Having your Facebook account hacked can be frustrating and scary. Your personal information, conversations, and connections are all stored on Facebook, so a hacked account can feel like a major invasion of privacy. The good news is that Facebook has processes in place to help you regain control of your account. Here are some quick answers to common questions about what to do if your Facebook account is hacked:
How do I know if my Facebook account has been hacked?
There are several signs that may indicate your Facebook account has been compromised:
- You can’t log in to your account or get an error message saying your password is incorrect.
- Your profile information like your name, profile photo, cover photo, or bio has been changed without you doing it.
- You see posts or messages on your timeline that you didn’t create.
- Your friends see messages from your account that you didn’t send.
- Emails from Facebook about password resets that you didn’t initiate.
If you notice any of these issues, your account may be hacked. Take action right away to secure it.
Should I change my password if I think my account is hacked?
Yes, one of the first steps is to change your password. Use a strong, unique password that you don’t use on any other sites.
Go to Facebook’s password reset page and enter your email or phone number to reset your password. This will sign any other sessions out of your account on all devices.
Once you change your password, review your account’s security settings like two-factor authentication. Strengthening these settings can prevent future hacks.
Can I regain access if I’m locked out of my account?
If you can’t login because your password was changed by a hacker, use Facebook’s login approvals process.
When you attempt to login, there will be an option to enter a 6-digit code or have a code sent to your phone number or backup email on file. Entering the code will allow you to reset your password and access your account again.
If you don’t have access to your phone, email, or any login approvals, you can still get back into your account through Facebook’s account recovery process.
How does Facebook’s account recovery process work?
Facebook’s account recovery process verifies your identity so you can regain access to your account. Here are the steps:
- Request a review of your account through Facebook’s form. You’ll need to provide details like your full name, email or phone number on the account, locations you’ve logged in from, and any profile info you can remember.
- Facebook reviews your request and may ask for documents like your ID to confirm your identity.
- Once Facebook verifies your identity, they will contact you through your backup email or number with a link to reset your password.
- Reset your password, regain access to your account, and further secure it by turning on login approvals.
The review may take up to 24 hours. Be patient and provide as much helpful info as you can to show Facebook you are the rightful account owner.
How do I contact Facebook support for help?
If you are unable to regain access to your account through the account recovery steps, reach out to Facebook support:
- Request Support Through the Help Center – Log into Facebook Help Community and submit a request describing your issue and what steps you’ve taken so far.
- Use the Direct Contact Form – Fill out the hacked accounts contact form. Include as many details as possible.
- Call Facebook – You can call 1-650-543-4800 to speak with Facebook support 24/7.
Be prepared to verify your identity. Facebook’s support team will continue assisting you until you can access your account again.
How can I prevent my account from being hacked again?
Once you regain access, take steps to improve your account’s security:
- Strong Password – Create a long, unique password using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols.
- Login Approvals – Enable two-factor authentication via SMS text or authentication app.
- Login Notifications – Turn on alerts about logins from unfamiliar devices.
- Trusted Contacts – Designate 3-5 friends to help if you are locked out again.
- Authorized Logins – Remove any unfamiliar linked accounts or devices.
Checking your privacy settings, being cautious of suspicious emails/messages, and using a reputable antivirus can also help keep your account secure in the future.
What information was at risk from my hacked Facebook account?
A hacked Facebook account puts several types of information at risk for the hacker to access or misuse, including:
- Personal details like your address, phone number, family info, etc.
- Account credentials like your email, password, linked accounts.
- Posts, photos, videos, and other timeline content.
- Private messages and conversations.
- Friends list and your broader network on Facebook.
- Credit card or payment info if you have it saved on your account.
Take inventory of what kind of info you have stored on your profile. Change passwords on connected accounts and be vigilant about any suspicious activity going forward.
Should I delete my Facebook account after it was hacked?
Deleting your Facebook account is an option, but usually not required after being hacked. Resetting your password and strengthening your security settings typically resolves the direct hacking issue.
Only delete your account if you have concerns about severe leaks of personal data or the hacker damaging your account’s reputation in irreparable ways. Deleting removes all your info and content from Facebook.
If you want to continue using Facebook, focus on locking down your security instead. Enable every verification feature available and restrict your sharing settings until you feel fully comfortable again.
Can I report a hacked Facebook account to the authorities?
You can report a hacked Facebook account to law enforcement like your local police department or the FBI Cyber Division. However, they may be limited in what they can do for personal account hacks.
Facebook will have more direct power to lock the hacker out and restore your access. Police may get involved if the hack was part of a larger crime or identity theft situation.
Either way, be sure to report it both to Facebook through their help options and to your local authorities just to have the incident on file. The police report can also help validate your identity to Facebook throughout the recovery process.
How long does it take to get my hacked Facebook account back?
The timeframe to regain access to your hacked Facebook account depends on the recovery options available to you:
| Method | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Password reset with email/SMS code | A few minutes |
| Login approvals process | Up to 1 hour |
| Account recovery form | 24-48 hours |
| Direct contact with Facebook support | 1-3 days |
Have your account credentials, ID documents, and any other verification materials ready to make the process faster. Be patient as Facebook thoroughly reviews your request and information.
What should I do while waiting to regain access?
While you are waiting for Facebook to process your request, take actions like:
- Change your password on any other accounts that used the same one as your Facebook login.
- Watch for suspicious emails or texts related to your Facebook account.
- Warn your Facebook friends your account was hacked in case they see spam or strange messages.
- Document anything you remember about the hack and your account details in case Facebook asks for more info.
Staying vigilant after being hacked can reveal additional clues that help secure your account in the future.
Can I see who accessed my Facebook account without permission?
Once your account access is restored, you can check for unauthorized logins:
- Go to Settings > Security and Login
- Scroll down to Where You’re Logged In
- This shows all recently active sessions on devices and locations
- Look for any logins you don’t recognize and log them out
Facebook does not provide access logs detailing every login attempt or hacker activity. But you can view current open sessions to remove anything suspicious.
Conclusion
Having your Facebook account hacked can be stressful, but Facebook provides pathways to help you restore access and secure your account. Be persistent in following Facebook’s account recovery steps, enable all of Facebook’s security features, change any reused passwords, and continue monitoring your account closely after regaining access. Report severe or ongoing issues to both Facebook and your local law enforcement for additional support getting your account fully back under your control.