Having your Facebook account locked due to suspicious activity can be frustrating and concerning. However, there are usually straightforward steps you can take to regain access to your account.
Common Reasons for Account Lockouts
There are a few common reasons why Facebook may lock your account due to suspicious activity:
- Someone else tried to log in to your account from an unknown device or location
- Your account was compromised by a hacker or scammer
- You have an unusually high number of login attempts
- Your account was reported for violating Facebook’s terms of service
- Facebook’s automated systems flagged your account as suspicious
In most cases, these lockouts are temporary security measures while Facebook investigates the suspicious activity. However, it’s important to take steps to secure your account and prove you are the legitimate owner.
How to Unlock Your Account
Here are the main ways to get your Facebook account unlocked:
Request an Account Review
The easiest solution is to ask Facebook to review your account directly. To do this:
- Go to Facebook and attempt to log in as usual.
- You will see a message that your account is locked. Click on “Find out why”.
- This will take you to the Help Center. Click “Review Account Lockout”.
- Select “My account is locked” from the menu.
- Facebook will ask you to confirm your identity by entering a security code sent to your email or mobile number.
- Once confirmed, click “Continue” and Facebook will review your account.
If there was no suspicious activity, Facebook will unlock your account immediately. If further investigation is needed, it may take up to 24 hours. This is the fastest way to regain access in most situations.
Reset Your Password
If someone else accessed your account, resetting your password can help secure it. To do this:
- Go to Facebook and click “Forgot Password?” below the login fields.
- Enter your email or mobile number and click Search.
- Facebook will email you a link to reset your password. Click the link.
- Create a new password and re-enter it to confirm.
- Log in with your new password.
Resetting your password logs out anyone else who may have accessed your account. However, it does not necessarily unlock accounts locked for other reasons.
Use Facebook’s Help Center
The Facebook Help Center has tools to unlock accounts and recover passwords:
- Hacked Accounts – Follow prompts to secure and regain access to accounts compromised by hackers.
- Disabled Accounts – Request a review if your account was disabled for violations.
- Compromised Passwords – Get help recovering or resetting passwords to secure accounts.
Go to the Help Center and search for your specific issue, then follow the steps to regain access safely.
Wait for Facebook to Unlock Account
If the above options do not work, you may simply need to wait for Facebook to complete its security review. The company typically unlocks accounts within 24 hours if no violations are found. Be patient and avoid logging in repeatedly, as this can be flagged as additional suspicious activity. You can also submit an appeal if you believe the lockout was an error.
Prevent Future Lockouts
Once back in your account, take steps to prevent future suspicious activity lockouts:
- Strong Passwords – Create a unique, complex password that cannot be easily guessed.
- Two-Factor Authentication – Add a second login step for increased security.
- Check Login Activity – Review locations of recent logins for any unknown access.
- Remove Unknown Sessions – Log out of active sessions on unknown browsers and devices.
- Avoid Suspicious Links – Don’t download files or click links in messages from unknown users.
Following Facebook’s security recommendations can help protect your account from compromise moving forward. Be on the lookout for any unusual activity and report suspicious behavior.
Get Help from Facebook Support
If you cannot regain access to your account through the above steps, reach out to Facebook Support directly:
- Go to the Facebook Help Center and search for your issue.
- Review recommended troubleshooting steps.
- Open a support ticket if your issue is not resolved.
- Explain your situation in detail to Facebook’s support team.
- Respond promptly to any requests for additional information.
Facebook Support can investigate issues with locked accounts and restore access if no violations are found. Be patient as reviews can take 1-2 business days in some cases.
When to Contact Law Enforcement
In cases of serious unauthorized access or hacking incidents, you may need to get law enforcement involved:
- Your account was compromised and used maliciously by someone else.
- Sensitive personal data like identities or bank info was accessed.
- Unknown users are harassing, stalking or threatening you.
- Significant financial loss resulted from account misuse.
File detailed police reports regarding the suspicious activity. Give law enforcement information like dates, locations, device types, and account behaviors. Facebook may request a copy of the report to assist their investigation.
Seek Legal Help for Ongoing Issues
For serious or ongoing account access issues, consulting a lawyer may help:
- An attorney can formally request records from Facebook regarding account access, complaints, disabling, etc.
- They can send cease and desist notices if harassment persists after regaining account access.
- If account access is permanently lost, they may be able to negotiate data retrieval with Facebook.
- Civil litigation is an option if significant damages like financial loss or reputational harm occurred.
Facebook provides a guide for law enforcement and legal requests. Formal legal action should be a last resort for unresolved account disputes.
Conclusion
Facebook account lockouts due to suspicious activity are generally temporary security measures. In most cases, you can regain access within 24 hours by resetting passwords, requesting reviews, and improving account security. Persistent or serious issues may require help from Facebook Support, law enforcement, or legal counsel. With some patience and diligence, you can usually resolve these lockouts and get back into your Facebook account.