Logging into Facebook can be a frustrating experience if you repeatedly enter an incorrect password. With each failed login attempt, the question arises: how many times can I get my Facebook password wrong before I’m locked out of my account?
Facebook’s password retry limits
Facebook imposes limits on how many incorrect password attempts can be made on an account as a security measure. This prevents unauthorized users from brute force guessing passwords. According to Facebook’s help pages, here are the retry limits:
- After 3 incorrect passwords, you will be prompted to confirm your identity with two-factor authentication if enabled on your account.
- After 10 incorrect passwords, you will be locked out of your account for 1 hour as a temporary security measure.
These limits apply when incorrectly logging in via Facebook’s website or mobile apps. The limits are on a per-account basis and are not IP-based. Even if you try logging in from different locations, the failed password count remains.
What happens after 10 failed attempts?
After 10 incorrect password attempts, Facebook will lock you out of your account for 1 hour before you can try again. This temporary lockout is a security feature to prevent unauthorized users from continuing to guess the password.
During this 1 hour lockout, any attempts to log in to your Facebook account will fail instantly. You will see an error message saying your account is temporarily locked, and you won’t be able to take any actions on Facebook.
The good news is the 1 hour wait is the maximum lockout period. You don’t have to wait the full hour – you can attempt logging in later (e.g. after 15 minutes) and if you enter the correct password, you will regain access to your account.
Resetting your password after lockout
If you’re unable to remember your Facebook password after being locked out, you can reset it via Facebook’s password reset options:
- Reset password email – Go to Facebook’s password reset page and enter your email or phone number used for your account. Facebook will send you a password reset link.
- Security question – If you had set a security question, you can answer it to reset your password instantly.
- Trusted contacts – You can request one of your designated trusted friends to send you a password reset link.
Resetting your password immediately lifts the 1 hour lockout, allowing you to login with your new password right away.
Factors that can trigger an automatic lockout
In some cases, Facebook may impose a longer lockout beyond 1 hour if it detects suspicious activity that could indicate an account hijacking attempt:
- Attempting to login from an unknown device or location far away from your usual logins
- A highly unusual pattern of failed logins and lockouts repeating in a short span of time
- Entering a long sequence of incorrect passwords without answering security checks in between
These triggers indicate your account may be compromised, so Facebook will lock it down for a longer duration as a precaution until you can recover it through the reset options.
How to avoid Facebook lockouts
You can take some steps to minimize the chances of getting locked out of your Facebook account:
- Enable two-factor authentication for extra login security.
- Set a strong but memorable password that’s unique from other accounts.
- Don’t attempt logging in from unfamiliar devices or locations.
- If you forget your password, use the reset options rather than guessing.
- Review your login history and secure your account if you notice suspicious activity.
Dealing with an account that’s been persistently locked
In rare cases, your Facebook account may end up in a state where it’s persistently locked for over an hour and password resets don’t work. This can happen if Facebook’s automated security systems consider your account at very high risk of compromise.
If you find yourself completely locked out, here are some options to regain access:
- Try resetting your password again after a day or two for the security algorithms to reset.
- Use your valid ID to confirm your identity through Facebook’s official account recovery process.
- Submit an appeal to Facebook support explaining it’s your own account.
With patience and persistence, Facebook support can help restore your access in most legitimate cases where automated systems overreacted. But the process may take days or weeks depending on their workload.
Facebook account recovery limits
If your account gets disabled by Facebook due to suspicious activity, there are limits imposed on how soon you can recover it through the official account recovery process:
| Number of prior recoveries | Wait time before next recovery allowed |
|---|---|
| 0 | Immediate |
| 1 | 24 hours |
| 2 | 3 days |
| 3 or more | 30 days |
The more times Facebook has had to recover your account recently, the longer they will make you wait before allowing the next one as a security precaution.
You can avoid hitting these limits by securing your account. Be wary of suspicious links, practice good password hygiene, enable two-factor authentication, and monitor your login history.
Permanent disabling for severe violations
In severe cases where an account is involved in egregious policy violations even after prior warnings and locks, Facebook may decide to permanently disable the account as a last resort action.
Some examples of serious offenses that could warrant permanent disablement include:
- Spreading extremism or inciting violence
- Sexual exploitation of children
- Coordinated inauthentic behavior and spamming
- Multiple severely violating privacy issues
If your account gets permanently disabled, there is usually no option to recover it. Facebook’s decision in such cases is final to maintain trust and safety across their platform.
Limits on creating new accounts after disablement
If your Facebook account is disabled, either temporarily or permanently, Facebook restricts your ability to simply create a new account:
- You cannot create another Facebook account unless you have a valid, unused email/phone number to verify it.
- Accounts associated with your previously known credentials may get automatically disabled.
- You have to use an untraceable connection and device if you want to start fresh.
The limits are intended to prevent repeat offender behavior through new accounts. You will have to convince Facebook you are making a genuine good faith effort if you want to return after a violation.
Appealing account locks and disablements
If your account gets locked or disabled unexpectedly, you can try appealing to Facebook through these avenues:
- File an appeal through the Facebook Help Center explaining your situation.
- Send a physical letter to Facebook’s registrar appealing your case.
- Submit copies of your ID and other identifying details.
However, appeals are rarely successful when automatic security enforcements have triggered the disablement, unless it was truly a mistake. Still, it’s worth a shot as a last resort.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of Facebook due to incorrect password attempts is inconvenient but necessary for security. The limits are designed to balance usability and prevention of unauthorized account access.
In most cases, you just need to reset your password or wait out the 1 hour lockout to regain access. Only very suspicious activity triggers longer or permanent locks, which you can appeal with proof of identity. Practicing good security hygiene is key to avoiding lockouts and smoothly accessing your account.