Facebook says: Your account has been locked
Your account has been locked
"Your account has been locked" on Facebook usually means Meta saw unusual activity and paused the account to protect it. It is normally a security lock, not a ban. Follow the steps on the screen, confirm it is you, then change your password and turn on two-factor authentication.
What this message means
Facebook locks an account when something looks wrong: a login from a new device or country, a sudden password change, or a burst of messages or friend requests. The lock stops anyone, including a possible intruder, from using the account until the owner confirms who they are. Facebook's help pages say you start that process with a Get started button.
What it does not mean
- It does not usually mean you broke the Community Standards.
- It does not mean your account will be deleted.
- It does not mean you need outside help. The recovery steps are inside Facebook itself.
If the screen instead says your account was suspended or disabled for not following the Community Standards, that is a different situation. Read Facebook account suspended.
What to do now
- Screenshot the lock screen and note the date.
- Tap Get started and follow each step. Facebook may ask you to confirm your identity, for example with a code sent to your email or phone.
- Review recent activity after you get back in: logins, posts, messages, ads you did not create.
- Change your password to one you use nowhere else.
- Turn on two-factor authentication with an authenticator app if you can.
- Check your email address and phone number in your settings. Remove anything you do not recognise.
- Check Pages and ad accounts you manage for changes or payments you did not make.
If the flow fails or loops, wait and try again later from a device you have used before. Repeated attempts from new devices can look suspicious.
The EU route
A pure security lock is not always a decision about your content. But if Facebook keeps the account locked, restricts it or suspends it because of alleged rule breaks, and you live in the EU, the Digital Services Act (DSA) applies. Meta must give a clear statement of reasons, you get a free internal complaint for at least six months, and you can go to a certified dispute body such as Appeals Centre Europe, User Rights or Platform Control. You can also ask for a free copy of your data under the GDPR, and court stays open.
Outside the EU, Facebook's own recovery and review steps are your main route. More on the Facebook page.
Watch out for scams
Locked accounts attract fake support. Real Facebook recovery steps never ask you to pay or to send your password to a person. Ignore DMs and comments offering to open your account.
Questions people ask
Is a locked Facebook account the same as a disabled one?
No. A lock is usually a security measure after unusual activity, and you lift it by confirming it is you. A disabled account is a decision that your account broke the rules, which you challenge through review.
Why did Facebook lock my account?
Facebook locks accounts when it sees signs that someone else may be using them, such as a login from a new place or a suspicious password change. It can also happen after unusual sending of messages or friend requests.
What if I can't get the confirmation code?
Use only the recovery options Facebook shows in the app or on facebook.com, such as another email address or phone number linked to the account. Do not use recovery links sent by strangers.
Checked against: facebook.com