There are a few common reasons why Facebook may restrict access to your account or certain features. Understanding why your account has been restricted can help you resolve the issue.
You violated Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards
The most common reason for account restriction is violating Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards. Examples of violations include:
- Posting hate speech, threats of violence, or nudity
- Bullying or harassing other users
- Using a fake name or impersonating someone
- Spamming or sending unsolicited commercial messages
If you have posted prohibited content or engaged in abusive behavior, Facebook may restrict your ability to post, comment, share content, send messages, create ads, or access certain features. The length of the restriction depends on the severity and frequency of the violations.
Your account was hacked or compromised
If Facebook detects suspicious activity on your account, they may restrict it to prevent further abuse. Signs your account was hacked include:
- Posts or messages you didn’t create appearing on your profile
- Forgotten password reset emails you didn’t initiate
- Friends reporting they received spam messages from you
- Unfamiliar logins from other locations
Facebook will restrict your account while they investigate the suspicious activity. This protects your account from further misuse. Once you regain access, you should change your password and review security settings.
You have violated Facebook’s spam policies
Facebook restricts accounts that violate their spam policies. Activities considered spam include:
- Sending bulk unsolicited messages or friend requests
- Repeatedly posting duplicate or irrelevant content
- Creating multiple accounts to evade restrictions
- Using bots or third-party apps to automate posting/messaging
These activities inflate engagement metrics and degrade the user experience. If Facebook detects you’re spamming, restrictions provide a “cool down” period to curb abusive activities.
Your account is underage
Facebook requires users to be 13 years or older. If they suspect your account was created before you turned 13, they will restrict it. This protects children from potential dangers online.
To regain access, you’ll need to confirm your age. Options include:
- Submitting ID via upload or video selfie
- Providing birthdate shown on official documentation
- Getting a parent/guardian to confirm your age
Once you prove you’re old enough, the restrictions will be lifted. Facebook may also disable underage accounts completely to enforce their age policy.
You haven’t confirmed your identity
To reduce fake accounts, Facebook may require ID confirmation before letting you access certain features. If you don’t confirm your identity when prompted, restrictions may be applied.
To remove restrictions, you’ll need to submit a copy of your official ID (driver’s license, passport, etc). This proves the account is tied to a real person. Once confirmed, full account functionality should be restored.
Your account was incorrectly flagged
In some cases, accounts get incorrectly flagged for policy violations or suspicious activity when no violation occurred. Reasons this can happen include:
- False reporting by other users
- Mistakes in Facebook’s automated moderation
- Account got caught in spam filters by accident
- Glitches in Facebook’s restriction systems
If you believe your account was incorrectly restricted, you can appeal the decision. Submit information explaining why you don’t think the restriction was warranted. The Facebook reviews team will investigate and remove any wrongly-applied restrictions.
You posted from a restricted location or device
Facebook restricts accounts logged in from certain locations associated with suspicious activity. Countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Ukraine are sometimes blocked. Accessing Facebook from anonymizing networks or unauthorized third-party apps can also trigger restrictions.
To lift location-based restrictions, try logging in from home on your personal device. Avoid restricted networks/apps. Switching to a new location and device convinces Facebook your account isn’t compromised.
Your account is under review
If Facebook suspects serious violations requiring permanent disabling, they may restrict your account pending review. This prevents further abuse while they investigate.
Some reasons accounts get reviewed before permanent disablement include:
- Extreme violence/graphic content
- Child exploitation
- Terrorism promotion
- Stolen accounts or credentials
- Severe bullying/harassment campaigns
If your violation doesn’t warrant full disablement, restrictions may get lifted after review. But malicious accounts generally get removed entirely once investigated.
You have an overdue account balance
If you use Facebook ads, outstanding payments can lead to restrictions. Unpaid ad balances prevent you from editing/creating new ads or accessing ad reporting tools.
Restrictions lift automatically once you add funds and pay off your balance. Keep your account in good standing by paying ad invoices on time.
How to Get Your Facebook Account Unrestricted
Here are steps to take if your account is temporarily restricted:
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Check your email – Facebook sends notifications when they restrict accounts. The email explains why restrictions were applied.
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Confirm you violated a policy – If you clearly broke Facebook’s rules, resolve the underlying issue before appealing. Remove inappropriate posts, halt spam activities, etc.
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Request a review – You can appeal the restriction decision via the Help Center. Explain why you don’t think you violated policies.
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Provide ID verification – If restricted for underage use or unconfirmed identity, submit official documentation to prove your age/identity.
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Change passwords – For compromised accounts, reset passwords to Secure your account after regaining access.
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Avoid restricted locations/apps – Log in from home on your personal device, not anonymous networks or unapproved apps.
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Pay overdue ad balances – Clear any outstanding payments to lift restrictions related to unpaid Facebook advertising invoices.
In most cases, restrictions are temporary and can be resolved in a few days. But repeat or severe violations may lead to permanent disablement.
Why You Shouldn’t Create a New Account While Restricted
If your account gets temporarily restricted, it’s best not to create a new profile. Here’s why:
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It further violates policies – Creating a second account to evade restrictions goes against Facebook’s rules. This may result in both accounts getting disabled.
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You’ll lose your network – A new account means starting your friend/follower list from scratch. You want to regain access to your original community.
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Restrictions carry over – Any device/ID bans apply across all associated accounts. Making a new profile likely gets it instantly restricted again.
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It complicates appeals – Trying to regain access to two accounts makes the appeal process harder. Focus requests on your original profile.
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You can’t merge data – Information from the new account can’t be combined back into the old one. Keep content unified under one profile.
The best approach is resolving the problem with your current account. Be patient, follow Facebook’s instructions, and access should be restored.
Steps to Permanently Delete a Restricted Account
If restrictions are repeatedly applied or you want a fresh start, deleting your account may be an option. To permanently delete a restricted profile:
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Download your information – Access and download any data you want to retain from your account.
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Remove login access – Change your password to a random one and revoke any login approvals for other apps/sites.
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Submit deletion request – Use the Facebook Help Center to submit a request to delete your restricted account.
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Confirm deletion – Follow email instructions to confirm you want permanent deletion. Accounts can take up to 90 days to fully purge.
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Check associated apps – Remove any app authorizations no longer needed. Your profile may still be visible if other apps retain access.
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Delete from devices – Remove the Facebook app and clear out any locally cached data from your phones/tablets.
Once confirmed, Facebook will schedule your account for termination. Back up anything important since the deletion can’t be reversed.
Mistakes to Avoid with a Restricted Account
While dealing with an account restriction, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:
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Getting locked out – Don’t change passwords or revoke login approvals until you regain access. Doing so prematurely may lock you out.
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Forgetting appeal windows – Review restrictions quickly and appeal within Facebook’s timeframes. Delayed responses may get denied.
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Missing emails – Check spam folders so you don’t overlook important notices from Facebook.
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Providing fake IDs – Submitting fabricated documentation only makes matters worse. Use legitimate proofs of age/identity.
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Deleting evidence – Don’t remove questionable content before review. Preserve context for appeals.
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Panicking and overriding restrictions – Attempts to bypass restrictions will get your accounts completely disabled.
Exercising patience and working calmly through the proper channels is crucial. Avoid knee-jerk reactions that make the situation worse.
Conclusion
Facebook account restrictions are often temporary but can be frightening and frustrating. The best course of action is reviewing notices carefully, resolving any policy violations, and appealing decisions you feel were made in error. With some diligence and composure, you can frequently regain full access within a week or two.
For serious abuses, deletion may be the only recourse. But innocent mistakes generally don’t warrant starting over from scratch. Handle restrictions methodically and you can expect to recover your online presence.