FAQ

No. subshell is an independent Android client for Reddit. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Reddit.

Reddit requires every app that signs you in to identify itself with a Client ID. subshell does not ship a shared one; you create one once through RedReader's sign-in. See the steps.

Reddit has said it will end API access for apps that are not registered with it from 12 January 2027. subshell is not registered, so from then on it may stop loading new posts and comments. What is already stored on your phone stays readable, and subshell will tell you plainly if Reddit refuses it. We will post what we know on r/subshell.

You sign in on Reddit's own page. The resulting session is stored in app-private storage encrypted with the Android Keystore. Signing in through Reddit's web page also keeps Reddit's web login in the app's private web storage, so Direct Chat works. Neither is part of a settings backup, and logging out removes both.

subshell is a signed APK on GitHub Releases. The app checks for a newer version about twice a day and shows a notice with the release notes. Update downloads the APK from the release, checks it against the published SHA-256 and hands it to Android's installer, which asks you first and refuses an APK signed by anyone else. Prefer Obtainium? The Add to Obtainium link on the home page does the same from GitHub.

No ads, no analytics, no crash reporting and no tracking. The app talks to Reddit on your behalf. Diagnostics are kept on the device and are only shared if you choose to send a report. Details are in the privacy notice.

NSFW posts are hidden until you turn on Show NSFW posts, and sensitive previews are blurred until you tap them, unless you turn on Show NSFW media. Your Reddit account must also allow mature content. RedGIFs clips play in the app only while NSFW posts are shown.

Yes. While you are signed in, subshell checks Reddit about every 15 minutes and notifies you about replies, mentions, messages, Reddit notices and modmail. It can also tell you about new posts, and if you like new comments, in communities you choose (⋮ › Notify about new posts). Each type can be turned off, and Android 13 or newer asks for permission first.

Yes. Add accounts in Settings and switch from the account menu. Votes, lists, scroll positions and notifications stay with their own account.

Settings, joined communities, favorites and saved searches, written to a folder you choose, with an automatic history and safety snapshots before a restore. Hidden and muted communities, post drafts, saved moderator responses and private user notes are opt-in. Your sign-in, Client ID and app lock are never included.

Yes. Wide windows get a navigation rail, a list next to the open post or conversation, a comfortable reading width and Settings as list and detail.

Yes. The Inbox has activity, messages, Reddit's Direct Chat (with reactions and images) and, for moderators, the mod queue and modmail.

In brealorg/subshell-source-public, under the GNU GPL v3.0 or later. It gets one snapshot per release, so the source always matches a published APK. That repository is read-only: bugs and ideas go to the main repository, which holds releases, documentation, the website and the issue tracker.

Use the forms on the Support page. Settings › Advanced › Diagnostics can create a privacy-safe report to attach.