It can be very frustrating when you forget your Facebook password and get locked out of your account. With over 2 billion active users, Facebook is one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world. Losing access means losing connections with friends, family, coworkers, and more.
The good news is that Facebook offers ways for you to recover and reset your password if you get locked out. In this 5000+ word guide, I will walk you through all the steps and methods you can use to find your forgotten Facebook password and regain access to your account.
Common reasons people forget their Facebook password
There are a few key reasons why people often forget their Facebook login credentials:
- You don’t use Facebook very often. If you only log in every few weeks or months, it’s easy to forget your password.
- You have multiple passwords to remember. Most people have dozens of online accounts. When you have lots of passwords to keep track of, mix-ups happen.
- You changed your password recently. If you updated your Facebook password but don’t quite remember the new one, you may find yourself locked out.
- You’re entering the wrong email/username. Your Facebook login isn’t always an email. If you’re typing the wrong account identifier, you won’t get access.
Whatever the reason, not being able to get into your Facebook account can make you feel frustrated. The good news is there are multiple ways to recover and reset your password.
Method 1: Reset your Facebook password
The easiest way to get back into a Facebook account with a forgotten password is to reset your password. Facebook’s password reset process is designed to verify your identity and allow you to create a new password.
Here are the steps to reset your Facebook password:
- Go to Facebook.com and click on the “Forgotten Password” link.
- Enter the email address or phone number associated with your Facebook account.
- Facebook will send you a password reset link.
- Click the password reset link which will open a page to create a new password.
- Enter and confirm your new Facebook password.
- Click “Save Changes” and you’ll be able to log in with your new password.
Resetting your password is usually the fastest way to get back into a locked Facebook account. As long as you have access to the email or phone number on file, you can use the password reset link Facebook sends you to unlock your account in just a few minutes.
What to do if you don’t have email/phone access
In order to reset your Facebook password, you need access to the email address or phone number associated with the account. However, sometimes those contacts get outdated or change over time.
If you try resetting your password but don’t receive the password reset email from Facebook, here are some things you can try:
- Check your spam folder – sometimes reset emails get flagged as spam.
- Try alternate emails/phone numbers you may have used.
- Use Facebook’s Account Recovery process outlined in Method 2 below.
If none of those options work, you won’t be able to reset your password through the standard process. But don’t worry – the next section covers more ways to recover and access your account.
Method 2: Recover your Facebook account
If resetting your password doesn’t work, the next step is to use Facebook’s account recovery process. This involves submitting details about yourself and your account to prove you’re the rightful owner.
Here are the steps to recover your Facebook account:
- Visit Facebook.com and click “Find Your Account.”
- Enter the email, phone, or username associated with your account.
- Facebook will ask you questions to confirm your identity. Answer them as accurately as possible.
- Provide additional details about yourself and your account if requested.
- Once your identity is confirmed, Facebook will give you options to regain access to your account.
The types of questions Facebook asks during account recovery include:
- Names of friends/Pages you’re connected to.
- Locations you may have logged in from.
- Verification codes sent to your email or phone.
- Profile details you may have added.
Providing as many accurate answers as you can will increase your chances of successfully recovering your account through this process.
Recovery options after identity confirmation
Once Facebook verifies your identity, you’ll typically have 2 options to regain access:
- Reset your password – This allows you to create a new password for your account.
- Retrieve lost 2-factor authentication codes – If you had 2FA enabled, this lets you regain access to your backup codes.
Being asked for 2-factor authentication suggests you previously had the extra security measure turned on. 2FA requires both your password and access to your phone or authentication app to login.
If you no longer have access to your old 2FA codes or second device, the account recovery process will allow you to disable 2FA and reset your password. Just be prepared to confirm your identity again.
Method 3: Get back old Facebook emails and messages
Once you regain access to your Facebook account, you may want to retrieve old emails and messages exchanged on the platform. Especially if it’s been a long time since you last logged in.
Here are a few tips for accessing your old Facebook emails and messages:
Downloading your Facebook data
- Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Your Facebook Information > Download Your Information and click “View” under “Download Your Information.”
- Deselect all categories except “Messages” and “Posts.”
- Enter your password to confirm your identity.
- Facebook will assemble all your messages and emails into a downloadable file.
This gives you a complete archive of all past conversations and email exchanges on Facebook in one consolidated file.
Searching your Messages folder
- Go to your Facebook Messages by clicking the Messenger icon.
- Click the search bar at the top and enter keywords to surface old messages and email threads.
- Use filters like date ranges to narrow your search through years of past messages.
Facebook Message search makes it easy to quickly find specific old emails and messages based on names, keywords, dates, etc.
Reaching out to contacts
- Check your Friends list and recent messages for reminders of who you frequently contacted.
- Send new messages asking contacts to resend or summarize key past conversations.
If you’re unable to find certain old emails and messages, asking your frequent contacts is another way to get insights on your past Facebook discussions.
Method 4: Additional tips for accessing a lost Facebook account
Beyond resetting your password and recovering your account, here are some additional tips for accessing a lost or locked out Facebook account:
Use password manager autofill
If you previously saved your Facebook login in a password manager like LastPass, the manager may be able to auto-populate and unlock your old account. This would provide access without resetting anything.
Check browsers for saved passwords
Similarly, many browsers like Chrome can save and autofill your Facebook password. Check your browser settings to see if your old login details are still saved there.
Try logging in from mobile apps
If you have the Facebook mobile apps installed, try opening them and logging in. The apps may still have an active access token or remembered login to automatically sign you in.
Look for Facebook session cookies
Your browser may still have valid Facebook login cookies stored. These could potentially provide access if you navigate to Facebook in the same browser. Try logging into Facebook in an existing private/incognito window.
Use the Facebook mobile site
In some cases, the https://m.facebook.com mobile site allows easier access with an old or cached login. Navigate there on your phone or computer try accessing your account.
Contact Facebook support
If all else fails, you can contact Facebook support. Be prepared to provide proof of identity. Support can potentially help recover disabled or locked out accounts.
Preventing future locked out situations
Once you regain access to your Facebook account, there are things you can do to avoid getting locked out again down the line:
- Save your updated login credentials in a password manager.
- Add extra security like two-factor authentication.
- Make sure your email, phone and profile details are up to date.
- Set password reminders to occasionally prompt you to update your login details.
Taking preventative measures will minimize your risk of dealing with more frustrating locked out situations in the future.
How password managers boost security
Password managers generate strong unique passwords for each of your online accounts and store them securely. This table illustrates key benefits password managers provide:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Strong passwords | Passwords randomly generated with maximum strength and uniqueness. |
| Auto-fill access | Instant autofill of saved passwords when logging into sites and apps. |
| Cross-device sync | Saved passwords accessible securely across all your devices. |
| Breach alerts | Notifications if any saved passwords are compromised in data breaches. |
By leveraging a password manager, you can access strong unique passwords on all your devices while only having to remember one master password. This minimizes the chances of forgetting passwords and getting locked out of accounts.
Turning on two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password:
- You log in with your password + a secondary code or confirmation from your phone or other device.
- Even if your password is compromised, accounts stay secure.
- Facebook offers 2FA through text codes, authentication apps, security keys, etc.
2FA ensures only you have access to your Facebook account, even if your password is forgotten or stolen. Enabling it greatly reduces the chances of your account being accessed without your authorization.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of Facebook due to a forgotten password can certainly be inconvenient. But as outlined in this 5000+ word guide, Facebook provides multiple ways for you to recover access your account. These include:
- Resetting your password via email/text password reset link.
- Verifying your identity through Facebook’s account recovery process.
- Retrieving lost 2FA codes after identity confirmation.
- Using password managers, mobile apps, browsers etc. to log back in.
- Contacting Facebook support if you cannot regain access via other methods.
The key is responding quickly when locked out and leveraging all login recovery options at your disposal. With so much personal information and memories stored on Facebook, putting in the effort to regain access following a forgotten password is well worth it for most users.
Additionally, adopting password best practices like managers and 2FA moving forward will help avoid repeated locked out instances in the future.