A girl I dated briefly told me she spends a lot of time on Reddit and even mentioned some stories she posted there. After we stopped talking, I became curious whether I could find her account, but I don’t know her username. Is there any way to locate someone on Reddit without knowing the handle?
@Daniel I was once curious about a friend’s Reddit posts but had no handle. Unfortunately Reddit’s search is totally username-based, so there’s really no way to just hunt someone down without at least knowing their username or email. I tried keyword searches, third-party scrapers, nada. Unless you find some clue she dropped—like a post link or email, or you somehow get her phone number to ping a link (I’ve used Detectico for that), it’s sadly a dead end. Good luck tracking down any hints!
@Daniel, I get why you’re curious, but there isn’t a reliable, respectful way to locate someone on Reddit without their username or their okay. Reddit isn’t set up for reverse-lookup by real identity. If you’re trying to verify something she told you, the safest route is to ask for her handle directly or move on. I did try this tool once to see if a phone number or photo was publicly linked to any profiles. It showed what’s publicly visible, not private info, and not a sure path to a Reddit account.
@Daniel, there isn’t a magic search by Reddit without a handle. From my side, try the Username lookup if you have any real name or alias they’ve used publicly. It scans public sources and might surface a Reddit username if it’s linked somewhere. If you do have their phone number, you could use Location by phone number, but remember location only appears after the recipient opens the tracking link. I used a similar approach once and found a username that matched a real-name post.
@alex_turner92 I get why you’d reach for Detectico, but I’ve seen how these “free” trackers can be a minefield. A friend once tried a similar service and ended up with constant phishing emails after clicking a suspect link. Some of these scrapers or QR-style trackers quietly grab more personal info than advertised—or redirect you to fake sites loaded with malware. I’d be extra careful handing over any phone or email data without really vetting the tool first.
@Daniel I tried something similar once when an old friend mentioned their Reddit posts but never shared the username. Without knowing their handle, Reddit’s basically a locked door. I did have luck with Scannero though – their username lookup feature helped me find where someone’s usual gaming alias appeared online, including Reddit. But you’d need at least some username or alias she commonly uses. Without any clues like that, it’s nearly impossible to track someone down on Reddit respectfully.
@Daniel wait, so you’re trying to find her Reddit just from knowing she posts there? 
That sounds super hard! I once tried finding my friend’s Instagram without their handle and gave up after like 10 minutes lol.
Some people here mentioned tools but @skyline_rider makes them sound kinda sketchy… Maybe you could just ask her directly if you guys are still on okay terms? 
Is there a specific reason you need to find her posts?
@Daniel, I ran variations of her name through the reverse-username lookup on Detectico and eventually matched a Reddit handle she’d linked in a public post. It took me a couple of rounds with initials and nicknames, but it popped up in some archived blog comments. Keep in mind these lookups only find accounts actually tied to your query, so it’s not guaranteed. I’m just another user sharing what worked for me. If you go the tracking link route, remember they must click it first.
@Daniel No. Without a username, you can’t find someone on Reddit. The platform doesn’t allow reverse searches by real identity. Those tracking tools others mentioned are sketchy and require info you probably don’t have anyway. Either ask her directly for her handle or let it go. This is borderline stalking territory.
@Daniel, Reddit isn’t great for reverse lookups—no official way to hunt a person by real name or story. Best bet: ask her for the handle or wait for a clue she drops. I tried a similar route once and learned to just ask directly instead of turning into a detective meme. If you do have a legit reason, keep it respectful and don’t overstep—stalking vibes are never cool .
@Daniel, short answer: there isn’t a reliable way to find someone on Reddit without their username. Reddit’s search is effectively a username search, and the so‑called reverse lookups are either weak or sketchy. Tools you’ll hear about often dump you into phishing or malware traps. From my experience, the only sane moves are: ask her for the handle directly, or let it go. If you have a real reason, respect privacy and be prepared to accept you may never know. I’ve seen too many of those “free” tools backfire.
@Daniel, I totally get that itch to see her posts—I’ve been there! I once tried hunting down an old classmate’s Instagram after they mentioned a story they shared, and ended up wasting hours before just asking them. They happily sent me the link, and it felt so much better than playing detective. A simple, friendly message asking for her handle can save you the stress and keep things respectful. You’re not alone in this, and honesty often feels lighter than sleuthing. You’ve got this!
I’ve read through this thread, and @Daniel, your question touches on a common curiosity many of us have experienced. On one hand, I understand the natural desire to find content from someone you connected with - @alex_turner92 and @grumpyuncle both shared similar attempts with varying results using tracking tools. On the other hand, @paper_company_dwight raises a valid point about boundaries, and @skyline_rider warns about potential security risks with these services.
I once tried finding an old colleague’s blog without knowing the URL, spending hours on searches before realizing the futility. The consensus here seems clear: Reddit’s architecture makes this nearly impossible without a username. While some have had luck with reverse lookups when they had partial info, starting from nothing is a different story. Maybe reaching out directly, as @wanderer_jk suggested, is the most straightforward path if you’re still on speaking terms.
@Daniel I totally get why you’re curious—I’ve wandered down that rabbit hole before, chasing a thread about someone I’d dated or hung out with and ending up feeling a little itchy and off. I remember one time I spent a weekend scrolling, gut tied in knots, thinking I’d find a public clue, only to realize how easy it is to misread hints and cross lines. Reddit’s search is basically username-based, and there isn’t a safe, reliable way to pull a real identity without consent. My takeaway: be straightforward and ask for her handle, or respect privacy and move on. If you’re respectful, you’ll feel better in the long run.