Recovering a Facebook password without access to the associated email or phone number can be challenging, but there are a few potential options to try. The key is finding alternative verification methods that prove you are the legitimate owner of the account in question.
Check Browser Settings for Saved Passwords
One of the easiest ways to recover your Facebook password is to check your browser settings. Most major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari give you the option to save passwords for websites you visit. If you had previously told your browser to remember your Facebook login, it may still have it stored:
- Chrome – Go to Settings > Autofill > Passwords and see if facebook.com is listed
- Firefox – Go to Options > Privacy & Security > Saved Logins and search for Facebook
- Safari – Go to Preferences > Passwords and check under Website for facebook.com
If you find your Facebook password saved, you can simply copy it and use it to log back into your account. This won’t work if you’ve cleared your browsing history or switched devices, but it’s still worth a try.
Use Account Recovery Options
If your password isn’t saved, the next step is to make use of Facebook’s account recovery options:
- Trusted contacts – If you previously set up trusted contacts, Facebook can send a recovery code to those people to help you get back into your account.
- Recovery email – Even if you can’t access your primary email for the account, Facebook may have a recovery/backup email you added that could assist.
- Security questions – Answering your security questions correctly can convince Facebook to let you reset your password.
To access these options, go to the Facebook login page and click “Forgot Password.” Facebook will prompt you to enter your username/email or phone number first. If you don’t have that info, you can click the “No longer have access” link instead.
Send Photo/Video Selfie Identification
If the previous options don’t work, Facebook has one last account recovery method – photo/video selfie identification. This involves using your device’s camera to take a short video of yourself or a photo holding your ID that gets sent to Facebook for verification:
- Facebook will check the selfie/video to confirm it matches profile pictures for your account.
- Any ID photo must match the name listed on your Facebook account.
- This helps prove your identity and regain access if you’re locked out.
However, there are strict eligibility requirements Facebook enforces for using this method:
- Your account must have a profile photo of your face – not a picture of something else.
- You need to have been active and posting on Facebook somewhat recently.
- Your account can’t have any active restrictions or be temporarily locked.
If you satisfy these criteria, you’ll see the selfie/ID option when going through Facebook’s password recovery prompts. Otherwise, you’ll have to explore other options to access your account.
Submit ID Documents
Similar to sending a selfie or photo ID, you can also submit physical copies of your identification documents to Facebook. This serves the same purpose of verifying your identity so you can recover and reset your password. Any of these can be used:
- Driver’s license
- Passport
- National ID card
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Official name change paperwork
To submit documents, go to Facebook’s Help Center and select the option for “Hacked Account.” Explain your situation and attach images of your ID documentation. The Facebook team will review your case and get back to you.
Use Facebook Account Recovery Contact
If none of the previous password recovery options work, your last resort is to reach out to your designated Facebook account recovery contact. This is someone you previously chose and trusted to help you regain access to your account if lost.
To set up an account recovery contact:
- Go to Facebook Settings
- Click Security and Login
- Select Account Recovery Contact
- Enter the name and Facebook profile link for your chosen contact
If you ever get locked out in the future, you can have Facebook send your recovery contact a special code to share with you. Entering this code will give you back access to your account so you can reset your password. It’s a last resort option that requires planning ahead.
Request Account Review from Facebook
If all else fails, you can try explaining your situation to Facebook and requesting a review of your account. To do this:
- Fill out the Facebook account review form
- Provide details explaining why you don’t have access to the email/phone number on your account
- Include any documentation you have to validate your identity
- Explain why you need access to the account restored
Keep in mind Facebook receives many requests like this regularly. Make your case as detailed as possible and be patient. You may need to follow up multiple times if you don’t hear back initially.
Use Facebook Support Options
If you’ve tried all other options to recover your Facebook password without success, you can also reach out to Facebook’s support channels directly:
- Help Community – Post questions describing your issue and see if other users can assist.
- Contact Forms – Submit requests via Facebook’s various contact forms for different issues.
- Live Chat – Chat with Facebook support agents online if this option is available in your region.
When contacting Facebook support, be sure to provide as much context and proof of ownership as you can. Support agents will work to verify your identity and help restore access if possible.
Conclusion
Recovering your Facebook password without an associated email or phone number is challenging but doable in some cases. The best options are:
- Checking browser settings for a saved password
- Using Facebook’s account recovery options
- Submitting photo/video or document ID verification
- Contacting your designated account recovery contact
- Requesting an account review directly from Facebook
With enough valid identification and proof of ownership, you may be able to convince Facebook to help you get your account access back. But it’s often an uphill battle. Having a working recovery email and phone number on file is highly recommended to avoid getting permanently locked out.