Having your Facebook account hacked or disabled can be extremely frustrating. Your account contains valuable memories and connections that you don’t want to lose access to. The good news is that Facebook has processes in place to help you recover your account, but how long does it actually take? Here’s what you need to know about the Facebook account recovery process and timeline.
Why Might Your Facebook Account Be Disabled?
There are a few key reasons why your Facebook account may become temporarily or permanently disabled:
- You violated Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards. This could be due to posting prohibited content, creating fake accounts, bullying/harassment, etc.
- Suspicious or unusual activity was detected. For example, if your account was hacked and the hacker was posting spam or malicious links.
- You have not used your account in a long time. Facebook disables accounts that have been inactive for extended periods.
- You provided false personal information when creating your account.
- Multiple users reported your account. Facebook will investigate accounts that receive a high number of reports.
If you believe your account was disabled by mistake, you can appeal the decision and request that Facebook review your case again.
How To Recover A Disabled Facebook Account
If your account has been disabled by Facebook, here are the steps you need to take to submit an appeal:
- Go to the Facebook Help Center and search for “disabled account.”
- Click on the article about disabled accounts and select “My account is disabled.”
- Facebook will ask you to confirm your identity by entering your email or mobile number associated with the disabled account.
- Select the option that best describes why your account was disabled (e.g. “I think my account was hacked”).
- Facebook will then prompt you to provide any information that can help verify your identity such as a copy of your photo ID.
- Enter any details about why you believe your account was wrongly disabled in the provided field.
- Click submit. The form goes directly to the Facebook team for reviewal.
Once you submit the disabled account appeal form, all you can do is wait for Facebook to get back to you. The company states that they “typically review appeals within 24 hours.” However, users have reported much longer wait times in some cases.
How Long Does The Facebook Appeal Process Take?
The amount of time it takes to get your disabled or hacked Facebook account back can vary quite a bit based on your individual situation. Some key factors that can impact the recovery timeline include:
- Why the account was disabled – Appeals for hacked accounts tend to take longer.
- How clearly you can prove your identity – Providing legal documents like a photo ID speeds up verification.
- The amount of information you provide – More context helps Facebook understand your case.
- How responsive you are – If Facebook requests additional info, getting back to them quickly is key.
Based on reports from users who have gone through the process, here is an overview of the typical recovery periods:
| Type of Disabled Account | Typical Recovery Time |
|---|---|
| Memorialized account | Instant – 1 day |
| Temporarily disabled account | 12 hours – 3 days |
| Disabled due to inactivity | 1 – 3 days |
| Permanently disabled account | 3 days – 1 week |
| Hacked account | 1 week – 1 month |
As you can see, most straightforward account disable cases can be resolved within 1-3 days. However, if your account was hacked or permanently disabled, the process often takes 1-4 weeks.
Tips To Speed Up The Recovery Process
Here are some tips to help expedite your Facebook account recovery:
- Provide as many details as possible – Give full context about why your account was unfairly disabled.
- Follow up regularly – If you don’t hear back within the typical timeframe, send a follow up.
- Check all communication channels – Response may come via email or as a Facebook notification.
- Be cooperative and patient – The security team is more likely to help if you’re polite.
- Submit your ID for urgent cases – If your income relies on the account, make this clear.
- Use the verification codes Facebook sends – This immediately proves account ownership.
Avoid getting frustrated and repeatedly submitting appeals, as this can actually slow down the process. Politely follow up every few days if you haven’t heard back.
What To Do If Your Appeal Is Rejected
If you go through the steps to appeal your disabled Facebook account and receive a rejection, you still have a couple options:
- Request a second review – There is an option to ask Facebook to review your appeal again.
- Submit a complaint via the Better Business Bureau – The BBB can help escalate especially unfair cases.
- Consult with a social media lawyer – They can provide legal help getting your account reinstated.
- Contact Facebook support – Keep emailing, chatting online, or calling in polite follow ups.
- Post on Facebook’s public Community Support space – Other users may be able to help.
Repeated appeals and pressure from outside sources like the BBB or legal experts may eventually lead to Facebook taking another look at your case. Don’t hesitate to politely but firmly advocate for yourself if you’re sure the disable was a mistake.
Creating A New Facebook Account
If you’ve exhausted all options for recovering your disabled account, creating a brand new account is the last resort. However, be aware that Facebook prohibits creating multiple accounts for the same person. Here are a few dos and don’ts for starting fresh:
- DO use a different email and phone number than your old account.
- DO be very careful not to violate any policies this time around.
- DO think carefully about what name you choose for your new profile.
- DON’T add the same people back as friends too quickly, or it may look suspicious.
- DON’T use the same profile photos as your disabled account.
- DON’T try to contact Facebook support about your old account.
Essentially, you need to behave like a totally new user. Avoid anything that seems like you’re trying to “reactivate” your old account. If Facebook suspects you’re the same person, your new account is likely to get banned as well.
Preventing Facebook Account Disable In The Future
Once you finally regain access to your account, make sure you take measures to avoid getting disabled again in the future:
- Turn on login approvals for extra security.
- Be very selective about third-party apps you give access to.
- Set up Login Alerts to monitor suspicious activity.
- Don’t accept friend requests from strangers.
- Report any harassing or threatening behavior.
- Avoid spamming or sharing prohibited content.
- Check notifications often so you don’t miss any violation reports.
Essentially, be extra vigilant about Facebook security best practices to protect your account. Enable as many safety features as you can. Also, make sure you stay within Facebook’s rules so that other users have no reason to report your profile.
Conclusion
Getting your disabled or hacked Facebook account reactivated can be a frustrating and time-consuming process. While Facebook claims to review appeals within 24 hours, it often takes 1-4 weeks in reality. The exact timeline depends on why your account was banned and how responsive you are providing additional verification or context. Don’t hesitate to politely follow up if your initial appeal gets rejected or you don’t hear back within a few weeks. With persistence and patience, most users are eventually able to recover access to their accounts. Just be careful not to make the same mistakes twice once your account is restored!