WhatsApp
WhatsApp account banned or restricted? Guides and review help
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WhatsApp uses three different words for three different situations, and the right reaction depends on which one you see. A banned number shows the message "This phone number can't use WhatsApp" and needs a review request. A temporary ban is usually linked to an unofficial version of the app or to scraping, and it ends when you switch to the official app. A restricted account can still talk to existing contacts but cannot start new chats for a while, and the restriction ends on its own.
The guides below explain each message in plain language, show where the review button is, what WhatsApp says about timing, what happens to your chats and backups while the number is banned, and when a ban is final. They follow WhatsApp's own Help Center, cover the WhatsApp Business app as well as personal accounts, and show the date they were last reviewed.
WhatsApp states that only WhatsApp can ban or unban an account, and that contacting it outside the review process does not speed anything up. Be wary of anyone who claims otherwise. If the review is rejected and the number is essential for your business, the section at the end explains what we can and cannot do.
WhatsApp guides
Frequently asked questions about WhatsApp
Is a WhatsApp ban temporary or permanent?
It depends on the message. "This phone number can't use WhatsApp" is a ban that you can ask to review. "Temporarily banned" is usually linked to an unofficial app or scraping and ends if you switch to the official app. If no review option appears, WhatsApp says the ban is final. See our WhatsApp ban guide.
How long does a WhatsApp review take?
WhatsApp's ban message says that most reviews are completed within 24 hours. You get a WhatsApp notification when there is a decision, and you can check the status by opening the app. Contacting WhatsApp outside the review process does not speed it up.
WhatsApp rejected my review. What now?
If the review was rejected and the app no longer offers another one, WhatsApp treats the ban as final. Do not register the number in an unofficial app or open new accounts to get around it. Our guide explains what is still worth checking.
Can I recover my chats from a banned WhatsApp number?
Not while the ban lasts. WhatsApp says you cannot access chat history or backups while the account is banned, and that a backup becomes available again only after the phone number tied to it is unbanned.
Is there an app or a service that can unban WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp states that third-party services can't ban an account or remove a ban: only WhatsApp can. Anyone selling an "unban" is selling something they cannot deliver. A service can at most help you understand the case and prepare the review.