Forgetting your Facebook password can be frustrating. Luckily, Facebook offers several ways to recover and reset your password if you get locked out of your account.
Try logging in again
Before taking any further steps, try logging into your Facebook account again using your email or phone number and password. Sometimes just re-entering your login credentials will get you back into your account if you mistakenly typed the wrong password.
Reset your password
If logging in again doesn’t work, you can reset your Facebook password through Facebook’s password reset tool:
- Go to www.facebook.com and click on the “Forgotten password” link.
- Enter your email address or phone number associated with your Facebook account.
- Facebook will send you an email or text with a link to reset your password.
- Click on the reset password link and follow the instructions to create a new password.
This is the quickest and easiest way to regain access to your account if you know the email or phone number linked to it.
Use account recovery options
If you don’t have access to the email or phone number on your Facebook account, you can use Facebook’s account recovery options:
- Trusted contacts – If you previously set up trusted contacts, Facebook will allow you to send a code to those contacts to regain access.
- Copy of ID – Submit a copy of your photo ID to prove your identity.
- Special code – Enter a special backup code you received when setting up two-factor authentication.
- Questions – Answer security questions that only you know the answers to.
Facebook will prompt you to select which recovery option works best based on your account setup. Follow the instructions to get back into your account.
Search email for Facebook password reset
If you can’t recall your Facebook login details, check your email inbox:
- Search for emails from Facebook or [email protected].
- Look for any password reset emails Facebook may have sent you in the past when you tried recovering your account.
- The reset link in the email will take you to a page to create a new password.
This can help you get back into your account quickly if you requested a reset in the past but never completed the process.
Use account recovery form
If none of the above options work, you can fill out Facebook’s account recovery form:
- Go to www.facebook.com/hacked.
- Enter your full name and email or phone number on your account.
- Select options to verify your identity like uploading an ID or answering security questions.
- Explain when you lost access to your account and what recovery steps you’ve tried.
A Facebook team member will review your request and contact you if they can help recover your account. This process can take a few days but is the last resort to regain access to your account.
Avoid getting locked out
To prevent getting locked out of Facebook in the future, it’s smart to:
- Save your password in a safe, secure place in case you forget it.
- Add alternate contact info like a recovery email and trusted contacts.
- Set up two-factor authentication for extra security.
- Make sure your email and recovery options are kept up-to-date.
Taking these preventative measures makes it much easier to recover your account if you ever lose access again.
Get help from Facebook
If you try all troubleshooting steps but still can’t get back into your Facebook account, you can get assistance directly from Facebook:
- Go to Facebook’s Help Center and select the option for account access issues.
- Review Facebook’s community standards rules – if your account was disabled for violations, you’ll need to appeal the decision.
- Submit a request for help or to appeal an account disabling.
- Provide as many details as possible about your account and the issue.
Facebook’s team reviews these help requests and will contact you if they can assist in recovering your account.
Create a new account
If nothing works and there is no way to recover your old Facebook account, you may need to create a brand new account using a different email address or phone number. While inconvenient, this will at least get you access to Facebook again.
Conclusion
Getting locked out of Facebook can be stressful, but using recovery tools like password reset, trusted contacts, account forms, and contacting Facebook support can get you back in. Taking preventative steps like saving your password and enabling two-factor authentication can also make a difference. With some patience and effort, you’ll be able to recover access to your Facebook account.