status page at redditstatus.com.

Refresh the Page

Temporary loading or script errors can cause Reddit to malfunction. Refreshing the page forces your browser to reload all resources, which often resolves minor glitches instantly.

Try Incognito Mode or a Different Browser

Browser extensions, cookies, or cached sessions may interfere with Reddit’s scripts. Open Reddit in Incognito/Private Mode or switch to another browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge to see if the issue persists.

If none of these steps resolve the problem, proceed to the more detailed fixes below.

References & Outbound Links

Google Chrome Incognito Mode Help: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95464

Reddit Status Page: https://www.redditstatus.com/

Downdetector Reddit Status: https://www.downdetector.com/status/reddit/

1. Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Outdated or corrupted cache and cookies can cause conflicts with Reddit’s scripts. Clearing them refreshes your browser’s data and often fixes the problem.

These steps apply to most Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Chrome, Brave):

Click the three dots in the top-right corner and open Settings.
Go to Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data.
Select Choose what to clear.
Set Time range to All time.
Check Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
Click Clear now.
Restart your browser and test Reddit again.

Note: On the Reddit mobile app, switch to the web version or reinstall the app, as corrupted cached data can cause the same issue.

2. Switch to the Old Reddit Layout

The new Reddit layout relies heavily on JavaScript, which can fail to load and trigger this error. The old layout is simpler and often works without issues.