My Facebook account was disabled or locked

If a warning page appears instead of the Feed after logging in, it can mean two very different things. A lock is a security precaution, while a suspension or a disabled account is the result of a (suspected) violation of the rules. The fix is different, too.

Locked account: protection, not punishment

Typical message: “Your account has been locked”. Facebook locks an account when it notices unusual activity: a login from an unfamiliar country or device, many wrong passwords, or messages and links sent in bulk from the account. Until the owner confirms their identity, nobody can use the account.

1. Log in, then click or tap “Get Started”.
2. Facebook sends a code to a known email address or phone number, or asks for approval on a device that is already logged in.
3. It may also ask for a video selfie or a photo of an ID. Facebook compares these with the profile pictures or with the name on the profile.
4. Enter a new password that is not used anywhere else, and review the recent activity.

If unlocking gets stuck

• The code does not arrive: Facebook confirmation code not arriving.
• The old email address or phone number no longer works: No longer have the email or phone number.
• Unfamiliar posts or messages appear after unlocking: the account has been hacked, so continue with the steps for a hacked account.

Suspended or disabled account: a rule violation

Typical message: “We suspended your account”, along with the number of days left to appeal. The reason is a violation, or suspected violation, of the Community Standards. The decision is often made by an automated system, so mistakes happen. Common reasons:

• a fake name or a profile created in someone else's name;
• spam, mass messaging or fraud;
• violent, hateful or sexual content;
• suspicion that the user is under 13;
• hacking: the owner's account is suspended because of the scammer's posts.

How to appeal

1. Log in in a browser or in the app: the suspension page appears.
2. Choose “Disagree with decision”.
3. Facebook may ask for confirmation: a code, a phone number, a video selfie or, if age is in question, an ID.
4. If there is a text field, explain briefly and factually why the decision is wrong (for example: the account was hacked).
5. Facebook announces the result by email and at login. The review can take days, sometimes weeks.

If there is no appeal option, or the appeal was rejected

If the appeal option does not appear, try the Help Center form for disabled accounts: facebook.com/help/contact/260749603972907. If the appeal is rejected or the 180 days run out, the account is permanently disabled.

What not to do

• Creating a new account: opening a new account while another one is disabled is also a violation, and the new account can be disabled as well.
• Paid “account unlock” services: appeals are free, and no third party can speed them up.
• Clicking links in warning emails: messages like “your account will be deleted within 24 hours” are often phishing. Details: Common scams on Facebook and Messenger.