There are a few potential reasons why you may encounter the message “Your account doesn’t exist” when trying to access Facebook:
You were hacked or your account was disabled
If your Facebook account was hacked or disabled for violating Facebook’s terms of service, you may see this message when trying to log in. Facebook will disable accounts that are spamming others, spreading misinformation, or otherwise breaking the platform’s rules.
If you think your account may have been hacked, you should try resetting your password. Go to Facebook.com and click “Forgot Password” to reset it.
If you can’t reset the password because Facebook doesn’t recognize your account, it’s possible your account was disabled by Facebook. This could happen if someone hacked your account and used it maliciously, causing Facebook to disable it.
Your account was deleted
Another possibility is that your account was deleted, either by you or by Facebook. If you intentionally deleted your own Facebook account, then tried to log back in later, you would see the “account doesn’t exist” message.
Facebook also reserves the right to delete accounts that violate their terms of service. For example, if you created a fake or duplicate account, Facebook may delete it.
Site glitch or bug
Less commonly, the “account doesn’t exist” message could be caused by a temporary glitch or bug on Facebook. The site has billions of users, so bugs do occur from time to time.
If you’re certain you didn’t delete your account, and you don’t believe it was disabled by Facebook, it may be worth trying to log in again later or from a different device. If the problem persists, you’ll need to contact Facebook support for help recovering your account.
Recovering a Disabled or Deleted Facebook Account
If your Facebook account was disabled or deleted, whether by you or by Facebook, here are some ways you may be able to recover it:
Appeal account disablement
If Facebook disabled your account, they should have sent you an email explaining why and giving you the option to appeal the decision. You typically have a limited time frame to appeal a Facebook account disablement, so act fast if you receive such an email.
The appeal process involves reviewing Facebook’s terms and agreeing not to violate them again. You may also need to provide proof of your identity. If approved, Facebook will reinstate your account.
Request account reinstatement
If your appeal window has expired, or Facebook deleted your account without warning, you can still try to recover it by requesting account reinstatement.
Go to Facebook.com and click “Forgotten account?” beneath the login fields. Follow the prompts to submit your name, email or phone number associated with your account, and a reason you believe the account was disabled in error.
Facebook will review your request and contact you if they can reinstate your account.
Contact Facebook support
If you cannot recover your disabled account through appeal or reinstatement requests, your last option is contacting Facebook support.
Visit Facebook’s Help Center and select “My Account Was Disabled” to find contact options. You can request a review via the web form, or try calling Facebook support. Be prepared to provide identifying details about the disabled account.
Keep in mind Facebook does not always reinstate accounts upon request. But for accounts disabled by mistake, their support team can be helpful.
Recovering a Deleted Facebook Account
If you intentionally deleted your own Facebook account, can you retrieve it later? Unfortunately, Facebook does not allow accounts deleted by the owner to be restored. However, all is not lost. Here are your options:
Reactivate within 30 days
When you delete a Facebook account, Facebook deactivates it for 30 days before permanent deletion. During this 30 day window, you can easily reactivate and restore access to your account.
Simply log back into Facebook using your old credentials. Facebook will detect your account is in deactivated status, and prompt you to reactivate it.
Create a new account
If it has been over 30 days since deletion, Facebook permanently removed your account from their system. You cannot retrieve your old account at this point.
Instead, you will have to create an entirely new Facebook account using a different email and/or phone number than before. Use your real identity when signing up again.
Your previous posts, photos, friends, and followers will all be gone on the new account. You’ll have to start fresh.
Retrieve data from old account
Although you cannot recover a Facebook account deleted over 30 days ago, you can retrieve the data from your old account.
Facebook allows you to download all of your information and activity data when you delete an account. Be sure to do this before deletion!
If you did not download your data beforehand, you can submit a request to Facebook to retrieve it. Go to Facebook’s Download Your Information page and select “Request a copy of your data” to get started.
Avoiding Facebook Account Deletion in the Future
Having your Facebook account unexpectedly disabled or deleted can be frustrating. Here are some tips to prevent it happening again:
Strengthen account security
Enable two-factor authentication on your Facebook account to protect against hackers trying to gain access. Update your password regularly and make it strong and unique. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites.
You can also set up login approvals, requiring you to enter a special security code to access your Facebook account from unrecognized devices. This prevents hackers from logging in even if they have your password.
Review Facebook’s policies
Read Facebook’s Terms of Service, Community Standards, and other key policies. Make sure you thoroughly understand which actions or content could risk account termination. Avoid violating any policies in your future use of Facebook.
Avoid spam and misinformation
Refrain from spreading spam or misinformation on Facebook. Don’t post clickbait links, repeatedly tag people for no reason, send unsolicited messages, or engage other disruptive behavior. Post authentic content that ensures you comply with Facebook’s rules.
Report imposters
If someone creates a fake account pretending to be you, immediately report it to Facebook. Imposter accounts often violate policies and get deleted, sometimes leading to the disabling of the real account associated with the identity.
Appeal quickly if disabled
If Facebook does disable your account again, go through the appeals process as quickly as possible. Time is limited for you to take action after an account is disabled. Respond to any emails about your account restriction right away.
Conclusion
While having your Facebook account disabled or deleted can be extremely frustrating, in many cases it is possible to recover or recreate your account. If Facebook disabled your account, submit an appeal or reinstatement request as soon as possible.
If you deleted your own account, you can easily reactivate it within 30 days. Past that window, you’ll have to sign up for a brand new account and retrieve your data separately.
Strengthening your security, avoiding policy violations, and reporting imposters can help prevent any issues with account deletion happening again in the future. With some persistence, you can most likely resume accessing Facebook if you encounter the “your account doesn’t exist” message.