There are many possible reasons why you may be experiencing issues with your Facebook account. Here are some of the most common problems and how to fix them:
Account has been disabled
If you try to login to your Facebook account and get a message saying your account has been disabled, it means Facebook has temporarily blocked access to your account. This can happen for several reasons:
- You violated Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards
- Suspicious activity was detected on your account
- Someone reported your profile or content as abusive, spam, or fake
To restore access to a disabled account, you need to contact Facebook and submit an appeal. Go to the Help Center and search for “disabled account.” You’ll be able to fill out a form explaining why you believe your account was wrongly disabled. Make sure to provide as much detail as possible.
It may take Facebook up to 24 hours to review your appeal and respond. If they find you did not violate any policies, your account will be re-enabled. However, if the violation is confirmed, you may not get your account back.
Account has been hacked
A hacked Facebook account means someone else has gained access to your profile without your permission. The hacker may change your password, post offensive content, or message your friends. Here are signs your account may be hacked:
- Your password no longer works
- Unfamiliar posts or messages appear
- Friends tell you they received strange messages from your account
- New friends were added without your knowledge
If you suspect a hack, change your password immediately. Go to Facebook’s security settings and turn on two-factor authentication for extra protection. You should also scan your computer for malware just in case. Notify your Facebook friends that your account was compromised so they know those unusual messages were not from you.
Account keeps getting locked
Frequently getting locked out of your Facebook account can be incredibly frustrating. This issue typically occurs because Facebook’s automated security systems suspect the account may be hacked. Reasons your account can get temporarily locked include:
- Logging in from an unfamiliar location or device
- Entering an incorrect password multiple times
- A hacker attempting to access your account
To unlock your account, you need to confirm your identity to Facebook. On the login screen, look for an option to submit a photo of yourself. Facebook will ask you to take a live selfie showing your face. This gets run through a facial recognition system to verify it’s really you.
Prevent your account from getting locked again by always logging in from familiar devices, using strong passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication.
Forgotten password
If you can’t remember your Facebook password, you can easily reset it:
- Go to Facebook.com and click “Forgot Password”
- Enter your email address or phone number used for your Facebook account
- Facebook will send you a password reset link
- Click the link and create a new password
- Log back into Facebook with your new password
However, if you forgot which email or phone number is associated with your account, resetting your password gets more complicated. You’ll need to submit ID to prove account ownership. Here’s how:
- On the Facebook login page, click “Need more help?”
- Select the “I don’t remember my email or phone number” option
- Complete the identity verification process by providing info like your full name, date of birth, location, and photos of your ID
As long as you can confirm your identity, Facebook support can look up your account info and help you reset your password.
Notifications not working
If you aren’t receiving notifications from Facebook on your phone or computer, here are some things to check:
- Notification settings – Go to Settings > Notifications in the Facebook app or account menu and make sure notifications are enabled.
- App permissions – The Facebook app may not have permission to send notifications on your device. Enable notifications in your phone or browser settings.
- Unfollows – You stop getting notifications from pages you unfollow. Double check that you still follow important pages.
- Message filters – Check that messages from friends aren’t getting filtered into other folders.
- App is up-to-date – Update to the latest version of the Facebook app.
- Browser is up-to-date – Update your browser or try logging into Facebook in a different browser.
If all notification settings look correct, try logging out of Facebook and logging back in. Deleting and reinstalling the Facebook app can also help resolve notification issues.
News feed not loading
Problems with your Facebook news feed loading properly can make the site frustrating and difficult to use. Here are some common fixes:
- Refresh the page – News feed fails to load sometimes. Try pulling to refresh or reloading the page.
- Check internet connection – Make sure you have a stable internet connection. Facebook may not load without a strong 3G, 4G, or WiFi signal.
- Clear browser cache – Clear your browser history and website data to purge any corrupt files or cached data from Facebook.
- Update Facebook app – An outdated version of the Facebook app can cause news feed issues. Update to the latest release.
- Update browser – Make sure your mobile browser or desktop browser is up-to-date.
- Report bug – If other users are experiencing the same problem, report the bug through Facebook’s Help Center.
In rare cases, your news feed itself may be broken. You can reset it by going to Facebook Settings > News Feed Preferences. This will restore your feed to default settings.
Chat issues
Problems with Facebook chat usually come down to connectivity and app issues. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Check internet connection – Chat won’t work without an internet connection. Make sure your device has a strong WiFi or mobile data signal.
- Test different networks – Try chatting over a different WiFi network or switch to mobile data to isolate the issue.
- Restart app – Force close and relaunch the Facebook app to refresh the chat function.
- Update Facebook app – An outdated app can cause chat bugs. Install the latest version.
- Update mobile OS – Make sure your Android or iOS operating system is up-to-date.
- Clear cache – Wipe the app cache and login again to force a fresh chat login.
If chatting with one specific friend doesn’t work, have them try force quitting the Facebook app as well to refresh the connection.
Account hacked or cloned
Having your Facebook account hacked or cloned can be devastating. A hacked account means the hacker has your password and full access. A cloned account is where someone creates a duplicate account pretending to be you.
You may suspect your account has been compromised if you notice any of the following:
- Your password stopped working
- Posts you didn’t create appear on your Timeline
- Your profile information has changed
- Your friends report getting strange messages from your account
- A new duplicate account shows up pretending to be you
If you see signs of an account hack or cloning, take action immediately by following these steps:
- Log into your account if you still can and change your password. Enable two-factor authentication for extra security.
- Report the hacked or cloned account to Facebook. Use the Report links on your account, or submit a report through Facebook’s Help Center.
- Alert your friends that your account has been compromised. Tell them to ignore any unusual messages.
- Check your computer and devices for malware. A virus could have given the hacker access to your account.
- Provide proof of identity to Facebook. To fully regain access to your account, you may need to submit copies of your ID.
Acting quickly can help minimize the damage from an account hacking. Make sure to secure your account going forward to prevent it from happening again.
Account memorialized or deactivated
Facebook can memorialize accounts of deceased users or deactivate accounts that are inactive. Here’s how to tell if your account has been memorialized or deactivated:
- Memorialized – The word “Remembering” will appear next to your name. Your profile will remain so friends can post memorials, but no one can login.
- Deactivated – Trying to login will give a “contact administrator” error. The account is disabled but can be reactivated within 30 days by logging back in.
To restore a memorialized or deactivated Facebook account you need to submit proof that you (the account holder) are still alive. For memorialized accounts, this can only be done by an immediate family member or estate executor.
Contact Facebook through the Help Center and select the forms for either “Memorialized Account” or “Deactivated Account.” Follow the identity verification steps to confirm you are the account holder.
Suspicious login activity
Facebook will notify you if suspicious or unrecognized logins to your account are detected. This could indicate your account has been hacked.
If you get an alert about suspicious activity, you should:
- Change your password immediately and enable two-factor authentication.
- Check where the login attempt occurred. If it’s an unfamiliar location, your account may be compromised.
- Scan your computer for malware in case of a security breach.
- Review posts and messages for signs of unauthorized access.
- Report the suspicious login to Facebook.
Being alerted about suspicious login activity gives you the chance to stop a hack in progress. Make sure to take preventative measures like improving your password strength and turning on login approvals.
Account has been memorialized
Facebook can memorialize someone’s account after receiving proof of their passing. Memorialized accounts are frozen to preserve their memory. Here are some ways to identify if an account has been memorialized:
- The word “Remembering” will appear next to the person’s name
- The profile pic will change to a transparent overlay
- Friends will still be able to post on the memorialized Timeline
- No one can log into a memorialized account
To request memorialization of a deceased loved one’s account, you need to submit documents to Facebook proving their passing, such as:
- Obituary
- Death certificate
- Relevant public records
Facebook also allows memorialized accounts to be permanently deleted if requested by next of kin. Contact Facebook through the Help Center if you wish to delete a loved one’s account.
Can’t access Facebook Pay
Facebook Pay allows you to make payments across Facebook apps. If you can’t access Facebook Pay, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Update payment info – Check that your credit/debit card or other payment method is up-to-date and not expired.
- Set up Facebook Pay – Make sure you have fully set up and enabled Facebook Pay in your User Settings.
- Update Facebook app – Updating to the latest version of the Facebook app may resolve issues.
- Check payment history – Confirm there are no past failed transactions causing problems.
- Contact your bank – Your bank may have disabled payments to Facebook for suspected fraud. Contact them.
- Clear cache – Delete the Facebook app and reinstall to clear out any corrupt data.
If Facebook Pay still won’t work after trying the above, reach out to Facebook Support. They can further troubleshoot and determine why you can’t access Facebook Pay features.
Get help from Facebook
If you continue experiencing unresolved issues with your Facebook account, reach out to Facebook Support for help:
- Visit the Help Community and search for your problem: www.facebook.com/help
- Start a live chat with a Facebook agent in the Help Center
- Submit a ticket describing your issue and include screenshots
- Call Facebook Support if available in your country
Providing details, context, and error messages to Facebook Support can help them quickly diagnose and fix your account issues. Be cooperative as they work to troubleshoot and restore access to your account.
Prevent future account issues
While technical glitches happen at times, there are preventative measures you can take to avoid many common Facebook account problems:
- Use a strong, unique password
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Avoid clicking suspicious links
- Install anti-virus software
- Check notifications and alerts
- Keep software up-to-date
- Monitor friend requests and tags
- Report fake accounts
Staying security-conscious helps keep your Facebook account safe. Always use caution when accessing your account on public WiFi networks. If you do experience any account issues, act quickly to limit the effects.
Conclusion
Facebook account issues can certainly be frustrating, but are often fixable. The key is first identifying what exactly is wrong, then methodically trying solutions until you resolve the problem. Make sure to take preventative measures going forward to avoid recurring account disruptions.
If you continue struggling with your Facebook account, don’t hesitate to leverage Facebook’s help resources. Their customer support team can give hands-on help getting your account back on track.