Are you still holding on to your Windows Phone? Well, it’s time for you to upgrade. However, for those of you with a device that’s just a few years old, here are some ways to make Reddit run faster than the speed of paint drying—without dropping a thousand bucks.
Old Reddit = Old Reliable
The classic Reddit interface, referred to affectionately by Redditors as “Old Reddit,” is fortunately still around and easy to set as your default experience. To switch to Old Reddit, click your profile icon in the top-right corner, then select Settings from the dropdown menu. Click the Preferences tab, then scroll down to Experience, and toggle “Default to old Reddit.” Alternatively, you can simply replace “www” with “old” in any Reddit URL (for example, old.reddit.com); this method works even if you’re not logged in.
The Old Reddit interface trades modern design elements for speed and efficiency. Gone are the resource-hungry infinite scroll, autoplay videos, and fancy animations. Instead, you get a straightforward, text-focused layout that loads almost instantly and shows more content. Despite its basic appearance, Old Reddit keeps near-complete functionality. You’ll still have full access to all subreddits and content, along with comprehensive commenting and voting capabilities.
Mobile Website: App-less Chops
While Reddit constantly pushes users toward its official app, the mobile website (m.reddit.com) delivers impressive performance without requiring any installation. This is perfect for older devices, as it enables access to all of Reddit’s core features while consuming significantly fewer system resources.
Since the mobile site is, at its core, a Progressive Web App (PWA), it combines the accessibility of a website with app-like functionality. This means you can add it to your home screen and use it just like a regular app but without the overhead of a full installation. To do this on Android, open m.reddit.com in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, and select “Add to Home screen.” iPhone users can achieve the same result by opening the site in Safari, tapping the share button, and choosing “Add to Home Screen.”
The mobile website’s lightweight nature brings several performance advantages. Since it doesn’t need to maintain background processes, it uses less RAM and processor power than the native app. Your device’s battery will thank you, too, as the mobile site only consumes power when you’re actively browsing. The site also updates automatically with your browser, cutting the storage-hungry app updates that can beleaguer older devices.
Additionally, the mobile website doesn’t sacrifice essential functionality. You can still take part in discussions, vote on content, and manage your subscriptions. The interface may be streamlined compared to the app, but this simplification contributes to its superior performance on older hardware. Think of it as getting the best of Reddit without the resource-hungry extras that modern apps often include.
Settings for Success
Refining your Reddit settings can dramatically improve performance, regardless of which version you’re using.
When it comes to content, start by disabling autoplay media. Navigate to Settings, then click Preferences, scroll down to Accessibility, and turn off “Autoplay media.” This simple change prevents videos from unnecessarily consuming bandwidth and processing power, which can significantly impact your device’s performance. While you’re there, turn on “Reduce animations” to further reduce nonessential functions that could bog down your experience.
Customizing your feed settings also plays a crucial role in improving performance. Changing comments sorting to “Best” instead of “Live” reduces constant updates, and using the “Compact” feed view instead of “Card” allows you to scroll with a far lower impact on your device’s memory.
You can further optimize performance by blocking resource-heavy elements. Using content blockers like uBlock Origin allows you to prevent unnecessary scripts from loading. Of course, be careful not to go overboard with blocking; otherwise, you may break the site’s functionality.
Redlib: Be Wary
Redlib is an interesting alternative to official Reddit interfaces, promising faster performance through its streamlined front end. The third-party service offers significantly faster loading times and reduced data usage through its clean, minimalist interface. Since it’s open-source and doesn’t include tracking or analytics, it can provide a more lightweight browsing experience.
However, a few important concerns deserve careful consideration. The reliability of Reddit’s API poses the primary challenge. Reddit has become increasingly restrictive with third-party access, and recent API changes have affected similar services. There’s no guarantee that Redlib will maintain long-term availability.
Feature limitations present another significant drawback. Many Reddit features are simply unavailable or function differently through Redlib. For example, the platform can’t support chat and direct messages, and newer features like purchasable avatars are absent. Of course, these features do require more substantial resources from your device to function, and some may argue that Reddit is better without its newer additions. Still, the fact remains that Redlib offers a version of Reddit that the company itself does not consider authentic.
Remember that, ultimately, the fastest version of Reddit is the one that works reliably on your specific device. Don’t hesitate to mix and match these solutions—you might find that using Old Reddit on your desktop and the mobile website on your phone provides the best experience for your needs.
