Reddit Request is the feature used to ask for moderation control of an abandoned or unmoderated subreddit.
The process operates through r/redditrequest, an admin-run Reddit community. A user submits a request explaining why they want to moderate the community, and Reddit reviews whether the existing moderators are inactive or absent. The goal is to give neglected communities an active moderator team rather than permanently deleting them.
It is commonly described as taking over a subreddit, but Reddit Request does not guarantee ownership in the ordinary business sense. The successful requester is generally granted moderator privileges, while the original creator may still remain listed as the community’s creator. If active moderators are present, requesters are normally expected to contact them first and allow time for a response.
The feature is therefore distinct from informal terms such as “subreddit adoption” or “community claim.” Those phrases describe the idea, but Reddit Request is the recognized name of Reddit’s request process and community.