Has your Facebook account been blocked? There are two ways to get your ban lifted:
- If you’ve been temporarily banned: Wait until Facebook lifts the ban (ranging from a few hours to 30 days).
- If you’ve been permanently banned: Appeal your Facebook ban. Check out our step-by-step guide below.
Both temporary and permanent bans typically result from violating Facebook’s Community Guidelines, such as by using a fake name, posting spam, or engaging in hateful speech.
You can also get locked out of your account if you fail a security check upon logging in from an unfamiliar location. In this case, simply use the code sent to you by Facebook in order to pass the security check. You can also try using NordVPN to change your virtual location.
Learn more about Facebook bans, how to avoid them, and how to send an appeal in the article below.
Facebook is a great platform to share the latest updates on your life. Unfortunately, you might find yourself unable to do so because you’ve landed in “Facebook jail” — or, in other words, your Facebook account has been banned.
This article tells you how to get unbanned from Facebook. We’ll also discuss how long Facebook bans last, why Facebook “jails” users, and how to prevent your Facebook account from getting suspended.
How to Get Unbanned From Facebook
There are two ways to get unbanned from Facebook, depending on the type of ban. Keep in mind that Facebook bans happen on the account-level, making it almost impossible to get access to your account back without going through Facebook’s official channels. We’ll discuss these below.
1. Wait until the ban is lifted
Facebook often tries to give users a chance to “correct” their behavior rather than flat-out deleting their accounts. Offenses that aren’t extremely severe will usually get you a temporary ban, during which you can’t post or create any content.
It might seem obvious, but when you’re only temporarily banned from Facebook, you can just wait it out. Temporary Facebook bans can last from several hours to several days.
How long do Facebook bans last?
Apart from the severity of the violation, the number of bans you’ve had before will determine how long Facebook will restrict your account. Below, you’ll find a brief overview of different Facebook bans.
| Number of Offenses | Consequences |
|---|---|
| One | You only get a warning. |
| Two to six | Facebook will restrict certain features, such as posting in groups, for several hours. |
| Seven | You can’t create any content for a day. This includes posting, commenting, and creating a Facebook page. |
| Eight | You can’t create any content for three days. |
| Nine | You can’t create any content for a week. |
| Ten or more | You’re unable to create any content for 30 days. |
Note:
If Facebook deems your violation severe enough, you might face additional restrictions. Moreover, if you keep repeating the same offenses, Facebook might disable your account.
2. File a Facebook suspension appeal
Is your Facebook account permanently banned? If you believe Facebook disabled your account without a good reason, you can request a review. The Facebook support team will then evaluate if their decision was fair.
To file a Facebook suspension appeal, follow these steps:
- Go to Facebook’s page for appeals to account suspensions.
- In the corresponding fields, enter your email address or mobile phone number, and your full name as listed on the account.
- Upload a digital copy of your ID. This can be a passport photo, a driver’s license, a national identity card, or anything else of that nature.
- Beneath the “Choose Files” button, there might be a field titled “Additional information.” If this is the case, use it to explain why your ban was unjust or why you believe it was a mistake.
- Click on “Send.”
If Facebook requires any more information after reviewing your appeal, they will contact you.
What is Facebook Jail?
Being in “Facebook jail” might sound ominous, but it’s just an informal way of saying a Facebook user is temporarily banned and prevented from creating any content with their account.
The term “Facebook jail” refers to blocks and bans that result from a clear violation of Facebook guidelines. These include posting spam, objectionable content, or copyright-infringing media.
What happens when you’re in Facebook jail?
When you’re in “Facebook jail”, you get a message saying you’ve violated Facebook’s Community Standards. You’ll no longer be able to create any content on the platform, such as posts, comments, or pages, for the duration of the ban.
However, you’ll still be able to use the platform passively and see other users’ content. To find out how long “Facebook prison sentences” generally last, check out the above section on Facebook ban durations.
Why Does Facebook Ban Accounts?
Facebook can decide to ban an account for many different reasons, such as:
- An account name that Facebook thinks is fake
- Very high Facebook activity that FB considers spamming
- Posting objectionable content that violates Facebook’s policy
- Copyright violations
Below, we’ll discuss these reasons for account suspension in more detail.
1. A fake account name
If Facebook suspects your account doesn’t include your real name as shown on your ID, then they might disable or delete your account. Now, you might say this makes it impossible to protect your privacy on Facebook — and we agree 100 percent.
However, Facebook makes it very clear that the above is not their priority. This is what it says in its Community Guidelines: “Facebook is a community where everyone uses the name they go by in everyday life. This makes it so that you always know who you’re connecting with.”
Text that might make Facebook believe your name is fake include the following:
- Numbers, symbols, incorrect or strange capitalization, repeating characters, or punctuation
- Using letters or characters from different languages
- Professional titles, such as M.D., Prof., etc.
- Using common words or phrases
- Curse words or offensive terms
2. Spam
Facebook is not a fan of spam. In other words, if you post or share a lot of content in a short time, you might get banned. The same goes for liking lots of posts or pages, sending out tons of friend requests, or “over-interaction” of any kind.
Facebook also states you shouldn’t incite others to “over-interact” with your content under false pretenses. For instance, encouraging people to click on a link that doesn’t lead to the promised page can also get you a ban.
Facebook doesn’t give any exact numbers to explain what constitutes spam. However, Facebook considers the following actions to be “spammy”:
- Sending other users “unwanted content or requests”
- Sending “bulk messages”
- Posting an “excessive” number of links or images to someone’s timeline
- Sending friend requests to people you don’t know personally
3. Posting or sharing objectionable content
Facebook has a huge “Community Standards” section on objectionable content. You should refrain from posting or sharing content that includes the following:
- Show, promote, or incite violence
- Depict child or adult sexual exploitation
- Bully or harass other users
- Show nudity and/or sexual activity
- Promote or lead to crime
- Deceive or lead to fraud
- Misinform others or spread lies
- Constitute hate speech
Posting or sharing content in one of these categories will surely send you straight to Facebook jail. Depending on the severity of your violation, you could face more severe consequences, such as account deletion.
4. Copyright violations
Facebook can ban you not just based on the nature of the content, but also where your content comes from. If you post someone else’s content, but present it as your own, Facebook will likely remove it.
These intellectual property rights can include anything from company trademarks to media such as music and videos.
How to Prevent Getting Banned on Facebook
We have now seen what kind of bans Facebook gives and why they ban users. Make sure you follow these tips to keep you out of Facebook jail:
- Observe Facebook’s rules for name creation. Avoid fake-sounding names or names that include numbers, symbols, or offensive phrases.
- Avoid spam or spam-like behavior, such as posting ten things on your timeline within one hour.
- Stay away from what Facebook considers objectionable content. This includes violence, bullying, hate speech, misinformation, sexual exploitation, and others.
- Avoid infringing on others’ copyright. When in doubt, it’s best to ask the author’s permission before sharing or posting something.
- Use a VPN to avoid receiving security checks from Facebook. Facebook typically sends security checks when it detects that you’re in an unfamiliar location. You can get yourself temporarily locked out of your account if you fail the security check.
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
How to Use a VPN to Avoid Facebook Security Checks
Facebook will ask you to perform a security check when you log in from an unrecognized location. Failing the security check can get you locked out of your account.
Are you traveling abroad? Virtual private networks (or VPNs) let you change your current IP address to an IP address from your home country. This reduces the chances of Facebook detecting an unfamiliar location.
Here’s a quick and easy guide on how to use Facebook with a VPN:
- Visit the NordVPN website and sign up for a subscription. NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee lets you try out the service for free. We recommend this service for its top-notch speeds, customer service, and privacy features.
- Install NordVPN on your device. NordVPN is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone devices.
- Open the NordVPN app and choose a location from the list of servers. For example, if you’re from the US and are visiting Japan, you should choose a US location to try and avoid getting a security check.
- That’s it! You can now browse Facebook as usual.
Conclusion: Two Ways to Get Unbanned From Facebook
Going to Facebook jail doesn’t have to be the end of the world. There are a couple of things you can do to get around Facebook restrictions:
- Simply wait if it’s just a temporary ban (a few hours to 30 days).
- Appeal the Facebook ban using the official form.
Do you want to learn how to get your other social media accounts unbanned? Check out the useful guides below:
- Accessing WhatsApp Abroad
- How to Get Unbanned From TikTok
- How to Access Instagram in Russia
- What to Do If Skype is Blocked in Your Country
- How to Get Unbanned from Omegle
- How to Get Unbanned from Grindr
Do you have a specific question about Facebook bans and how to get unbanned on Facebook? Check out our FAQ below to see if we’ve already answered your question. If we haven’t, feel free to leave us a comment below.
There are several ways of getting unbanned on Facebook, depending on the type of ban you’re facing:
- Wait it out if you’re facing a temporary ban. These bans can last from a few hours up until 30 days.
- Appeal your ban if you believe it’s unjust.
- Use a VPN to get around Facebook restrictions of a geographic nature.
The duration of your Facebook ban primarily depends on how many times you have been banned before. Moreover, more severe offenses can carry harsher punishments and bans. Depending on these factors, your ban could range from a few hours to 30 days.
The time it takes to get unbanned from Facebook depends on the type of ban and how you proceed. If you wait for a temporary ban to be lifted, this could take anywhere from a few hours to 30 days, depending on the ban. If you appeal a bean, you’ll often get a response in five business days. Using a VPN will get rid of certain restrictions immediately.
If we’re talking about a literal Facebook ban, in the sense that Facebook blocked you because of a rule violation, the only way to circumvent it would be by filing an appeal or creating a new account.
More so than “banning your IP address,” Facebook could block certain features depending on your IP address. They could also give you an additional security check if your IP shows that you’re in a different part of the world all of a sudden. You can get around these inconveniences by using a VPN.
My Facebook account was hacked. And my wife reported the account because of it being hacked. So Facebook I guess you can say pulled my account not before the hackers changed my email address password and date of birth. I paid over $80 to get it back and now it's banned and I can't get it back. So now Facebook won't let me get it back until I pay more money I don't have no more money I'm on ssi disability and stretch my funds as far as I can. I need a loop hole. Please help me get 15 years of my kids growing up.
Facebook never asks users to pay money to get access back to their account, so whatever you do, do not pay them. Other people claiming they can get your account back in exchange for money are scammers. Make sure you contact Facebook through official means only, so you can make sure you're not dealing with a scammer. To get back your personal account, you can use this official page. Facebook also offers a specific page to help you out when you've been hacked that we'd advise you to use: facebook.com/hacked. We hope this helps!
my fb account was banned - We Cannot Review the Decision to Disable Your Account
Your Facebook account was disabled because it did not follow our Community Standards. We have already reviewed this decision and it cannot be reversed.
I don't agree with that - it can't be restored :(
Hi Piret! We're sorry to hear that. Unfortunately, if Facebook has already gone over your appeal, there is little more to do, especially if the account indeed violated the Community Standards. If that wasn't the case, you could try to reach out to them again and make your case, but chances are you will still get the same reply. You could attempt to create a new Facebook account, but we'd advise you to follow these guidelines to prevent future bans. Good luck!
Please Facebook team unburn my Facebook
Hi Bharat,
If you don’t know why you were blocked, you can go to this page and file an appeal. Check out our article above for help in filling out the form. Facebook should be able to provide you with an answer and unban your account if it was blocked by mistake.
Any information how to get a fan page on Facebook published again if Facebook has unpublished it? This past month we've lost over 3 million fans across a few pages when they updated the new page experience. Every admin on the pages received a 30 day ban from managing profiles (the fan pages), once the ban was lifted 3 of the admins have been restricted from posting in groups indefinitely it says. None of the pages that were unpublished had any violations or restrictions on them. No issues in the support inbox on any of them either. Is there any way to contact Facebook directly and reach a person to look over the issues coming about from the latest update? I've disagreed on the pages but it just froze and crashed so it did not go through the system I don't think. We have messaged Facebook though the support inbox and one admin had the option to request a review on the group ban, facebook replied to the review and said the ban had been lifted but it is still in place on the profile. We have also used the "report a bug" to them several times with no luck. Any insight or advice you could offer moving forward would be great. Thanks!
Hi Mitchell! We're sorry to hear that happened. Unfortunately, Facebook can be hard to reach even through their own systems. We'd advise you to reach out to them again through the support inbox, providing all the details so they can (hopefully) solve it soon and smoothly. We're sorry we can't be of more help!
Ive been banned fom my facebook how can i get unbanned
Hi Mary! If you were wrongly blocked, you can appeal your Facebook ban by following our step-by-step guide. Good luck!
How do I get the form to fill out concerning being banned, yet Facebook never told me why I was banned twice in 3 days ?
Hi Maren! Unfortunately, Facebook indeed doesn't always tell you the exact reason for a ban. All you can do is fill out the appeal and hope for the best. Besides that, it might help to review the main reasons for Facebook bans, as listed in our article above. Is there anything in your Facebook profile or behavior that might lead Facebook to think you're misusing your account? If there isn't and this issue keeps persisting, we recommend reaching out to Facebook Help directly (through "Help & Support" on the help homepage > "Report a Problem"). We hope this helps!
My account recently was restricted because of a photo I tried to post (along with other vacation photos) of my two darling grandchildren at the beach. They were playing in the sand near the water, digging with little shovels and pails. It was labeled as "nudity or sexual activity". They were wearing toddler type bathing suits with long sleeves tops.
Can you explain this!!
Hi Klaire! That indeed sounds like a mistake on Facebook's part, where a case of "sharenting" has wrongly been listed as problematic content. We recommend filing an appeal by reaching out to Facebook as described in our article above.
I've been a Facebook user for about 15 years. My account was recently restricted for 24 hours. I have no idea what I did and received no answer when I asked via Feedback. The only difference this restriction made was that I couldn't "Like" any posts or comments. I could still post things and make my own comments on other people's posts. I'd just like to know what I did so I can avoid doing it again. A friend told me she was once restricted for clicking too many "Likes." Could that be what I did? How many is too many? Thank you.
Hello Burt. It sounds like your friend is correct. Facebook limits the number of likes an account can make in a 24-hour period to reduce the use of bots on the platform. Unfortunately, Facebook does not really tell you what that limit is (at least not we have been able to find). They say you can like 5,000 pages a day, but we know Facebook has locked the like option on accounts for much less than that. The good news is, they will unlock your account after 24 hours.
Hi,
I am a law abiding citizen of India. My Facebook account got banned permanently in the month of June. But I always follow terms and conditions of Facebook. But once my Instagram account which was synced with Facebook got mishandled. As a result Facebook noted that that I can not file for review again, as the ground is human exploitation.
I am in huge trouble. My account was formed in the year 2011. I have many memories with that account.
Kindly help me to fix my account problem so that I can reopen it.
Thank you
Hi Riddhi,
We're sorry to hear that happened! It sounds like you've already tried the steps in our "File a Facebook suspension appeal" section. If that doesn't work, and since the ban is based on your Instagram account, it might help to have a look at our unban your Instagram article. Depending on how your account got mishandled, you might be able to get it back through there.
I got an email today. My account has been banned. It said I have 180 days to appeal this after that my account is banned forever.
I am 70 years old! I have NO idea what I did to get banned. I certainly can't think of anything that was not community standards. I was fine when I closed facebook last night. Then today I have that message.
It was very hard for me to get the appeal steps right, because I do NOT have a mobile phone. Only a land phone. And of course live chat is a bot, so they got so far then they just stopped replying to me and left. I did find an email number that says it is for support for banned accounts. I sent an email and it did not bounce back. I am very upset. I live far away from my sisters, and we kept in touch on fb. They should have to tell me what I did that was not community standards IF that was the reason. Very upsetting.
We're sorry to hear this, Peggy! This definitely sounds like a mistake on Facebook's part. It should be possible to fill in this form without using a mobile phone number (your email address will do). We hope that works out for you and that Facebook gets back to you soon to help you out!
My account was banned permanently after a hacker took over my account despite 2fa being active.
I could not even submit an appeal.
I tried numerous ways to restore it but still it did not succeed.
I am getting crazy because I've done nothing wrong and my account was active since 2011.
No ways to get in touch with customer support... This is plenty insane
Hello! Facebook has a specific page to report compromised accounts that might be helpful: facebook.com/hacked. Good luck!
I don't know why or what is the real reason why I'm ban on Facebook ,, can you please help me?
If you are uncertain about the reason for your block or if you believe that the block was a mistake, you have the option to contact Facebook support and appeal the decision. To access their support page, click on your profile picture located at the top right corner of the page, then click on the question mark icon, and select "Report a problem."
I have not violated any community standards whatsoever, yet I had my account restricted I Facebook. What do I do?
Hi, Keith. If you received a temporary ban, we recommend waiting it out, as the ban will likely get lifted within 30 days or less. If you received a permanent ban, you can file an appeal with Facebook. As of writing, there are no other methods to get unbanned from Facebook apart from these two options.