Losing access to your Facebook account can be stressful and frustrating. With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook contains precious memories, conversations, photos, and connections that you don’t want to lose forever.
The good news is that in most cases, you can recover your lost Facebook account by following Facebook’s account recovery steps. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to find and recover your lost Facebook account.
What to do immediately when you realize your Facebook account is lost
Here are some quick things you should do as soon as you realize you can no longer access your Facebook account:
- Try logging in from the Facebook website and mobile app to rule out temporary login issues.
- Check if you’re entering the correct email/phone number and password combination.
- Reset your password in case you forgot it or it was changed without your knowledge.
- Look for any emails from Facebook about unusual activity on your account.
- Search your email inbox for any password reset emails from Facebook.
If you’ve tried all of the above and still can’t login, it’s time to start the account recovery process.
Determine why you lost access to your Facebook account
Before trying to recover your account, think about why you can no longer access it. Here are some of the common reasons people lose their Facebook accounts:
- Forgotten password – You entered the correct email/phone number but can’t remember the password.
- Incorrect login details – You are entering the wrong email, phone number or password.
- Hacked account – Someone else gained access and changed your login details.
- Memorialized account – Facebook memorialized your account after receiving proof of your death.
- Disabled account – Facebook disabled your account due to suspicious activity or violations of their policies.
- Banned account – Your account was banned by Facebook for serious and repeated violations.
Identifying the cause will help you take the appropriate steps to recover your account.
Request a login code from Facebook
If you can’t reset your password because you don’t have access to your email or phone number on file, you can request a login code from Facebook to access your account. Here’s how:
- Go to Facebook.com and click on the “Forgotten account?” link.
- Enter your full name and email or phone number associated with your account.
- Facebook will send a 6-digit login code to that email or phone number if it finds your account.
- Enter the code on the Facebook page to access your account.
This login code expires after 15 minutes but you can request a new one if needed. If Facebook can’t find your account with the details provided, it will ask for additional information to continue searching.
Use Facebook’s account recovery form
The Facebook account recovery form is the key to recovering your lost account. You’ll find it at facebook.com/help/contact/179049432194862.
In the form, Facebook will ask you to:
- Enter the email or phone number associated with your account
- Explain why you lost access to your account
- Provide details to verify your identity like your full name, date of birth, locations you’ve logged in from, and more.
Be sure to fill in as many details as possible to improve your chances of recovery. After submitting the form, Facebook will send you an email with further instructions if it finds your account.
Other details that could help Facebook find your account
In addition to the basics, providing the following extra details in the form can aid Facebook’s search for your lost account:
- Profile details like profile/cover photos and bio info
- Friends/followers names you remember
- Pages and groups you managed or joined
- Last passwords you remember using
- Payment methods associated with Facebook
- Linked third-party apps and websites
Submit photo ID for account recovery
If Facebook finds your account but needs additional confirmation of your identity, it may prompt you to submit a photo ID such as:
- Government-issued ID like a driver’s license or passport
- National ID card
- Voter ID card
- Military ID
- Secondary school ID (if you registered with this)
You’ll need to take a photo of your ID that clearly shows your name, photo, date of birth, and ID number. Make sure to double check that the name on your ID matches the one on your Facebook account.
Facebook will compare your submitted ID to the information associated with your account. If it matches, they will send you details to regain access to your account.
Submit proof of ownership documents
For extra assurance, Facebook may ask you to provide documents proving you are the legitimate owner of the lost account. Some examples include:
- Registration or confirmation emails from Facebook
- Emails or messages received at the account’s email address
- Photos showing you accessing the account from your devices
- Domain registration details if you used the account for a business/brand
Obscure personal details that only you would know can also serve as proof. Facebook reviews the documents and matches them with activity from the lost account to verify your identity and ownership.
Try alternate contact options if emails fail
If you are not receiving Facebook’s automated emails containing account recovery instructions, try these troubleshooting tips:
- Check your spam folder in case the emails went there
- Try an alternate email address you have access to
- Use a friend or family member’s email address or phone number
- Submit the recovery form again with revised info
You can also visit the Facebook Help Community and find the “Get Help With Your Account” page to communicate with Facebook support agents online or via chat.
Get help from friends to recover your account
If you’re completely locked out of your account, enlist the help of friends connected to it to aid your recovery. They can:
- Confirm your identity to Facebook through their own accounts
- Send you emails or messages received from your account
- Help recall small personal details only they would know about you
- Suggest alternate contact points to access recovery instructions
Keep in mind Facebook won’t reveal any of your private account info to others, but friends can still provide useful context to verify the account belongs to you.
Avoid common mistakes when recovering your Facebook account
Be sure to steer clear of these common mistakes that can complicate or delay recovering access to your lost Facebook account:
- Not providing enough details for Facebook to verify your identity
- Entering incorrect personal information like wrong date of birth
- Using profile pictures instead of ID photos when submitting documentation
- Checking the wrong email inbox for Facebook’s instructions
- Ignoring Facebook’s emails and not following instructions promptly
- Trying automated bots or services claiming to recover accounts quickly
Stay patient, responsive, and thorough when going through Facebook’s account recovery process to avoid wasted time and headaches.
What to do if someone else gained access to your account
Seeing posts, messages, or changes to your Facebook account made by someone else is alarming. Here are tips on what to do next if your account was hacked or compromised:
- Change your password immediately if you regain access
- Enable two-factor authentication for enhanced security
- Remove any login approvals granted to suspicious apps
- Check account settings for forwarding changes or notifications
- Scan your computer for malware in case of a hack via downloaded file
- Report the issue to Facebook so they can investigate
You may also have to go through Facebook’s proof of identity process again if personal details were altered without your permission.
What to do if Facebook disabled or memorialized your account
Getting your account reactivated will take patience and cooperation if Facebook disabled or memorialized it thinking you violated policies or passed away.
For disabled accounts due to rule violations, be honest in your appeal, demonstrate you understand the rules now, and let Facebook know you will comply moving forward.
If your account was mistakenly memorialized, provide documents like government IDs and obituaries proving you are the living person who owns this account. Insist on having the memorialization reversed.
When you may not be able to recover your disabled account
In some cases, you may be permanently locked out of your Facebook account if:
- You are unable to provide sufficient proof of identity
- The account was disabled for very serious violations like illegal, dangerous or deceptive activity
- You already submitted multiple appeals without successfully verifying your identity
- The account is deemed a fake or duplicate account.
Creating multiple accounts or a fake account also goes against Facebook’s rules. If they suspect you aren’t being truthful, you probably won’t get back into your disabled account.
Create a new account as a last resort
If all else fails and it appears you cannot recover your old Facebook account, creating a brand new account is an option. However, keep in mind:
- You’ll start from scratch building your friend list, photos, memories and engagement.
- Your old profile and posts will remain online, even if inaccessible to you.
- Facebook may limit certain features on new accounts following disabled ones.
- Any improper behavior could quickly get your new account disabled too.
So use creating a new Facebook account strictly as a last resort after you’ve exhausted all options to recover your original lost account.
Prevent losing your account again in the future
Once you regain access to your Facebook account, make sure you:
- Beef up your security settings like enabling two-factor authentication.
- Remove any unrecognized logged in devices.
- Change passwords frequently and make them hard to guess.
- Don’t click on suspicious links that could compromise your account.
- Avoid online scams asking for your login details.
- Know Facebook’s rules to avoid violations that get you disabled.
Good account hygiene greatly reduces your risk of dealing with a lost account again down the road!
Conclusion
Losing access to your invaluable Facebook account can be scary and frustrating. But in most cases, you can recover your account by providing proof of identity and ownership to Facebook. Know the proper steps to take right away when you get locked out. Submit as many verifying details as possible and respond promptly to Facebook’s emails for the best chance of account recovery success. Be persistent yet patient as regaining access often takes a little time and work. And once you get back in, beef up your settings to prevent a repeat issue. With the right approach, you and your Facebook memories need not part ways permanently.