Locked out of Facebook or hacked: how to get back in

Being locked out of Facebook is scary, especially when your photos and family are on it. Most people get back in by using Facebook's own recovery pages on a computer or phone they have used for Facebook before. Go slowly, type every address yourself, and never pay or give a code to anyone who offers to unlock your account.

Steps

1. Use a computer, phone or tablet you have logged into Facebook on before. Facebook trusts a familiar device more, and recovery works far more often from one.
2. If you just forgot your password, type facebook.com/login/identify into the address bar yourself. Enter your email address, mobile number, or name, pick your account from the list, and choose where Facebook should send a reset code.
3. Check for the code. Look in your text messages, and in your email inbox and spam or junk folder. Codes can take a few minutes. If none comes, wait a little and ask for a new one.
4. If you think someone hacked you, for example your password was changed, your profile picture changed, or there are posts or messages you did not write, type facebook.com/hacked into the address bar yourself and follow the steps there. Facebook says to try this even if you are not sure you were hacked.
5. If you no longer have the email or phone number on the account, look on the recovery screen for an option like No longer have access to these. Try any older email address or phone number you might have used, and type mobile numbers with the country code.
6. If Facebook asks you to confirm who you are, it may ask for a photo of an official ID or a short video selfie. Only do this on Facebook's own screens, never for someone who messaged you.
7. Once you are back in, set a new password you do not use anywhere else. Then click your profile picture, go to Settings and privacy, Settings, Accounts Center, then Password and security, and log out of any device or place you do not recognize.
8. Check your email address, phone number and name on the account, and remove anything you did not add. Turn on two-factor authentication in the same Password and security area, and save the recovery codes on paper somewhere safe.
9. If your email was also hacked, change your email password first, from a different device if you can. Whoever controls your email can reset Facebook again.
10. Tell friends and family not to answer recent messages from your account asking for money or gift cards. Never call a phone number for Facebook support you found in a message, popup, or search ad. Facebook does not unlock accounts by phone for a fee.

Common questions

Can I call Facebook to get my account back?

Facebook does not offer a phone line for account recovery. Any number that claims to be Facebook support and asks for money, gift cards, or your codes is a scam. Use facebook.com/hacked or facebook.com/login/identify instead.

Why does Facebook say it does not recognize my device?

Facebook gets extra careful when a login comes from a new browser, a reset computer, or after cookies were cleared. Trying again from a phone or computer you used before usually helps.

Someone else's name shows when I open Facebook. What happened?

Either the computer is still signed in to another person's account, or your account was taken over. Log out, then sign in with your own email or phone. If your details were changed, use facebook.com/hacked.

How long does recovery take?

A password reset with a code takes a few minutes. If Facebook needs to check your ID, it can take longer, and Facebook will email or text you. Do not start many requests at once.

Is it safe to let someone help me with this?

Yes, as long as you type your own password and codes yourself and never read them out. A helper can guide you to the right Facebook page and through each screen.

Ellis is an AI tech support assistant from 5 Star Consultants, a division of Adore LLC. Privacy Terms