Reddit Removes News Tab Without Warning

If you’ve opened the Reddit app recently and noticed the News tab missing, you’re not alone. This isn’t a glitch or a problem with your phone — Reddit is deliberately testing a new design on some users. Unfortunately, there’s no way to opt out of it right now.

Frustrated users have been posting across multiple subreddits about the disappearance. One screenshot showed the missing tab entirely, while others shared how disruptive the change has been.

The reddit iOS app changed and now I can only sort by “for you” or “popular”. How do I sort the “for you” page by “new” now? – NOT SOLVED – request for help
byu/cindergnelly inios

In one r/help thread, a user said they rely on the News tab every morning and now have only “For You” and “Popular,” which they find far less useful. Replies poured in, with people saying they’ve cut back on using the app, that the change has disrupted their routines, and that it might push them toward other platforms like X or dedicated news apps. Many valued the mix of news updates and community commentary the tab provided.

A Reddit admin stepped in to explain that anyone missing the News feed is part of a “small-scale test” affecting both iOS and Android apps. For now, there’s no option to leave the experiment, though they said some users might be removed from it later. The admin promised to pass along the feedback but didn’t address why the change wasn’t voluntary. One commenter suggested that Reddit should have asked for testers instead of forcing it on random users.

The move aligns with Reddit’s broader strategy. Just last week, CEO Steve Huffman discussed plans to position Reddit as a search engine, aiming to compete with Google by showcasing the depth of conversation in Reddit threads. The company plans to merge its standard search with its AI tool, Reddit Answers, making search the main focus when the app opens. Since “Reddit” is already one of the most searched terms on Google, they see an opportunity to capture more direct traffic.

Huffman noted that most people discover Reddit through search, even when they begin elsewhere. Removing the News tab may be part of shifting users toward active searching rather than passive scrolling. Still, for many, it feels like losing a feature they genuinely enjoyed.

For now, affected users can only voice their frustration in Reddit’s help forums, hoping that enough complaints will speed up a reversal. News content is still accessible by searching for r/news or r/worldnews directly, but it’s a less convenient option than having a dedicated tab.

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