How to fix a temporarily blocked Facebook account

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To protect its billions of user accounts and the vast amount of data uploaded to the site every day, Facebook takes the security of its platform seriously. By constantly monitoring user accounts, you can quickly detect suspicious behavior. Keeping this in mind, have you seen the “Your account is temporarily locked” error message when trying to log in? If so, you may have received it in error due to Facebook’s strict precautions.

This article explains why Facebook temporarily blocks accounts, how to unblock them, and how to prevent this from happening again.

Facebook account temporarily blocked due to suspicious activity

Entering your Facebook credentials on a website impersonating Facebook or logging into Facebook through a third-party tool is considered “suspicious activity.” For any of those reasons, Facebook will temporarily lock your account and ask you to verify yourself as the account owner as a security measure.

Facebook account temporarily blocked for security reasons

Facebook takes the security of user accounts seriously. When it suspects that an account is compromised, it will lock it until it is confirmed that the owner is accessing it. Actions that seem suspicious for Facebook include:

• Sending too many friend requests or messages.
• Using automated software and bots.
• A sudden increase in posting frequency.
• Have a fake account, use a fake name, or impersonate someone (debatable).
• Spam advertising.
• Joining too many groups in a short time.
• Requesting too many recovery or authentication codes.
• Any activity that violates your Community Standards or Terms.

Facebook account temporarily blocked due to unknown location

One of Facebook’s main security features is to monitor the device’s IP address and logins. If the company detects a login attempt from an unknown source, Facebook will block the account. You will see the following error message: “We have locked your account because someone recently tried to log in from an unknown location.”

If you are using a different phone than usual or the company detects an unusual IP address, Facebook will mark your location as unknown. These security features can cause your account to be locked even under legitimate circumstances.

How to unlock a temporarily blocked Facebook account

There are a few ways you can arrange to unlock your account:

“Report a login problem” form

When your account is locked, ask Facebook for help through your Report a login issue It’s a great place to start.

Include a detailed description of the problem and any methods you have tried to resolve it, and provide a contact email address. To help Facebook investigate the situation, please include a screenshot of the error message you receive. When you submit the form, it will take 1-10 business days for someone from Facebook to respond.

“Security controls that prevent login” form

If you are unable to log into your account due to security checks and have not received the security code to unlock your account, use the Security controls preventing login shape.

Here you will also need to explain the problem you are facing and provide an email address where the company can contact you. Be sure to mention that you will not receive the security code if that is the case.

Verify your identity with Facebook

Another useful way is Confirm your identity with Facebook.

This form allows you to pass the verification check to prove that you are the account holder.

You’ll need to attach a photo ID, such as your driver’s license or passport, along with your phone number or login email.

Facebook warns that they can store your ID for up to a year. However, you can change this to 30 days only through your Identity confirmation settings.

Wait for Facebook to contact you after submitting the form.

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Finally, Facebook has strict measures to protect the security of user accounts. Facebook may temporarily lock your account when unusual activity is detected, such as accessing your account from an unknown location, sending an unusual number of posts, or using automated software.

Facebook realizes that not all cases are fraudulent. For that reason, the account is quickly unlocked once they are satisfied that you are the genuine account holder, which you can do using the processes above.

Facebook Temporarily Blocked FAQ

How do I prevent my Facebook account from being blocked?

Consider the following to help prevent Facebook from temporarily blocking your account:

• Verify your phone number, email address and identity. Verifying your details lets Facebook know that you are a genuine user and not trying to impersonate anyone. You can include additional information such as the college you attended if you wish.

• Use strong passwords. A strong password means less chance of someone guessing your password. Long passwords take longer to crack.

• An account with natural age. Unfortunately for new Facebook users, in the eyes of Facebook, your account is less trustworthy, as spammers usually use new fake accounts to spam users. Therefore, a new profile is more likely to be blocked than an established one with many friends.

How long does a temporary Facebook block last?

A temporary Facebook ban usually lasts between 24 and 48 hours. Your account will be unlocked as soon as you complete the instructions. If you haven’t received the security code or have experienced any other issues, please contact Facebook.

What is the difference between a Facebook ban and a blocked account?

As noted above, Facebook takes steps to protect your account and the accounts of others. While Facebook may lock your account to protect it if you’ve been hacked or have suspicious logins, the company will ban users who violate its terms of service.

The former means that you have had suspicious activity and it is possible to unblock your account. The latter means that you have posted or communicated something that the company considers harmful to other users and therefore may not allow the option to recover your account.

Warning: This is NOT Facebook. Please DO NOT submit personally identifiable information or your comment will not be published. We cannot solve your problems, only provide you with possible solutions. If you’re having trouble, try using Chrome on the following Facebook help page and navigate using the links on the left:
Report a problem | Facebook Help Center