Having an inactive Facebook account can be frustrating, especially if you relied on it to stay in touch with friends and family. There are several reasons why your account may no longer be active, but the good news is that in many cases the issue can be resolved. This article will provide an overview of why your Facebook account may be inactive, steps you can take to reactive it, and what to do if you are unable to regain access.
Why is My Facebook Account Inactive?
There are a few main reasons why your Facebook account could become inactive:
- You haven’t logged in for an extended period of time. If you don’t use your Facebook account for several months, Facebook may deactivate it due to inactivity.
- You violated Facebook’s terms of service. Things like using a fake name, harassing other users, or posting prohibited content can get your account disabled.
- Your account was hacked. Unfortunately hacked accounts are common on Facebook. A hacker may change your login details and prevent you from accessing your account.
- There was suspicious activity on your account. Facebook has automated systems that flag suspicious behavior that could indicate your account was compromised. This triggers your account to be temporarily disabled.
- You requested your account to be deleted. If you chose to delete your Facebook account, after a period of 14 days it is permanently disabled.
Knowing the potential reasons why your account is inactive is useful context when figuring out your next steps.
Account Inactivity
If you haven’t accessed your Facebook account in several months, the most likely reason it has become inactive is due to prolonged inactivity. Facebook regularly reviews accounts that have not been logged into, and disables access if they have been unused for an extended period of time.
The specific amount of time that triggers inactivity actions may vary, but typically falls in the range of 6-12 months. This is done by Facebook to free up names for new users, and reduce the number of unused accounts in their system.
Violations of Terms of Service
Activities that go against Facebook’s terms of service can easily get your account shut down. Some of the most common violations that lead to inactive accounts include:
- Using a fake name
- Bullying, harassing, or threatening other users
- Posting hate speech, nudity, or graphic violence
- Sharing copyrighted or illegal content
- Creating duplicate or misleading accounts
If Facebook detects or is alerted to any of these policy violations, they may instantly disable your ability to access the account pending investigation. Serious or repeated offenses can lead to permanent account termination.
Account Hacking
Hackers frequently target Facebook due to its popularity and the personal information stored in many accounts. A cybercriminal may gain access to your account in various ways, including:
- Phishing for your login credentials
- Brute force attacks to guess your password
- Malware on your computer to steal passwords or session cookies
- Accessing your account on a shared, public, or compromised computer
- Purchasing logins on the dark web
Once in your account, a hacker can change your credentials locking you out, or leverage your friends list and information for identity theft and scams. Facebook monitors for suspicious activity and may disable your account if it appears compromised, but you will need to regain access yourself.
Suspicious Activity
Facebook uses advanced algorithms and monitoring to detect suspicious patterns that could signal an account takeover. Things like an unusual login location, changed profile information, messaging random connections, or posting questionable links can trigger automated security reviews.
If Facebook’s systems flag your account for suspicious activity, you may receive an alert and be temporarily locked out as a security precaution. This requires you to reset your password and revalidate your identity to use the account again. It is an inconvenience, but done to secure your account if it appears compromised.
Account Deletion
There is always the possibility your Facebook is inactive because you chose to delete your account. When you request account deletion, Facebook initiates a 14-day waiting period before permanently disabling access.
This gives you a window to change your mind and cancel deletion. But if the 14 days lapses your account is removed from Facebook’s systems and cannot be reactivated. Any pages, groups, or events associated with the account will also be permanently deleted.
Steps to Reactivate Your Inactive Account
If you find yourself locked out of your inactive Facebook account, don’t panic. In many cases you can successfully restore access and recover your profile. Here are the steps to reactivate your inactive or disabled Facebook account:
- Try logging in from Facebook’s homepage. Enter your username and password like normal to see if this immediately resolves the issue.
- Reset your password if you cannot login. Use Facebook’s password reset form and send a reset link to your email.
- Check any alternate emails or phone numbers on your account. Facebook may send a notification there if your account has been disabled.
- Submit ID to confirm your identity. Facebook may prompt you to submit a scan of your photo ID to reactivate your account after long periods of inactivity or suspicious access.
- File an appeal if your account was disabled. If your account was disabled by Facebook you can file an appeal with more details to get it reinstated.
- Select account deletion cancellation during the 14 day window.
Walking through these troubleshooting steps will cover all the common scenarios that lead to inactive accounts. In many cases you can regain access yourself, but if not, reaching out the Facebook support team for personalized help is recommended.
Log In Normally
Before going through more intensive steps, first try to simply log in from Facebook’s homepage with your username and password as normal. There is a chance it was a temporary glitch, your account credentials were reset already, or logging in confirms your identity and immediately reactivates the account.
If you are able to log in successfully, be sure to go through your account privacy and security settings. Enable multi-factor authentication if it is not already turned on for stronger account security moving forward.
Reset Your Password
If logging in regularly fails, the next step is resetting your account password. Use Facebook’s password reset form and submit your email or mobile number to get a reset link sent to you.
Click the password reset link and enter a new password. With your new login credentials you may now be able to access your account successfully. Be sure to select a strong, unique password to improve your account’s security.
Check for Notifications
Facebook may attempt to contact you if they have disabled your account due to suspicious activity. Check any alternate emails or mobile numbers associated with your Facebook account for messages from Facebook security or support teams.
These notifications often contain important account recovery steps or confirmation codes you can use to regain access to your profile. Don’t ignore or delete the messages, as they may hold the key to getting your account running again.
Submit Photo ID
If your account has been inactive for a prolonged period or there are concerns it may be compromised, Facebook will ask you to submit a scan of your government issued photo ID. This allows you to prove your identity and prompt reactivation of your account.
You will need to provide a scan or photo of your driver’s license, passport, national ID card, or other identification document. Make sure your full name, photo, and ID number are clearly visible. Obscuring any information may delay review and restoration of your account access.
Appeal Disabled Account
If violations of Facebook’s terms prompted your account to be disabled, you will need to go through an appeals process for it to be reinstated. When logged out, go to the Facebook Help Center and search for the appeals form.
You will need to provide details on why you believe your account was wrongly disabled. Make your case for reinstatement and explain why you should regain access. Success depends on the severity of the original violation, but appeals are often approved.
Cancel Account Deletion
If you requested your Facebook account be permanently deleted, you actually have a 14 day window where you can reverse course and cancel the deletion process. Simply log in within 14 days and go to your account settings.
Under the General Account Settings menu locate the option to “Cancel Deactivation.” Selecting this will stop your account from being disabled and keep it active moving forward.
What to Do if Account Cannot Be Reactivated
Despite your best efforts, there is a chance you may be unable to get your inactive Facebook account up and running again. If you have exhausted all self-service troubleshooting options and appeals avenues, here are some next steps to consider:
- Contact Facebook Support for personalized help.
- Submit identity verification documents again.
- Create a new Facebook account.
- Download an archive of your data.
- Let friends know you lost account access.
- Focus your online presence on other platforms.
Facebook Support
Getting one-to-one assistance from Facebook’s support team is a good option if you cannot resolve the account issues yourself. Describe your situation in detail and they may be able to investigate and reactivate your account.
However, due to the massive user base keep in mind support response times can be slow. Have patience and be persistent following up if you do not hear back right away.
Resubmit Identity Documents
There is a chance verification failed when originally submitting your photo ID or other identity documents to Facebook. Check if there is an option to resubmit your documents for another review.
If prompted, send your materials again making sure to follow all instructions carefully. Use a clear, high quality scan or image to facilitate approval during the second review.
Create New Facebook Account
If your previous Facebook account cannot be recovered, starting fresh with a brand new account is an option. Use an alternate email and mobile number during sign up.
You will not have access to your old profile, posts, or network. But a new account lets you reconnect with friends who are still on Facebook and share future life updates.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| – Get back on Facebook platform | – Lose original profile and posts |
| – Reconnect with friends | – Have to rebuild friend network |
| – Share new posts and photos | – No access to old messages |
Weigh the pros and cons before deciding if starting fresh makes sense based on how you previously used Facebook.
Download an Archive of Your Data
If you have truly lost access for good, at minimum you should download an archive of your Facebook data for your records. Here are steps to request a copy of your Facebook data:
- Go to Facebook Settings and select “Your Facebook Information.”
- Click “Download Your Information” and pick data categories to include.
- Enter your account password when prompted to confirm request.
- Facebook will email you download link when archive ready.
- Save your Facebook data to a safe location.
Your downloaded Facebook data will provide historical records, photos, messages and more even if you cannot access the live account any longer.
Inform Friends You Lost Access
Let close connections on Facebook know that you can no longer access your old account if it appears it will not be restored. This prevents confusion if you seem to suddenly stop responding on Messenger or commenting on their posts.
Posting from a new account or emailing friends directly can help spread the word your old Facebook access has been lost. Give them any updated contact details so you can stay in touch through other methods.
Focus on Other Platforms
Consider focusing your social media presence on sites and apps beyond Facebook if regaining access to your account proves impossible:
- Twitter – Post short text updates.
- Instagram – Share photos and videos.
- Snapchat – Send disappearing messages.
- LinkedIn – Maintain professional connections.
- Nextdoor – Connect locally.
Each platform has its own strengths for staying socially engaged online even without Facebook access. Spread your activity across sites best aligned with how you want to interact.
Conclusion
Losing access to your Facebook account can certainly be frustrating. However the steps covered in this guide should help get it reactivated in many cases through self-service troubleshooting and dedicated support resources.
Be sure to enable extra security precautions like two-factor authentication when you regain access to stay safely connected going forward. And if your account cannot be recovered exploring alternative social platforms helps fill the Facebook gap.