On Wednesday, Reddit users worldwide faced disruptions as the platform experienced a significant outage. Downdetector, a site that monitors online outages, recorded nearly 50,000 reports from frustrated users. Many encountered an error message reading: “upstream connect error or disconnect/reset before headers. reset connection failure.”
Responding to the situation, Reddit acknowledged the issue on its official status page, citing “Degraded performance for reddit.com” and marking the problem as an “Unresolved incident” as of November 20. “We are currently investigating this issue,” the company stated, leaving users scrambling for solutions in the meantime.
What Causes the ‘Upstream Error, Reset’ Message? Advertisement
This error typically arises from server-side issues, often linked to a proxy or load balancer failing to communicate effectively with backend services. Essentially, it reflects disruptions in Reddit’s infrastructure, making it difficult for users to access the site or app.
How to Troubleshoot the Issue on Your End
While the root cause lies with Reddit, users can try the following steps to address the error locally and verify that the problem isn’t due to their own setup:
- Clear Cache and Cookies:
Remove cached data and cookies from your browser. Corrupted files can sometimes cause connectivity issues. - Check Your Internet Connection:
Ensure that your internet connection is stable. Reset your modem or router if needed. - Disable Proxy or VPN Services:
If you use a proxy or VPN, temporarily disable it. These tools can occasionally interfere with site connections during outages. - Monitor Reddit’s Status:
Visit Reddit’s status page to stay updated on the issue’s resolution progress. - Wait for Reddit to Fix the Issue:
As the problem is server-related, there’s little users can do other than wait for Reddit’s engineers to implement a fix.
For Developers or Admins
If you’re managing a site or server experiencing similar issues, consider:
- Restarting proxy services like Nginx or HAProxy.
- Reviewing configuration files for missteps.
- Confirming backend service accessibility.
This isn’t the first time Reddit has faced outages, and each instance underscores the challenges of managing high-traffic platforms. For users, staying patient and relying on the company’s updates is often the best course of action.
As of now, Reddit engineers continue to work on resolving the issue. In the meantime, users may want to explore alternative platforms to keep up with their favorite discussions and updates.