Facebook Account Temporarily Locked: What to Do Next

A locked account feels alarming, but it's a different thing from a disabled one, and the way out is usually shorter. If you've had a message saying your account has been temporarily locked for security reasons, take a breath. Facebook has a set of steps for exactly this, and I'll go through them in the order its help pages give them.

I'm sticking to what Facebook's Help Centre says. Where it's quiet, such as how long a lock lasts, I'll say so instead of guessing.

Why Facebook says your account is temporarily locked

According to Facebook's help page on unlocking accounts, if it sees unusual activity on your account, it might lock it for security. It doesn't list every trigger, so I can't tell you which one applied to you. A login from a new place or device is the sort of thing people often mention, but that's my observation, not something the page states.

It's worth reading the earlier sentence the other way too. A lock is a protective step. Facebook is checking that the person using the account is really you. That's why the first thing it asks for is a way to confirm your identity.

How to tell your Facebook account is locked, not disabled

Facebook says you'll know it locked your account if either of these happens:

• You get an email from Facebook saying it locked your account.
• You log into Facebook and see a message that your account has been locked.

A disabled or suspended account shows different wording, We suspended your account or We disabled your account, and it follows a different route with an appeal. If you see that, follow the appeal route on Facebook's help page for suspended or disabled accounts instead.

Clearing a temporarily locked Facebook account

Facebook says it will take you through some steps the next time you log in, or when you follow the link in its email. The core steps are short:

1. Open Facebook.
2. Select Get started.
3. Follow the on-screen steps.

Facebook adds that it may ask you to confirm your identity. Use the Facebook app or facebook.com directly, or the link in a real email from Facebook, and check the address carefully before you type anything.

Confirming your identity on a locked Facebook account

Facebook has a separate help page for the identity check, which it calls a security check. It says it asks you to do one if it thinks your account's security might have been affected. To get back in, log into Facebook and follow the instructions to confirm your identity. If you can't remember your password, you can request a new one.

The page gives some useful tips if you're struggling:

• When Facebook asks for your date of birth, it wants the date of birth you gave when you signed up.
• If you picked a security question you can't answer, you may have the option to choose a different question, or to try again at another time.
• If you suspect someone has hacked your account and changed your information, there's a separate Facebook page on what to do.

If you can't log in to clear a locked Facebook account

Sometimes the account is locked and you can't even get to the screen where you'd clear the lock. Facebook's help covers that case in one line: if your account is locked but you can't log in to clear the lock, Facebook can help recover your account. Its account recovery pages are the place to go. Use only Facebook's own pages for this.

If the Facebook confirmation code doesn't arrive

This is the point where many people get stuck, and Facebook gives a clear checklist. Work through it one item at a time:

• Codes can take longer to arrive. If you've already asked for several, wait a day before trying again.
• Check you're looking at the correct phone number or email address.
• Look in your spam folder.
• If you asked for a text, check the blocked messages on your phone, in case it's screening confirmation codes.
• Check your phone's network connection, because a poor signal could be the reason.
• Make sure your phone has enough space to receive a text message.
• Try restarting your phone.
• Contact your mobile carrier. Facebook says your plan can affect the type of messages you can receive.

Please don't keep tapping for new codes in a rush. Facebook's own advice is to wait a day after several requests.

Stopping a Facebook account from being locked out again

Facebook has a help page on avoiding losing access, and it's practical. Its suggestions include:

• Keep a way for Facebook to contact you, using a trusted email or mobile number only you can access.
• Create a passkey, which Facebook describes as a safe and convenient alternative to a password.
• Add another email or mobile number in case your original contact method is compromised.
• Use your authentic name and date of birth, so Facebook can find your profile if you lose access.

It also says to make sure no one else has access to emails linked to your Facebook account, and that your email password is different from your Facebook password. For anyone running a business through Facebook, I'd treat this as a ten-minute job today rather than a task for later.

Working around a temporarily locked Facebook account for your business

If you manage customers or a Page from this account, a lock can stop you for a while. Facebook doesn't say how long, so don't plan around a time. Tell clients you might be slow to reply, and share another way to contact you. Many Page owners put their website or email into their other channels for this reason. If a Page is part of your setup, it helps to know where your Page's QR code is so you can print it for customers who can't reach you online.

If you ever wonder how much of your activity Facebook sees when it decides something looks unusual, my explainer on whether Facebook tracks your location gives you the background.

For the rest of the series, see the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my Facebook account temporarily locked?

Facebook's help page says that if it sees unusual activity on your account, it might lock it for security.

How do I clear a temporary lock on my Facebook account?

Open Facebook, select Get started and follow the on-screen steps. Facebook may ask you to confirm your identity.

How long does a Facebook account stay locked?

Facebook's help pages don't say. They describe steps to clear it when you next log in or when you follow the link in its email.

What if I can't log in to clear the lock on my Facebook account?

Facebook says it can help recover your account if it's locked and you can't log in. Use its account recovery pages.

Why isn't my Facebook confirmation code arriving?

Codes can be slow, and Facebook says to wait a day if you've requested several. Check the number or email, spam, blocked messages, signal, phone space and your carrier.

Is a locked Facebook account the same as a disabled one?

No. A lock is a security step you can usually clear by confirming it's you. A disabled account shows a different message and goes through an appeal.