How do I activate my deactivated Facebook ID?

Having a deactivated Facebook account can be frustrating, especially if you still want to use Facebook to stay in touch with friends and family. Fortunately, reactivating a deactivated Facebook account is usually very straightforward. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to reactivate your Facebook account if it has been deactivated.

Why Was My Facebook Account Deactivated?

There are a few common reasons why your Facebook account may have been deactivated:

You requested that your account be deactivated. This can happen if you temporarily want to take a break from Facebook.

You violated Facebook’s Terms of Service. Examples include creating a fake account, bullying/harassing other users, or posting prohibited content.
Your account was inactive for an extended period. If you don’t log in to your Facebook account for several months, Facebook may deactivate it due to inactivity.
Someone hacked your account and got it deactivated. Hackers sometimes take over accounts and violate policies, causing the account to get shut down.

Knowing the reason why your account was deactivated can be helpful as you go through the reactivation process.

How Do I Reactivate My Deactivated Facebook Account?

Here are the steps to reactivate your deactivated Facebook account:

Go to Facebook.com and click “Create New Account” at the bottom of the page.

Enter your name, email address or mobile number, password, date of birth and gender to begin creating your new account.
On the next page, you will be given the option to log in to an existing account. Click the “Log into Existing Account” link.
Enter your email address or phone number and password for your deactivated account and click Log In.

You will be prompted to confirm your identity by answering some security questions or entering a security code sent to your email or phone.
Once your identity is confirmed, your deactivated account will be reactivated.

It’s that simple! As long as you still have access to the email address or phone number associated with your account, you should be able to log in and reactivate your account in just a few minutes.

I Don’t Have Access to My Account Email/Phone Anymore

If you no longer have access to the email address or phone number associated with your deactivated Facebook account, the reactivation process is a bit more complicated, but still doable.

Here are the steps to take if you can’t access your account email or phone number:

Go to Facebook.com and click “Forgot Password” below the login fields.

Facebook will prompt you to enter your email/phone number or any email/phone you have on file for password reset.
If you no longer have access to any of these, select “No longer have access to these?”
Next, Facebook will ask you to identify friends in photos. Select all the photos containing friends you recognize.

Enter your full name and any other info about your deactivated account that you remember.
Facebook will review your request and send a confirmation code to any working email or phone number you have on file.
Once confirmed, you can create a new password and reactivate your account.

If you cannot identify any friends’ photos or provide accurate info about your account, Facebook may not be able to reactivate your account. As a last resort, you can submit ID verification to prove you are the account owner.

I’m Locked Out and Can’t Reset My Password

If your account is deactivated and you’re still able to log in but can’t reset your password, here are some tips:

First, try having the password reset link sent to any other emails or phone numbers associated with your account.

If that doesn’t work, you will need to complete the Facebook account recovery process explained above, verifying your identity through friends tagging and personal info.
As a last resort, you may need to submit a copy of your photo ID to prove you are the account owner.

Resetting your password is required to fully reactivate your account if you’re locked out due to an incorrect password.

How to Prevent Facebook from Deactivating My Account

To avoid having your Facebook account deactivated in the future, keep these tips in mind:

Use your real name and information when setting up your account.
Log in and use your account regularly so it stays active.

Avoid violating Facebook’s Terms of Service.
Be careful not to get hacked by using a strong password.
Add backup email addresses and phone numbers you can access.

Keep your primary email address and phone number up-to-date.

Staying active, using proper account information, and avoiding policy violations will help prevent your account from being deactivated down the road.

Can I Retrieve Deleted Facebook Messages or Posts?

Unfortunately, once your Facebook account is deactivated, any content posted to your profile and Page is deleted and cannot be retrieved. This includes:

Your photos, videos, and posts on your Timeline
Messages in your Facebook Messenger inbox
Your Facebook Messenger conversations and call history

Posts you made in Facebook Groups
Your Facebook Marketplace listings and purchase history

Facebook permanently deletes all this content for deactivated accounts after 30-90 days. So once your account is reactivated, all prior posts and messages will be gone.

However, if you reactivate your account within 30 days, you have a chance of recovering some lost data:

Photos and videos may still be available for 60 days after deactivation.
Facebook Messenger conversations may be available if restored within 10 days.

But beyond those short time frames, no data can be recovered after account deactivation.

Should I Just Create a New Facebook Account?

While you can simply create a brand new Facebook account after deactivation, there are a few downsides to this approach:

You’ll have to start building your friends list from scratch.

You’ll lose access to all old conversations and posts.
Changing profile names can create confusion for existing friends/followers.
Facebook may think you created a fake account to get around a ban.

That’s why it’s usually better to reactivate your existing account if possible. But a new account makes sense if you can’t regain access to your former account or just want a completely fresh start.

Should I Just Delete Facebook Permanently?

Here are some pros and cons to consider if you are thinking of permanently deleting your Facebook account, rather than deactivating:

Pros	Cons
Permanently erase your digital footprint Stop wasting time on social media Prevent old posts from resurfacing Stop social media addiction for good	Lose all photos, messages, memories Unable to reconnect with old friends Miss out on events, groups, invitations Less knowledge of friends’ life updates

As this comparison shows, you should only permanently delete Facebook if privacy and reducing social media time are your main priorities. Otherwise, deactivation makes it easier to take a temporary break and return if you change your mind.

Conclusion

Reactivating a deactivated Facebook account is usually quick and straightforward. Just log in with your account email/number and password or reset your password if needed. The main challenges are if you’ve lost access to your account recovery options. In that case, provide as much verifying info as possible for Facebook to confirm you are the account owner.

While starting fresh with a new account is an option, reactivating your existing account preserves your friends, memories, and profile information. Just be sure to log in periodically and follow Facebook’s policies to prevent deactivation going forward.

With the right information and persistence, you can recover access to your deactivated Facebook account in most cases. Just don’t wait too long, or your account’s data may be gone forever!