Facebook suspended my account. What should I do?

What a Facebook suspension is

People use "suspended" for any situation where Facebook stops them from using the account. In Meta's own wording there are three different things. A suspended or disabled account is not visible to anyone and cannot be used; you are told by email and when you log in ("We've suspended your account" or "We've disabled your account"), and the account can be appealed within 180 days. A security lock pauses the account until you confirm who you are. A restriction limits specific features for a time after strikes, and you can still log in; it appears in Account status. Meta may disable an account without suspending it first for severe violations (Meta Help Center).

What usually causes a suspension

Facebook enforces its Community Standards with a mix of automated detection and reviewers. The most common causes people report are harassment or bullying, hate speech, nudity or sexual content, spam and fake engagement, impersonation or fake profiles, scams and misleading offers, the sale of restricted goods in Marketplace and activity from a hacked account. Suspensions can also follow many reports about the same account in a short time, even when the content is acceptable.

Step 1: find the reason

1. Log in on the device you normally use and read the full notice.
2. Open your Support Inbox (click your profile picture, then Help and support, then Support Inbox; Meta's steps) and Account Status (same menu; Meta's guide) to see what Facebook says about removed content or restrictions.
3. Check your email, including spam, for messages from Facebook about the account.
4. Write down the date and any deadline the notice shows.

Using Support Inbox, Account Status and Business Support Home

Support Inbox lists messages about content that was removed or restricted and sometimes shows which standard was applied. Account Status shows the status of your profile and of the Pages and groups you manage, including strikes and restrictions (Check your Account Status on Facebook). For ad accounts and business assets, Meta Business Support Home shows restrictions and lets an admin request a review. All of them are useful because they can show the exact item involved, which is the key to a specific appeal. Take screenshots of what you see, since entries can disappear after some time.

Step 2: take the right action for your situation

• Feature restriction: do not post anything similar to the content that triggered it and wait. If you believe it is wrong, use the review option on the notice, in Account Status or in Support Inbox.
• Security hold: complete the identity step Facebook offers, such as a video selfie, a code or an ID. See Facebook account locked.
• Suspended or disabled: appeal within the window Meta states (180 days) as described in Facebook disabled account appeal, with an ID that matches your name.

A short review request

How long does a suspension last?

A suspension or disablement has no end date: you can appeal within 180 days, and the account is permanently disabled if you do not or the appeal fails. A feature restriction lasts for the period Facebook sets: Meta's Transparency Center lists, for most violations, one day to 30 days of restricted content creation at seven or more strikes (Restricting accounts). A security hold is solved as soon as you pass the check, although the review can take a few days. Meta does not publish response times for appeals.

How restrictions escalate

Facebook applies stronger limits as violations accumulate. According to Meta's Transparency Center, for most violations one strike is a warning; two to six strikes restrict specific features, such as posting in groups, for a limited time; seven strikes give a one-day restriction from creating content, eight strikes three days, nine strikes seven days and ten or more strikes 30 days. If you keep violating the Community Standards after repeated warnings and restrictions, Meta says it will disable the account, and some severe violations can lead to disablement much sooner (Restricting accounts). If you disagree with a decision, request a review right away, because content and decisions can age out of the review window.

When a suspended account cannot be restored

Restoration is unlikely if the appeal period expired and the account was permanently disabled, if the violation is in a zero-tolerance category such as child safety or terrorism, if you cannot show the account is yours, or if a final decision was already issued. No third party can overrule that. Be wary of anyone who promises certainty or who asks for your login details.

If the review asks for more information

Sometimes the review pauses and asks for more details. Typical requests are an identity document, proof that you own the content in question, or, for a Page or business, a document that shows the business name. Answer inside the same form or thread rather than opening a new case. Keep a simple log with the date of each message and what you sent, so that you can refer to it if you need to follow up. Provide only what is requested and only through the official Facebook screens.

How to keep the account safe afterwards

• Review the Community Standards sections that apply to what you post, especially for groups, Marketplace and Pages.
• Use a strong password and two-factor authentication with an authenticator app.
• Do not use bots, auto-posting tools or browser extensions that act on your behalf.
• Check Support Inbox and Account Status regularly, and keep proof of ownership of any Page or business you run.

Frequently asked questions

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