If you’ve been Temporarily Locked out of your Facebook account and would like to get access to your account as soon as possible, then this article is for you.
Facebook deems it necessary to lock any account that they notice any suspicious account to protect the account.
While most locked accounts will require you to identify friends on your list, review your account activity in the last hours, and get a confirmation via mail or phone number, Facebook can also ask you to upload an ID proof to unlock your account.
This might sound easy, especially to those who utilize their legal name on their social media handles, however, Facebook is selective on the type of document they accept and you could stay Locked out of your account for years if you don’t do it right.
However, I’ve seen a case where Facebook will lock your account for some days and unlock it afterward if they don’t notice any suspicious activity on your account. Here’s a screenshot
However, it doesn’t work for everyone as Facebook mostly requests ID proof, receiving codes on your registered mail/phone, selecting comments within a specific period, confirming friends, or even doing both at the same time.
In this article, I’ll show you how to upload your document correctly in the case where you’re asked to verify your identity to unlock your Facebook account.
Requirements to Unlock a Temporarily Locked Facebook Account
Before we proceed to the main procedure, it’s important to note down certain details so that we don’t waste our time.
Here is the list of requirements to keep with you as I walk you through the unlocking process…
- A valid ID card with your Full name and Date of Birth (Age) used on your Facebook account
- A dark background
- Access to your email address
Regards the ID Proof, I’ll personally recommend you place the ID card on your lap to reveal the four edges with black trousers or material under it (the rear view isn’t relevant).
Here’s a sample…
This also implies that if you used your nickname or added titles to your Facebook name then there’s a slim chance of you unlocking your Facebook account except for Facebook automatically unblocking it.
How to Unlock a Temporarily Locked Facebook Account
If you’ve already uploaded a document that doesn’t comply with Facebook requirements (up to 3x), they’ll change the “Get Started” to “Learn More” on the login page which implies that you’ve to wait for 24 hours before you can submit your ID card.
Now, let me walk you through the steps to recovering a Locked Facebook Account.
- Try login into your Facebook account using your details
- You’ll be greeted with the “Your account has been locked” notice, click on “Get Started”
- Input your valid email address and confirm it by typing in the sent verification codes
- Now, Upload your government-approved document with your full name and Date of Birth placed on a black background just as illustrated above.
- You can now submit the document with a 100% guarantee that your Facebook account will be restored.
- Select a new Facebook password
That’s it.
Most people make the mistake of placing their IDs on flat surfaces which will not work because Facebook is trying to get rid of fake accounts, and impersonators.
Also, the back of your card isn’t relevant to Facebook as long as your D.O.B. and full name is on the front page of your ID proof.
US citizens can use their State ID or Driving License for this procedure, and Nigerian citizens can use their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), Driving License, or Permanent National Identity Card for this procedure.
If you’re residing in other countries then check for a document that has both your Date of birth and name on the front page.
How to Unlock a Facebook Account Without ID Proof
If Facebook asks you to Unlock your account by uploading a valid ID and you don’t have one may be due to using a customized name and the rest.
The only way to resolve this is by abandoning your account for some days, probably 7 days or more and Facebook might unblock your account if no suspicious activity happens between those periods.
However, most persons can choose to resort to the blackhat method which involves photos hopping an ID but I can’t guarantee that’ll work 100 percent.
As I stated earlier, Facebook unlocked my account after a few days when they didn’t notice any suspicious activity (thank goodness I wasn’t aware of the lock, I could have worsened it.)
How to Prevent Facebook from Locking Your Account
Since the lock action is simply triggered by unauthorized access then here are some things you should abstain from to prevent account locks.
- Login from only recognized devices
- Desist from using Facebook bots (likes, comments, or followers)
- Turn on Two Factor Authentication on your account
Why is my Facebook Account Locked?
- Using bots for Facebook functions
- Logins from unrecognized devices or location
- Posting more frequently than usual
- Sending out messages and friend requests in excess
- Impersonators or fake profiles
- Violation of other Facebook policies which can be found here
That’s it.
FAQs on Unlocking Facebook Account
How long does it take Facebook to unlock your account?
After submitting your ID Proof, it usually takes 10 mins to 24 hours for Facebook to review your ID and unlock your account. Also, Facebook can decide to lock you off to perform a security check.
How can I unlock my Facebook account without email?
If you don’t have mail linked to your Facebook account then you should try unlocking your account from a recognized device. Go to Facebook.com/login/identify
You can also check for an option that’ll allow you to use secondary linked numbers or emails for the procedure.
What happens if I can’t unlock my Facebook account?
There’s probably something you aren’t doing right. submit the correct ID, get a verification code or identify your friends and you’ll be good to go.
How can I recover my FB account and password without my phone number and email?
It’s typically impossible to Recover your Facebook account without your phone number or email. Either of them has to be linked to make the recovery process easy.
Final Words
A Locked Facebook Account isn’t that hard to unlock provided you know and have what Facebook requires of you to do.
In this article, we’ve discussed the step-by-step guide on how you can recover a Facebook that has been locked and needs ID Verification.
All you need to do is place your ID Proof on a dark background while on your lap making sure the four corners are captured before uploading to Facebook.
You can also check out our article on how to recover a hacked Facebook account without a phone here.
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