Are you getting a “Your Account is Temporarily Locked” error when you try logging in to your Facebook account?
Here’s the second part of the error, “We’ve detected suspicious activity on your Facebook account and have temporarily locked it as a security measure”.
The error message then continues to say that your account has been phished.
In most cases, you might have received the error by mistake.
If you follow the on-screen instructions, you’ll receive a security code that you can use to unlock your account.
However, some users are unable to receive the security code.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix “Your Account is Temporarily Locked” and “We’ve detected suspicious activity” on Facebook.
- Why is my Facebook account temporarily locked?
- How to Fix “Your Account is Temporarily Locked” on Facebook
- How long is Facebook temporarily locked?
Why is my Facebook account temporarily locked?
Your Facebook account is temporarily locked because suspicious activity was detected in your account.
This can happen because you’ve entered your login details on a third-party tool or a website that looks like Facebook.
When Facebook detects suspicious activity in your account, your account will be locked as a security precaution.
In some cases, your account may have been locked by mistake.
Some users reported that their Facebook accounts were locked by mistake because they didn’t use any third-party apps or tools.
However, they cannot unlock their accounts because they weren’t receiving the security code.
If you’re encountering the same issue, try unblocking your contacts before sending the security code.
How to Fix “Your Account is Temporarily Locked” on Facebook
To fix “Your Account is Temporarily Locked” on Facebook, try submitting the “Report a login issue” form.
You can also try to submit the “Security checks preventing login” or the “Confirm your identity with Facebook” forms.
These forms allow you to directly contact Facebook to restore your account.
After you’ve submitted a form, Facebook will contact you via the email address that you provided.
You’ll typically receive a response from them in 1 to 5 business days.
In some cases, you need to wait for a longer time for their response.
This is because Facebook receives an overwhelming number of reports daily, so they might take a while to get to yours.
Below are the three forms that you can use to contact Facebook for assistance in unlocking your account.
Method 1: Report a login issue
- Go to https://m.facebook.com/support/forms/flow_view?id=357439354283890.
- Enter the email address that is linked to your Facebook account.
- Write a description of the issue and provide a screenshot (optional).
- Select “Next” followed by “Submit” to submit the form.
The “Report a Login Issue” form is meant for users who are unable to log in to their Facebook accounts.
Since you’re locked out of your Facebook account, you can use this form to contact Facebook.
If you cannot access the email address that is linked to your Facebook account, you can enter another one.
Here’s an example of a description, “Hi Facebook, I’ve been locked out of my account by mistake. I need assistance in unlocking it”.
Facebook can take anywhere between 1 to 5 business days or longer to respond to you if there’s an overwhelming number of submissions.
Method 2: Security checks preventing login
- Go to https://m.facebook.com/support/forms/flow_view?id=179049432194862.
- Enter the email address that is linked to your Facebook account.
- Write a description of the issue and provide a screenshot (optional).
- Select “Next” followed by “Submit” to submit the form.
The “Security checks preventing login” form is for users who cannot log in to their Facebook accounts due to security checks.
For example, if you’re not receiving a security code to unlock your account, you can use this form to contact Facebook for help.
Here is an example of a description, “Hi Facebook, my account has been locked by mistake and I’m not receiving a security code to unlock it. I need assistance in unlocking it”.
Facebook will contact you via the email address that you’ve provided.
Method 3: Confirm your identity with Facebook
- Take a close-up photo of your ID in a well-lit room.
- Save the photo to your mobile device or computer.
- Go to https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/515009838910929 and select “Get Started”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to upload your ID.
The “Confirm your identity with Facebook” form is for verifying your identity with Facebook to prove that you’re the owner of the account.
You can use the form to contact Facebook if you need assistance to unlock your account.
Facebook will not reveal your ID to anyone and they will contact you after a few days with the next steps to unlock your account.
How long is Facebook temporarily locked?
A Facebook account is temporarily locked for 24 to 48 hours.
Your account will be unlocked as soon as you complete the on-screen instructions.
However, if you didn’t receive a security code, you need to contact Facebook for further assistance using the methods above.
Otherwise, your Facebook account may be permanently locked.
Conclusion
If you’re using a third-party app or tool, your Facebook account may be temporarily locked.
In some cases, your account might be locked due to a mistake.
A lot of users that encounter this issue didn’t use any third-party apps or tools but the system falsely detected so.
If you frequently use Facebook, it’s recommended to have a secondary account in case something happens to your main one.
If you’ve completed the form(s) above and you still haven’t received a reply from Facebook after a week, try submitting them again.
However, do not spam the forms as you might get blacklisted or blocked.
Further Reading
How to See Your Facebook Email Address (4 Steps)
