Quick Answers
If Facebook does not recognize your email address or phone number when trying to log in or reset your password, here are some quick things to try:
- Double check that you are entering the correct email or phone number associated with your account
- Try going through the password reset flow entering your email/phone again
- Make sure your email or phone number is verified on your Facebook account
- Check if you have multiple Facebook accounts and are using the wrong credentials
- Your account may be temporarily locked for security – try logging in again later
Verify Your Email/Phone is Correct
The most common reason Facebook won’t recognize your email or phone number is because you are not entering the correct one associated with your account. Here are some tips for verifying it:
- Check the email address or phone number listed on your Facebook profile
- Look for any confirmation emails or texts Facebook has sent you in the past
- Try logging in with your username instead if you remember it
- Browse your email contacts to see if you have any messages from Facebook
- Check any old Facebook emails you may have saved for clues
Make absolutely sure you are using the right login information associated with your account before trying any troubleshooting steps.
Go Through Password Reset Again
If Facebook won’t accept your email/phone when logging in, try going through the password reset process again:
- Go to Facebook.com and click “Forgot Password?”
- Enter your email or phone number again when prompted
- Facebook will send a password reset link if it recognizes your account
- Click the password reset link and change your password
- Try logging in to Facebook with your new password
If you receive the password reset email/text, then Facebook does have your correct contact info on file even if it won’t accept it when logging in directly. Resetting your password via email/text should resolve the issue.
Verify Your Email/Phone on Your Account
In order for Facebook to recognize your email address or phone number, it must be verified on your account. Here’s how to check:
- Log into your Facebook account if you can
- Go to your Settings
- Click “Security and Login”
- Under “Login approvals” check what is verified
If nothing is verified here, you will need to add and confirm your email or phone number with Facebook before using it to log in or reset your password. The verification process involves Facebook sending a code that you must enter.
Ways to Add and Verify Email/Phone
- In Facebook Settings under “Security and Login”
- When going through the password reset flow
- During initial Facebook signup process
Once successfully verified, Facebook will recognize your email/phone when logging back in.
Check for Multiple Facebook Accounts
Another possibility is that you have more than one Facebook account, and you are trying to use the login credentials from one account on a different profile. Here are some ways to check for multiple accounts:
- Try logging in with your different emails and phone numbers
- Look up your name on Facebook – are there duplicate profiles?
- Check the Facebook account linked to your Instagram if you have one
- See if the URL contains your name when visiting your profile
If you find additional accounts, make sure you are using the correct email/phone associated with the profile you are trying to access. Using the wrong credentials across accounts could make Facebook not recognize you.
Ways to Handle Multiple Accounts
- Log into each account and verify correct emails/phones
- Merge multiple accounts into one from Facebook Settings
- Delete old unused accounts if no longer needed
- Designate one account as your “primary” for login purposes
Consolidating your Facebook access into a single account can help avoid confusion logging in going forward.
Account Locked Temporarily
If you enter your login information incorrectly several times, Facebook may temporarily lock your account for security reasons. Some signs your account may be locked:
- “Your account is temporarily locked” message
- Told to try logging in again later
- Unable to reset password or access account
If this occurs, here are some tips:
- Wait a few hours and try logging in again later
- Complete any security checkpoint Facebook prompts you to
- Submit ID verification if asked by Facebook
The temporary lock is usually lifted within a day. Ensure any security info Facebook asks for matches your account details to unlock access faster.
Still Unable to Log In?
If you still cannot log into Facebook after trying the above troubleshooting, here are some additional things you can do:
- Search Facebook help articles for login issues
- Submit a support request to Facebook describing the problem
- Use account recovery options if you cannot reset password
- Create a new Facebook account and migrate data over
As a last resort, you can work with Facebook support to recover access to your account if you are the account owner. Provide any details you have about the account and proof of identity.
Prevent Future Login Issues
To avoid being locked out of Facebook again, here are some tips:
- Make sure your email/phone, password, and recovery info are up to date
- Set up two-factor authentication for extra security
- Use a password manager to store login credentials safely
- Check Facebook settings periodically for unknown logins
- Secure your account by turning on login alerts
Keeping your Facebook account information current and enabling extra security measures can help prevent you from being locked out again down the road.
Conclusion
When Facebook does not accept your email or phone number upon logging in, first double check that you have the correct credentials entered. If the issue persists, go through the password reset flow again via email/text. Ensure your contact information is verified on your Facebook account. Check for multiple Facebook profiles and log into the correct one. If your account is temporarily locked, wait and fulfill any ID verification steps Facebook requires. As a last resort, work with Facebook support for help regaining access to your account. Enabling two-factor authentication and keeping your security settings up to date can help avoid login issues in the future.