There are a few common reasons why Facebook may not be allowing you to confirm your identity when trying to log in or make changes to your account:
You recently changed your name or other account information
If you recently changed your name, added a middle name, got married, or made another change to your account, Facebook will often require you to confirm your identity again before making further changes. This is a security measure to ensure the right person is accessing the account after major changes.
You may need to provide documentation like a driver’s license or passport to confirm it’s really you trying to access the account. Be patient and go through the identity confirmation process – once completed, you should be able to make changes and log in normally.
Your account was reported for violating Facebook policies
If your account has been reported by others for harassment, hate speech, impersonation, or other violations of Facebook’s terms, your ability to edit your profile or make changes may be temporarily disabled.
You may see messages like “Please Confirm Your Identity” or “Your Account is Temporarily Locked.” This is Facebook’s way of putting a hold on your account until it can be reviewed.
To restore access, you will need to confirm your identity by providing a government-issued ID. You may also need to remove any content that violated Facebook’s rules. If your account is permanently disabled due to repeat violations, the option to confirm your ID will no longer be available.
You’re accessing Facebook from a new device or location
Facebook may prompt identity confirmation if you are trying to log in from a device, web browser, or location that’s different from what you usually use to access Facebook. This is to prevent unauthorized access.
For example, if you typically log in from your home computer in the United States, and attempt to log in from a phone in another country, Facebook will be more suspicious and require extra verification before granting access.
Once you successfully confirm your identity while logging in from the new location, it should remember that device and stop prompting for confirmation every time.
Your account was hacked
If there are signs your Facebook account has been compromised, such as posts you didn’t make or messages sent without your knowledge, Facebook will restrict access to prevent further abuse.
You will need to go through a heavier identity confirmation process, likely requiring the submission of a photo ID, before access is restored. You may also need to change your password and review your security settings to prevent future hacking.
You have ad-blocking or privacy software that interferes with Facebook
Some ad blockers, VPNs, firewalls, and anti-tracking software can inadvertently block or alter components that Facebook uses to confirm identity and authenticate accounts.
Try disabling these types of browser add-ons and privacy tools temporarily to see if that allows Facebook to properly recognize you. You can switch them back on after successfully accessing your account.
Your account was incorrectly flagged for suspicious activity
Facebook’s automated security systems are not foolproof. Sometimes they flag legitimate accounts by mistake, triggering identity confirmation screens when nothing is actually wrong.
This is frustrating but the best move is to calmly go through Facebook’s verification process. Provide as much corroborating information as you can, such as email addresses you’ve used, locations you’ve logged in from, profile details, etc. This will help Facebook see that it’s really your account and override any faulty signals suggesting otherwise.
When Facebook asks you to confirm your identity, here are the steps to take:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Provide your full date of birth as listed on your Facebook account. This helps confirm basic account information. |
| 2 | Select trusted friends to confirm your identity. Choose friends you know well who can verify the account belongs to you. |
| 3 | Upload a government-issued photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport. Make sure the name, photo, and other details match what’s on your Facebook account. |
| 4 | Enter a confirmation code sent to your email or mobile number on file. This proves you have access to log-in credentials associated with the account. |
| 5 | Provide additional information like locations where you’ve logged in, previous names or nicknames used, profile details, etc. The more accurate details you can give, the better. |
Be patient during the process – it may take Facebook some time to review and validate the identity confirmation information you provide.
If you continue having trouble, you can try contacting Facebook support. Explain that you are the legitimate owner of the account but cannot confirm your identity for some reason. Provide as much helpful context and account history as possible.
Why does Facebook require identity confirmation?
Facebook asks users to confirm their identities before making major account changes for a few key reasons:
- To prevent unauthorized access by hackers, scammers, or other bad actors
- To ensure compliance with laws and regulations around real name use
- To honor requests from legal authorities investigating crimes or terms of service abuses
- To reduce impersonation, trolling, harassment, and misinformation
- To protect users from account takeovers after password compromises
Essentially, it boils down to security and trust. Facebook wants to make sure you are who you say you are, especially before changing sensitive information or settings. Mandatory identity checks combat the epidemic of fake and compromised social media accounts.
While inconvenient at times, legitimate users generally prefer the added security of identity confirmation over the dangers of impersonation and hacking that would exist without it. It helps make Facebook a safer, more trusted community overall.
Tips for a smooth identity confirmation process
To maximize your chances of quickly regaining access when Facebook prompts for identity confirmation, keep the following tips in mind:
- Make sure the name on your Facebook exactly matches the name on your government ID. Middle names, suffixes, etc. must align.
- Keep your profile photos clearly showing your face. Avoid joke images, cartoon avatars, etc.
- List your current city on your profile. Don’t put made up locations.
- Add your mobile number and backup email for verification codes to be sent to.
- Choose trusted friends and family as identity verifiers who know you well.
- Respond promptly to all identity confirmation notifications and provide thorough info.
Following these best practices will help Facebook see that you’re a real person with an authentic account. That will smooth the process when identity checks are required.
What to do if you can’t confirm your identity with Facebook
If providing your ID, social networks, verification codes, and every other detail requested still doesn’t allow you to regain access to your Facebook account, here are some potential solutions:
- Double check that all details provided match your account exactly and are accurate
- Try logging in and confirming your identity from the locations and devices you usually use to access Facebook
- Make sure you don’t have any ad blockers, privacy tools, or VPNs active that could interfere with confirmation
- Consider replacing your profile photo with a clear image of your face looking directly at the camera
- Contact Facebook support, explain your situation calmly and thoroughly, and request review by a human
- Be patient and persistent – identity reviews can sometimes take a day or more for Facebook to complete
With enough valid information provided, most legitimate users are ultimately able to regain access even if initial confirmation attempts fail.
Conclusion
Having your Facebook access disrupted by identity confirmation requests can certainly be annoying. But try to remember that the steps are in place to protect your account and personal information. Providing accurate details that align with your account and a little patience are usually all that’s needed to get back to normal access. And in the rare cases where that doesn’t work, Facebook support can manually assist – just be calm and persistent in your outreach to them. With billions of users, security is essential, so Facebook will want to help restore rightful account access.