Unable to log into Facebook because your account was disabled unexpectedly? Check our post for suggestions on what you can do to reclaim your account. We caution you to be patient, however, as the process can take a while.
Good to know: learn why it’s never a good idea to sign in with Google on Facebook.
What Happens When a Facebook Account Gets Disabled
If Facebook disables your account, you’ll no longer be able to sign in, cutting off access to your feed and interactions such as posting, commenting, or liking content. You might also lose access to Facebook Messenger if you use the app on your mobile devices.
At the same time, your profile will no longer be visible to others on Facebook. Even more, if you use Facebook to log into other apps or services, it may also disrupt access to those, causing further inconvenience.
You may wonder, why does this happen? While there are a few possible reasons why this might be the case, numerous users online insist they didn’t engage in any of the activities below and that the bans came as a shock.
- Violating Community Standards – if you’ve posted content that goes against Facebook’s Community Standards, including hate speech, harassment, or explicit content. However, Facebook’s policies also include additional aspects, such as using your authentic name. Personal accounts must represent individual people only and it goes against Facebook’s policies to represent anything other than yourself, including pets or celebrities. In addition, you cannot create or maintain multiple accounts on the platform.
- Identity Verification Issues: Facebook may disable your account if it believes you haven’t provided accurate identity information such as using your real name, and you fail to comply with verification requests.
- Suspicious Activity: Facebook might have detected suspicious activity related to your account such as unusual login activity.
- Phishing and Spamming: If hackers or phishing attempts breach your account, Facebook may choose to disable it. Alternatively, if your account has been spamming promotional content, Facebook might have taken action against it.
Tip: learn how to tag someone on Facebook.
How to Recover Your Facebook Account
Facebook usually notifies you through a notification or email if it disables your account. It should contain the general reason why your account is no longer accessible. If you’re eligible, Facebook will also provide you with information on the steps you can take to recover your account. For example, Facebook might prompt you to verify your identity by sending a picture of your ID or other official documents.
Unfortunately, in some cases, you might be informed that the decision to disable your account cannot be reversed. If that’s the case, you’ll receive a message such as this:
“We cannot review the decision to disable your account. Your Facebook account was permanently disabled because it did not follow our Community Standards.“
If you haven’t received an email yet, we recommend waiting it out for a day or two. According to some users on Reddit, this issue might resolve itself automatically.
If nothing changes, try sending an email to disabled@fb.com, appeals@fb.com or abuse@fb.com. Some users manage to solve this problem in a few days, according to reports, but others might face delays. If you suspect your account is hacked, report it via this page.
A paid alternative
Another thing you can try to reach support is to use your still working Instagram account (assuming you have one) to get Meta-verified. This is a paid service that starts at $14.99 per month. Doing this will allow you to contact support and actually get a guaranteed reply in a short period of time. According to various users on Reddit, they managed to fix the problem using this method.
Unfortunately, Facebook does not make it easy to contact support via phone number or chat. So arm yourself with patience and try using the suggestions above. Hopefully, you’ll see your Facebook account restored at one point.
Can I Create Another Facebook Account?
By all indications, you can. You’ll just need to do it from a different device. If you can use a VPN all the better. Don’t add the same name, address, or personal details as you had on the old account. Also try adding this information gradually, not all at once. Chances are it will work.
FYI: learn all about VPNs and why you should install one.
Suspended vs Blocked vs Banned on Facebook
Facebook disabling your account isn’t the only complication you might encounter while using the app. Your account can also get suspended, blocked, or banned. Below we explain the differences between all these states:
- Suspended account – Facebook can suspend your account for violating the Community Standards. Once this happens, you’ll receive an email or when you try to log into Facebook. You’ll be prompted to appeal the suspension within 180 days. If you don’t do so, Facebook can move to permanently disable your account. You might have the right to challenge the decision in court or refer the decision to a certified dispute settlement body. Keep in mind that Facebook can disable your account without suspending it first, like in cases of severe or time-sensitive violations.
- Blocked account – any user can block other Facebook accounts. For instance, if you had a disagreement with someone on Facebook, that person might have blocked you. To know whether someone blocked you on Facebook and what you can do about it, check our post.
- Banned account – Facebook group admins or moderators can ban you from a group if your behavior has violated the group’s guidelines. Banned members won’t be able to find the group again in search or see any content within the group. They also can’t be invited back in (unless they get unbanned.)
If you wish to safeguard your Facebook account from hacking, explore our guide on recognizing Facebook phishing emails and related scams. Also, check these tips on how to make Facebook more private.
