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How to Recover (Unlock) a Suspended Facebook or Instagram Account?

A Step-by-Step Guide

Having your Facebook or Instagram account suspended can happen for various reasons—ranging from a violation of Community Standards to a suspected hacking attempt. Sometimes, linking one platform to another (like Instagram to Facebook) can also trigger a suspension. This situation becomes even more complicated if you run ads and have payment methods (e.g., PayPal) connected to your account.

In this guide, we’ll outline the steps you can take to recover access to a locked or disabled account and address any billing issues that might arise.


Step 1: Check Access to Ads Manager (Business Manager)

Before going through the formal account recovery processes, try logging directly into Ads Manager:
https://www.facebook.com/business/ads

  • If you can access Ads Manager (BM):
    • Go to “Payment Settings” or “Billing” to review recent transactions.
    • Check Business Settings to ensure no unknown administrators have been added.
    • Confirm that no active ads are running if your account is supposed to be suspended.
  • If you cannot access Ads Manager (due to the suspension), proceed to the next steps.

Step 2: Use Official Account Recovery Tools

3.1. Report a Hacked Account (Facebook “Hacked”)

If you suspect your account was compromised (e.g., someone linked an unfamiliar Instagram handle to your profile), use the dedicated tool:
https://www.facebook.com/hacked

Choose the option indicating that you did not make these changes or link this new Instagram account yourself.

3.2. Report a Suspended Account

Sometimes, Facebook will display a form that allows you to upload a photo ID (to confirm your name and identity). If you don’t see it automatically, try:
https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/260749603972907

Tip: You can obscure sensitive information (like your national ID number) when uploading documents. Facebook only needs to see enough to confirm your identity.


4. Step 3: Contact Facebook / Meta Support

4.1. Business Help Center

If you have another active account (e.g., a business account) that has spent money on ads, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/business/help

Look for a live chat option or a contact form—these features sometimes appear in the “Help & Support” or “Help & Resources” section on the left.

4.2. Keep Responding to Automated Messages

Even if you keep receiving auto-reply emails from Facebook, respond to them by adding details of your situation. Each reply may eventually escalate your issue to a human reviewer.


5. Step 4: Request a Refund for Unauthorized PayPal Charges (If Applicable)

If your account is locked, but Facebook still charges your PayPal:

  1. Check your PayPal transaction history for exact dates and descriptions of the charges.
  2. Consider filing a dispute/chargeback with PayPal, explaining that the payments were unauthorized because your account was suspended and ads should have been paused.
  3. Inform Facebook / Meta via any open support ticket that you request a refund for charges incurred without your authorization or during the suspension.

6. Additional Security Measures

  1. Change your passwords for all related services (email, PayPal, other social media) to ensure no overlap with the compromised password.
  2. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on Facebook, Instagram, and PayPal—using an authenticator app or SMS verification.
  3. Check connected devices and apps—in your Facebook/Instagram settings, look for “Where you’re logged in” and remove any unknown sessions.
  4. Monitor payment activity—keep an eye on your transaction history for a while to catch any further unauthorized charges.

7. Conclusion

Recovering a suspended Facebook or Instagram account can be time-consuming and often requires:

  • Formal reports of hacking or suspension via Facebook’s tools.
  • Thorough checks in Ads Manager (if you still have access).
  • Protecting your payment methods and disputing any unauthorized charges.
  • Preventive steps like updating passwords, enabling 2FA, and reviewing connected devices.

While the process may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, following these steps and consistently communicating with Facebook Support will increase your chances of regaining access and securing your accounts against future incidents.


Need additional help?
Get in touch with our support team or explore more solutions in our Knowledge Base for further tips and guidance.

Good luck! We hope this guide helps you regain and safeguard your Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Mateusz Strzałkowski
Mateusz Strzałkowski
CEO at WorkFlow Media
mstrzalkowski.pl

I am an experienced Growth Hacker, with appearances in Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan under my belt. My experience allows me to manage million-dollar advertising budgets and help companies increase revenues from zero to several million złoty. I do this through Social Selling and Digital Marketing channels such as Facebook Ads, GoogleAds, SEO, Linkedin Automation & Ads, and strong traffic analysis. I train salespeople in using Linkedin to generate sales. I gained my experience in the largest media houses and in my own agency, where I served the biggest global brands, such as Volkswagen, Sony, Intel, Google, HBO, Sage, WP, Play, Dell, Orange and many others. I would be happy to share the best practices I have developed.

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