Quick Overview
If you can’t access your Facebook account because you’re not receiving security codes to your phone or email, there are a few things you can try to recover your account:
- Check that your phone number and email listed on your account are up to date and you have access to them
- Make sure there are no issues with your phone or email provider blocking the security codes
- Use backup codes if you set them up – they allow you to access your account if you can’t get security codes
- Request a review of your account through the Facebook Help Center
- Have someone you trust submit ID to confirm your identity and regain access to your account
With the right troubleshooting, you should be able to recover access to your Facebook account even if you’re not receiving security codes. Keep reading for more details on these steps.
Make Sure Your Contact Info is Up To Date
The first thing to check is whether your primary phone number and email address listed on your Facebook account are correct and ones you have access to. Facebook sends security codes to the contact info on your account when you try to log in from a new device or browser.
To check your contact info:
- Go to the Facebook website and click “Forgot account?” on the login page.
- Enter your email or phone number used for your account when prompted.
- Facebook will send a security code if it has a number or email on file for you. If you don’t receive it, your contact info may be outdated or incorrect.
If the contact information is outdated, you’ll need to update it to receive security codes. Here’s how:
- Click the “Get help with accessing your account” link on the login page.
- Select the option for updating your contact info without accessing your account.
- Enter your old or new email and follow the steps to confirm it.
- Once confirmed, your sign-in email will be updated so you can receive security codes.
It’s also a good idea to add a secondary email and phone number as backup contact options in your Facebook account settings. That gives you more ways to receive a security code if needed.
Check for Blocked Security Codes
If your contact information is correct, the next issue may be your phone provider or email service blocking the automated security codes sent by Facebook.
Here are some things to try:
- Use a different phone number or email address – see if codes sent there go through.
- Contact your phone carrier or email provider. Ask them to allow messages from Facebook containing security codes.
- Temporarily disable spam filters or blocks for unknown numbers/senders.
- Try using WiFi instead of mobile data to receive codes.
- Update your smartphone OS or email app in case there are bug fixes for receiving messages.
Fixing any issues receiving automated texts or emails should allow you to get the Facebook security codes again.
Use Backup Codes to Access your Account
If you enabled backup codes, you can use them to log in when you don’t receive security codes. Backup codes are generated codes you can save and enter instead of a texted or emailed code.
To set up and use backup codes:
- In your Facebook account, go to Settings > Security and Login.
- Under “Use extra security”, select “Backup Codes”.
- Generate and save a set of backup codes you can print or write down.
- When prompted for a security code, enter one of your backup codes instead.
Backup codes let you securely access your account for situations just like this when you aren’t receiving the normal security codes.
Request an Account Review
If you can’t resolve the issues receiving security codes, you can have Facebook review your account and hopefully restore access.
- Go to the Facebook Help Center and select the option for recovering your account.
- Choose the issue of not being able to receive a security code.
- Fill out the form with details on the problem and any previous recovery attempts.
- Submit ID confirmation if requested.
The Facebook team will then review your account and contact information. If they can confirm your identity, they should be able to get your access restored without needing the security code.
Have Someone Confirm Your Identity
As a last resort, you can have a friend or family member confirm your identity to Facebook in order to recover access to your account.
They’ll need to submit ID to Facebook to verify they know you. Once confirmed, they can then confirm your identity and regain access to your account.
The steps are:
- User confirming you needs a valid ID with photo to submit to Facebook.
- They log into their own Facebook account and go to the Help Center.
- They search for the “Confirm Your Friend’s Identity” option and select it.
- They agree to submit their ID and answer questions about you/your account.
- If ID and answers confirm they know you, Facebook will unlock your account.
Having someone reliably confirm your identity can be the quickest way to restore access if you’re completely locked out. But use someone you trust since they’ll see info about your account.
Prevent Future Lockouts
Once you regain access to your Facebook account, take steps to avoid getting locked out again in the future:
- Set up backup emails, phone numbers and backup codes.
- Check account settings periodically to make sure your contact info stays current.
- Resolve any issues with receiving automated texts or emails from Facebook.
- Don’t click suspicious links that could compromise your account.
- Enable two-factor authentication for added security.
Being proactive reduces the chances you’ll need to recover your account again down the road due to not receiving a security code.
Conclusion
Getting locked out because you aren’t receiving Facebook’s automated security codes can be frustrating. With the right approach, you can confirm your identity and regain access to your account by:
- Updating your contact information
- Removing any blocks on receiving codes
- Using backup codes if you set them up
- Requesting account review by Facebook staff
- Having a friend confirm your identity
Most issues that prevent receiving security codes can be resolved fairly quickly. Just make sure to keep your recovery contact info current going forward. Setting up backup options like trusted friends or backup codes provides an extra layer of protection as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about recovering your Facebook account when you can’t receive security codes:
Why am I not getting Facebook security codes?
There are a few potential reasons you may not be receiving Facebook’s automated texts or emails containing security codes:
- Your contact info (phone/email) on your Facebook account is out of date or incorrect.
- Your phone carrier or email provider is blocking or flagging the security code messages as spam.
- You have no internet connection or limited service preventing you from receiving texts/emails.
- Your smartphone OS or email app is experiencing glitches with automated messages.
Should I click on any links to recover my account?
No, avoid clicking any suspicious links claiming to help you recover your Facebook account. These could be phishing scams trying to steal your info. Only use official Facebook help options like submitting ID through Facebook’s Help Center.
How can I access Facebook if I don’t have my recovery codes?
If you didn't set up backup codes, try having someone confirm your identity to Facebook by submitting their own ID. Or request an account review directly through Facebook's Help Center so their team can recover your account after verifying some info about you.Is there a time limit to recover my account?
No, there is no time limit for recovering your disabled Facebook account as long as you’re able to confirm your identity and resolve any issues around receiving security codes. Facebook’s automated security checks may lock you out temporarily after too many failed login attempts, but you can still recover the account.
Can someone else change the email on my Facebook account?
They cannot change your email without access to your account. If you suspect someone else has gained access, reset your password immediately and remove any unfamiliar contact info or devices from your account settings. You can also submit ID to Facebook to confirm you are the rightful account owner.
Other Ways to Recover Your Account
Trying the steps outlined in this article should allow you to recover access to your Facebook account if you’re not receiving security codes to your phone or email. But there are a few other options as well:
- Reset your password – This triggers a security code to be sent so you can login and change your password. Use a device and browser you’ve used before with Facebook.
- Regain access to your recovery email/number – Getting back into the primary email or phone number on your Facebook account can allow you to receive security codes.
- Use Facebook’s account recovery form – This has you enter details on when the account was created, locations used, etc. to confirm identity.
- Find receipts for Facebook purchases – Any receipt for a Facebook ad purchase or other transaction can help prove account ownership if provided to Facebook.
The key is providing enough details to convince Facebook you are the legitimate account holder so they remove any restrictions on accessing your account.
Preventing Future Lockouts
Once you get back into your Facebook account, take preventative steps to avoid getting locked out again:
- Set up two-factor authentication for extra security when logging in.
- Add several backup email addresses and phone numbers.
- Generate backup codes to access your account if you can’t receive texts/emails.
- Avoid clicking suspicious links that could compromise your account.
- Periodically check your account’s security settings.
Enabling extra security options and keeping your contact info updated makes it less likely you’ll need to recover your account again in the future.
When to Seek Additional Help
If you still cannot regain access to your Facebook account after exhausting all troubleshooting steps, you may need to reach out to Facebook support directly:
- Use Facebook’s Help Center contact form to submit details and ID confirmation.
- Check the Facebook Help Community for advice from other users.
- Look up Facebook’s official customer service phone number for your country and call them directly to explain your account recovery issue.
Speaking to a live Facebook support rep could give additional options for recovering your account when the usual steps have failed. Be prepared to provide detailed information to verify your identity.
With enough patience and effort, you should be able to regain access to your Facebook account and continue using their services. Just be diligent in troubleshooting and utilizing Facebook’s account recovery tools. Stay persistent and you’ll get your account back.
Summary
Losing access to your Facebook account can be incredibly frustrating, especially if the automated security codes needed to log back in won’t come through. Fortunately, this situation can usually be resolved with some targeted troubleshooting:
- Update your account’s phone number and email to current ones you control.
- Remove any blocks on receiving Facebook’s security messages.
- Use backup codes if you were wise enough to set them up beforehand.
- Submit ID and account details for Facebook to review and restore access.
- Have a friend or family member verify your identity to Facebook.
Regularly checking your security settings and recovery options will help prevent you from getting locked out again down the road. Enable two-factor authentication as well for added account protection.
With the multitude of recovery options available, you should be able to convince Facebook you are the legitimate account owner through one method or another. Just don’t panic, be patient, and utilize Facebook’s tools correctly. You’ll get those cherished cat photos and heated political arguments back in no time.