Meta says it may lock an account for security if it sees unusual activity, and you confirm your identity before you can continue. Log in, select Get started and follow the steps, which may include a code sent to your phone or email, a video selfie or a photo of an ID. A lock is a security step rather than a punishment, and it normally clears minutes to a few days after a successful check.
- Why Facebook locks accounts
- Locked, checkpoint, security review: what you may see
- How to unlock a Facebook account, step by step
- Tips for passing a video selfie check
- If the check fails or keeps looping
- Tips for an ID upload
- A short note if the form has a text box
- If someone else is using the account
- How to avoid being locked again
- When a lock cannot be cleared
- Frequently asked questions
Why Facebook locks accounts
The lock is usually triggered by unusual activity: a login from a new country or device, many actions in a short time, a sudden change of password or email, or reports that the profile might be fake. It protects the account from takeover, so it can happen even when you did nothing wrong.
Locked, checkpoint, security review: what you may see
The wording changes, but the idea is the same. Meta's Help Center says you will know a lock from an email or from a message saying that your account has been locked when you log in; you may also be asked to do a security check and confirm your identity (Confirm your identity on Facebook). Wording such as "We've temporarily locked your account" or "We need to verify it's you" varies. All of them mean that Facebook has paused the account until you complete a check. They are not the same as a message saying the account is disabled, which has no check to complete and needs a separate appeal.
How to unlock a Facebook account, step by step
- Use your usual device and network. Log in at facebook.com or in the app. Avoid a VPN or a shared computer.
- Select Get started on the lock screen (or follow the link in the email Facebook sent) and follow the on-screen steps.
- Choose a verification method. Facebook may offer a code by SMS or email, a video selfie or an ID upload, depending on the case.
- For a video selfie, use a well-lit room, remove glasses and hats, and follow the on-screen movements. Do not use a filter.
- For an ID, upload a clear photo of an official document where the name matches the profile. Meta accepts one government ID, or two different non-government documents (accepted IDs).
- Wait for the review. The result appears on the screen and by email. It can take from a few minutes to a few days.
- Secure the account. After the unlock, change the password, log out of unknown devices and turn on two-factor authentication.
Tips for passing a video selfie check
- Use a bright, even light in front of you. Avoid a window behind you.
- Remove glasses, hats and masks, and keep your face fully in the frame.
- Follow the on-screen movements slowly. Do not add filters or beauty effects.
- Use a recent photo-like appearance. If the profile photos are very old, an ID may work better.
- If the selfie fails twice, switch to the ID option if it is offered.
If the check fails or keeps looping
- Try the other verification method, for example an ID after a failed selfie.
- Clear the cache or use a different browser, then try once.
- Make sure the name on the ID matches the profile name. If you changed your name, include a document that shows the change.
- If you see that the account was disabled rather than locked, use the appeal in our disabled account guide.
Tips for an ID upload
Use an official document that shows your full name and either your date of birth or your photo; Meta accepts one government ID, or two different non-government documents. Photograph it on a plain, dark surface with all four corners visible, no glare and no fingers covering text. The name must match the profile or be explained by a document that shows a name change. If you used a nickname or a business name on the profile, expect the check to be stricter, and consider switching the profile name to your real name after you recover access.
A short note if the form has a text box
Hello, my Facebook account [name] was locked on [date]. I am the owner and I have attached a video selfie and an ID that match the profile. I believe the lock was triggered by [a recent login from a new device / travel / a change of phone]. Please review the check and restore access.
If someone else is using the account
If you see posts, messages or password changes that you did not make, the account may be compromised. Use facebook.com/hacked to secure it and follow the steps shown. Change the password of the email linked to the account too, because attackers often use it to reset access.
How to avoid being locked again
- Keep the email and phone number on the account up to date.
- Use two-factor authentication with an authenticator app and save backup codes.
- Avoid logging in through public Wi-Fi or VPNs that change your location often.
- Do not share the account with several people or log in from many devices at once.
When a lock cannot be cleared
A lock can stay in place when Facebook cannot match your identity to the profile, for example because the name is different, the ID is unreadable, or the account was created with details you cannot prove. In those cases the review ends without access. Do not pay a site that claims to "unlock Facebook", and do not give your password to anyone.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Facebook lock last?
It lasts until you pass the identity check and Facebook confirms it. Many people are unlocked within minutes or hours, while others wait a few days.
Is a locked account the same as a disabled one?
No. A locked account is waiting for verification. A disabled account has been switched off and needs an appeal.
Why does Facebook ask for a video selfie?
Meta uses a video selfie to check that you are a real person and the owner of the account, because photos and IDs can be altered. Read the privacy notice shown before you record; Instagram's Help Center states that its identity selfies are never visible on the app and are deleted within 30 days.
Can someone else verify my identity for me?
No. The check must be completed by the account owner, and an attempt by another person can fail the review.
Can I unlock Facebook without a phone number?
Often yes. The check may offer a video selfie or an ID instead of an SMS code. If no option appears, search the Help Center for the form for locked accounts.
How many times can I try the selfie check?
Facebook does not publish a limit. After repeated failures it may ask you to wait or to change method, so make each attempt count, with good light and the steps shown.
What happens to my video selfie?
Meta uses it to confirm that you are a real person and the owner of the account. Instagram's Help Center states that identity videos are never visible on Instagram and are deleted within 30 days; for Facebook, read the privacy notice displayed before you record.
Official sources
- Facebook Help Center: My personal Facebook account is suspended or disabled
- Facebook Help Center: Unlock your Facebook account
- Facebook Help Center: Check your Account Status on Facebook
- Facebook Help Center: Types of IDs that Facebook accepts
- Meta Transparency Center: Restricting accounts
- Meta Community Standards
If you have followed these steps and the platform rejected the appeal, or the account earns you money and you cannot risk another mistake, we can review your case. Send the username, the ban notice and the date on Telegram and we will tell you, before you pay anything, whether we can take it. No service can guarantee reinstatement: the decision always belongs to the platform.