Having your Facebook account hacked can be a stressful and frustrating experience. Many users whose accounts have been compromised want to know how long it takes Facebook to recover a hacked account. The answer depends on several factors.
Why Facebook Accounts Get Hacked
There are a few common ways that hackers gain access to Facebook accounts:
- Guessing or resetting the password. Hackers may guess weak passwords or reset passwords by answering security questions.
- Phishing. Hackers send links pretending to be from Facebook that steal login credentials when clicked.
- Malware or spyware. Malicious software can record passwords and other information entered into a device.
- Purchased logins. Hackers buy access to accounts from the dark web.
- Friends or family members accessing the account. Sometimes those close to you may access your account without consent.
How to Report a Hacked Facebook Account
If you notice any suspicious activity on your Facebook account, you should report it right away. Here are the steps to report your account has been hacked:
- Log into your account if you still can and click the question mark icon in the top right.
- Select “Report a Problem.”
- Choose “Account Hacked.”
- Follow the on-screen instructions to secure your account and report the hack.
You should also take measures like changing your password, removing unauthorized apps, and enabling two-factor authentication. It’s also a good idea to run antivirus software to check for malware.
How Long Account Recovery Takes
Once you report your Facebook account has been hacked, how long does it take to get your account back? Unfortunately, there is no definite timeframe. Facebook does not provide an estimated time for account recovery. Some factors impact how long it takes:
- Severity of the hack – If the hacker made minimal changes or only accessed certain information, recovery is usually faster than if they changed the email, password, and other account details.
- Verification process – Facebook will need to verify you are the rightful account owner, which adds time.
- Type of support – Accounts with Business Support may have faster response times than those with Standard Support.
- Backlog volume – During periods of high support ticket volume, responses take longer than normal.
While Facebook does not provide recovery time estimates, users report widely varying timeframes. Some get their accounts back within 24 hours, while others wait weeks or even months. On average, expect the process to take 3-7 days.
Tips to Recover Your Account Faster
There are a few things you can do to potentially speed up the account recovery process:
- Provide as much detail as possible in your report about how the account was compromised.
- Check back frequently for a response and reply to messages from Facebook right away.
- Clearly explain how you are the legitimate account owner and provide corroborating details.
- If possible, access your account on a trusted device and secure it by changing passwords, removing suspicious apps, etc.
- Be patient but persistent when following up if your case takes longer than 7 days.
What to Do If Your Account Isn’t Recovered
For most users, following the steps to report your account was hacked leads to recovering access within a week or two. But in some cases, accounts remain inaccessible. If you still don’t have your account back after several weeks, you can take these steps:
- Double check that you entered the correct email associated with the account when submitting your report.
- Submit another report providing additional details or clarifications.
- Use the Facebook Appeals form explaining your case if you believe Facebook made a mistake.
- Contact Facebook Support through different channels like chat or phone.
- Reach out on Facebook’s Twitter support account for help.
- If all else fails, unfortunately you may need to create a new account and start fresh.
Preventing Facebook Account Hacks
They best way to deal with a hacked Facebook account is to avoid getting hacked in the first place. Here are some tips to improve your account security:
- Use a strong, unique password for Facebook and change it every 60-90 days.
- Enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication.
- Be wary of phishing emails and text messages asking you to login.
- Don’t use your Facebook password on other websites.
- Review your privacy settings and limit who can see your profile and posts.
- Check your logged in sessions frequently and log out of unfamiliar ones.
- Use antivirus software and a firewall to protect your devices.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks to access Facebook.
Conclusion
Having your Facebook account hacked can be stressful, but in most cases following the proper steps will allow you to regain access within a week. Provide as many details as possible when reporting the issue and frequently check for updates from Facebook. Enable extra security features like two-factor authentication to prevent future hacks. With vigilance and good practices, you can keep control of your Facebook account.