Recovering access to an old Facebook account can be difficult, especially if you no longer have access to the email or phone number associated with the account. However, there are several steps you can take to try to regain access.
Try logging in from the login page
The first thing to try is simply logging into your old Facebook account from the Facebook login page at www.facebook.com. Enter the email address or phone number you used to create the account along with your password. If you can remember your old password and the account information hasn’t changed, this may allow you to log back in.
Use the forgot password feature
If you don’t remember your old Facebook password, you can use the forgot password feature to reset it. Go to the Facebook login page and click “Forgot Password.” Facebook will then prompt you to enter the email address or phone number for the account. If it finds your account, it will send you a password reset link.
Click the link in the email and follow the prompts to create a new password. This will allow you to log back into your old account with the new password.
Check for an alternate email or phone number
If you no longer have access to the email or phone number associated with your old Facebook account, check to see if you had added an alternate email or phone number as a backup. Log into your email accounts and see if you have any emails from Facebook such as password reset emails.
You can also go through the forgot password flow on Facebook and try entering any other emails or phone numbers you may have used with your Facebook account. If an alternate contact info was set up, this may allow you to reset your password and regain access.
Use account recovery options
If you cannot reset your password, Facebook provides account recovery options that may help regain access:
- Trusted contacts – If you set up trusted contacts, you can have them send you a code to help recover your account.
- Recovery email – An email sent to a recovery email address with an account recovery link.
- Account recovery questions – Answering your secret account recovery questions.
To start the account recovery process, go to the Facebook login page and click “Forgot Password.” Then click the “No longer have access to these?” link. Follow the prompts to begin the account recovery steps.
Verify your identity
If you cannot reset your password or access recovery options, Facebook may require you to verify your identity. On the account recovery page, click the “I can’t access any of these” option.
Facebook will ask you to provide an image of your photo ID (ex. driver’s license). This allows Facebook to verify your identity and grant you access to the account if it matches.
Search for your old profile
If you cannot regain access through any of the above steps, you may be able to still view your old Facebook profile. Go to Facebook.com and try searching for your name in the search bar. If your old profile still exists, it may show up in the search results.
You will likely only be able to see limited public information and posts. But this can at least allow you to view and potentially download your old data and photos.
Contact Facebook support
If all else fails, you can contact Facebook customer support for additional help. Go to the Facebook Help Center and click “Contact Us” to begin a support ticket.
Explain your situation in detail and request help recovering your old account. Include any details you have about the account such as the creation date, emails/phone numbers used, locations accessed from, etc.
Facebook support will review your case and get back to you if they can assist with gaining access to your account. However, the more time has passed, the more difficult it may be to recover an old account.
Create a new account
If you have exhausted all options and cannot regain access to your old Facebook account, you may need to simply start fresh with a new account. Use a new email address and phone number when signing up.
You can then find your old friends, follow Pages you previously liked, and begin rebuilding your network. And be sure to set thorough recovery options this time in case you ever lose access again.
Tips for recovering old Facebook accounts
Here are some tips to keep in mind when trying to recover an old Facebook account:
- Use the password reset and account recovery options immediately to increase success chances.
- Provide as much verified identity information as possible in account recovery forms.
- Have backups of any emails sent from Facebook to retain account access.
- List an alternate recovery email and phone number in case you lose access to your primary.
- Set up trusted contacts and recovery questions in case you get locked out.
Reasons you may lose access to your Facebook account
There are a few common reasons you may lose access to your old Facebook account and need to recover it:
- Forgotten password – Can’t login with your old password.
- Changed or inaccessible email – The email on the account is no longer available.
- Changed phone number – The phone number on the account has changed.
- Got hacked – Someone else gained access and changed login info.
- Deactivated account – Account was deactivated by you or Facebook.
- Memorialized account – Account was memorialized after user passed away.
Prevent losing access to your account
You can take the following preventive steps to avoid losing access to your Facebook account in the future:
- Set a strong password that you won’t forget and update it periodically.
- Add alternate contact information like a backup email or phone number.
- Set up extra security and login approvals like two-factor authentication.
- Maintain access to any email addresses or phone numbers associated with your account.
- Create reminders to periodically check your account and review settings.
Conclusion
Losing access to an old Facebook account can be frustrating, but is often fixable. Use Facebook’s built-in recovery options, verify your identity if prompted, and contact Facebook support if needed. Setting thorough recovery methods for your account now can prevent you from losing access in the future.