How to get back an instagram account that was disabled
How to get back a disabled/hacked Instagram account
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, and losing access to your account can be a nightmare scenario for many users. Being cut off from your friends and community is one thing, but losing years of pictures and videos can be devastating. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to get back your Instagram account in many cases.
To help you through the process, we’ve created this handy how-to guide for getting back your disabled, hacked, or deleted Instagram account. Account recovery could take a few days or a few weeks, depending on your situation.
Read also: Instagram tips and tricks: Do it for the ‘gram
QUICK ANSWER
To recover a disabled Instagram account, you need to submit an appeal directly to Instagram and hope for leniency. To recover a hacked Instagram account, you can try to regain access by having a code sent to your phone, or you can report the hack to Instagram and request assistance recovering your account.
JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS
- Why was my Instagram account disabled?
- How to get back a disabled Instagram account
- How to reactivate an Instagram account
- How to get back a hacked Instagram account
- Can I get back a deleted Instagram account?
Why was my Instagram account disabled?
There are many reasons why an Instagram account gets disabled, and often moderators will strike without any warning. You will know that your account has been disabled because a pop-up message will inform you the next time you try to log in.
Note that this is not the same as not having the correct password/username for your account (“Incorrect Password or Username”). If this is the case, entering your email address or phone number and resetting your password should fix the issue in a few minutes unless you’ve been hacked, which we’ll get to in a moment.
Instagram doesn’t provide precise guidance for why accounts are disabled, but it does say that it results from violating community guidelines or terms of use. In general, things like illegal activities, hate speech, nudity, and graphic violence are grounds for action. Use of third-party apps is also prohibited and will get your account disabled. Repeat offenders may also find their accounts permanently removed with no possible recourse.
The good news is that it isn’t too complicated to get back your Instagram account if it’s been disabled erroneously. It might take a few days, but that’s nothing compared to the months or years of photos in your account.
How to get back a disabled Instagram account
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
When you do get the dreaded disabled account message, the first thing the app prompts you to do is Learn More. This will more or less guide you through the process of getting back your disabled Instagram account, although there are a few other tricks that we’ll get to in a moment.
Run through the prompts in the app, but keep in mind that to recover your Instagram account, you have to pass the appeal process. The only way that happens is if it was disabled by mistake. Saying you’re sorry for breaking the rules and promising not to do it again won’t cut it.
Another place you can submit appeals is this official contact page. Fill in the required fields and click Send to have your case reviewed. Again, avoid apologizing, as this implies you were at fault. You may be asked to send in a selfie as verification at some point in the process.
You can repeat the appeal process as often as you want until you get a more lenient moderator. Assuming you haven’t intentionally broken any major rules, it shouldn’t take more than a few days to get a response. Don’t be afraid to be persistent, and eventually, you might get lucky.
Be aware, however, that this process can take a long time. If you want to get right back to the ‘gram, you might be better off creating a new account.
How to reactivate an Instagram account
A few years ago, Instagram added the option to temporarily deactivate your account when you need to take a break from the social media platform. You can only do it via a mobile browser or computer (not the app), but it will remove all of your content and make it appear that the account has been deleted.
Thankfully, it’s straightforward to get your deactivated Instagram account back. Just log back in on any device, and your account will automatically be reactivated. Depending on how long you have been away, you may need to agree to any new terms and conditions put in place since you left.
How to get back a hacked Instagram account
Instagram accounts are a frequent target for hackers. They could be seeking access to private accounts, attempting to sell your username, or aiming to steal your personal details for other nefarious actions. Therefore, protecting your phone should always be a top priority. If you suspect your Instagram account has been hacked, you should take action as soon as possible. The longer hackers have access to your account, the more damage they can do to your privacy and online reputation.
What to do first to regain control of your Instagram account
The first thing to do is check for an email from Instagram stating that the email tied to your account has been changed. This is the easiest way for hackers to take control of your account. However, if you can find the email, you can reverse the action immediately.
If you can’t find the email, there is one more option to fix it before it’s too late. You can request a login link to be sent to your phone number instead of the hacker’s email address. At the login screen, tap Get help signing in (on Android) or Forgot password? (on iOS). You can then enter your phone number to have a temporary login link sent. Follow the instructions from there to regain access.
If this restores access to your account, immediately change your password and revoke access given to any third-party apps. You may also find that you are now following some new accounts. Don’t worry about that until after your account has been secured. You’ll have plenty of time to unfollow them after securing your account.
When all else fails, you can still report the hacked account to regain access. Do this by following the steps below, and again, don’t be afraid to be persistent.
- On the login screen, tap Get help signing in (on Android) or Forgot Password? (on iOS).
- (Android only) Enter your username, email address, or phone number, and tap Next.
- Tap Need more help? and follow the on-screen instructions.
As part of this process, you must send a photo of yourself holding a security code to verify your identity. To minimize the chance of getting hacked again, turn on two-factor authentication as soon as possible, and tweak your privacy settings.
Can I get back a deleted Instagram account?
If you or someone with your login information has deleted your Instagram account, you will not be able to recover it. Because of this, you should be very careful with sharing your login information with friends and family. If you get an email about suspicious activity, take it very seriously and change your password.
Although you cannot get back a deleted Instagram account, you can create a new account using the same email address or phone number. You won’t be able to use the same username, nor will you be able to recover any followers or images posted.
Read more: How to delete your Instagram account
FAQs
There have been past cases where hackers have sent direct messages to people pretending to be Instagram. These messages tell the account user to click on a link, providing a way for the hacker to get into the Instagram account. The best way to avoid this is to simply not click on any links in a direct message unless you know and trust the person.
If you have the 2FA code sent to your phone as a text message, then yes, it is possible to be hacked this way. If the hacker knows your phone number, they can clone the number and intercept the text as it arrives. However, if you use an authenticator app on your phone, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, then an interception by an outside third party is impossible.
If your account was disabled by Instagram, it can take up to a month to get it back. If you disabled your own account, you can leave it disabled for as long as you want.
It’s a good idea to wait about a day before you reactivate your account. This is because the deactivation process can take up to 24 hours for Instagram to complete.
A 30-day “ban” means Instagram believes you have violated one of their terms of service (although sometimes this is a mistake). Repeated violations can lead to an account being permanently disabled.
Is Instagram not working? Here are a few things you can try to fix it
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms globally, but it can be a frustrating experience when it’s not working. The servers are generally reliable, but we put together a list of ways to fix it for those unfortunate occurrences when Instagram isn’t working. Follow the troubleshooting guide below to fix any Instagram problems you might be experiencing.
- Check if Instagram is down
- Close and re-open Instagram
- Check for updates
- Restart your phone
- Check your internet
- Check app permissions
- Clear the app cache
- Can’t follow any more people?
Editor’s note: All instructions in this post were put together using a Pixel 4a 5G running Android 13 and the Instagram Android app version 253.0.0.23.114. With that in mind, some of the steps below may be slightly different depending on the device and the version of Instagram you’re using.
Check if Instagram is down
You might not be the only one having issues with Instagram not working. One of the first things to check is if Instagram, overall, is down. You can double-check if Instagram is down by using Down Detector, a site that tracks all kinds of services and tells you whether they are down or not.
Just go to Down Detector’s Instagram page, and the site will tell you whether Instagram is having issues or not. They even have a Live Outage Map to check local problems.
Close and re-open Instagram
If Instagram has no general issues, then the problem might emerge from a software discrepancy. Try closing the Instagram app and re-opening it again. You could also try logging out and logging back in. Additionally, it’s worth trying to completely uninstall the app and install it fresh off the Google Play Store. One of these actions might put all the gears back in place and get everything in order again.
Check for updates
Running an older version of an app isn’t often an issue, but it can bring problems, especially when significant changes are put in place. Go into the Google Play Store and see if there are any updates for Instagram. Get the latest version and try again!
How to update Instagram from the Google Play Store:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Search for “Instagram.”
- Tap into the Instagram page.
- If there is an available update, you’ll see an Update button. Otherwise, it will say Open.
- Tap Update if it’s available.
It might also help to update your phone. Newer Android versions often fix bugs and other software issues. You can also try updating the browser you’re using, if you’re trying to use Instagram from a computer.
How to check for Android updates:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into System.
- Tap on System update.
- Select Check for update.
- Follow instructions to get your phone updated.
Restart your phone!
It often seems like a silly suggestion, but for some reason, something as simple as restarting the phone can usually get everything back in working order. Give it a try! Just reboot the phone and try again.
How to restart an Android phone:
- Press and hold onto the Power button.
- Tap on Restart.
Check your internet
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
There’s a chance your internet connection is the culprit. A quick way to verify this is to test another app that uses the internet, or open the browser and launch any website. If nothing else is working, the problem is likely not Instagram, but your data.
If you’re using a cellular connection, try switching to Wi-Fi. Likewise, move to data if you’re using Wi-Fi. Try moving closer to the router, or you can try restarting it. Also, make sure you turn off the VPN, if you happen to be using one.
If you’re using cellular data, you might want to see if your data connection is on:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Network & internet.
- Select SIMs.
- Toggle Mobile data on.
- If you’re outside your country or network coverage, also toggle Roaming on (this may incur extra charges).
Turn on app permissions
Sometimes apps malfunction because we haven’t permitted them to access certain phone functions. Look into the app’s permissions to see if this may be the case for Instagram on your device.
How to enable Instagram permissions:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Tap on See all apps.
- Find Instagram and tap on it.
- Select Permissions.
- Under Not allowed, go into each section and grant it access.
Clear the cache
Cache is usually good, as it stores commonly used data on your phone and pulls it locally whenever needed, as opposed to downloading it each time. This makes your experience much faster, but cache can also get corrupted and cause problems. It’s good to give it a clean start now and then.
Clear cache on Android:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go into Apps.
- Find the Instagram app under See all apps.
- Tap on Storage & cache.
- Hit Clear Cache.
- You can also select Clear storage for a clean start.
Can’t follow any more people?
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
You may encounter plenty of issues when using Instagram, but this one is especially common among heavy users. Are you suddenly not able to follow new people? You may have come across an error message that reads: “You can’t follow any more people.” This is not a problem with Instagram, but a limitation. It turns out we’re limited to following as many as 7,500 people. The only solution is to unfollow some Instagram accounts.
How to unfollow people on Instagram:
- Open the Instagram app.
- Tap on your profile image in the bottom-right corner.
- You’ll enter your profile, where you’ll see how many people you are following in the top-right corner. Tap where it says Following.
- Go through your list of contacts and tap the Following button next to their profiles, and it will turn into Follow. This means you’re not following them anymore.
Next: How to up your Instagram game to get more followers
If you still can’t get Instagram to work, we would advise you to look into their help center. You can also report a problem from within the app by going to Profile > three-line menu button > Settings > Help > Report a Problem.
step by step instructions - Social networks on vc.ru
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Blocking an Instagram account is not uncommon nowadays, it can be encountered quite by accident, even if you have not violated anything.
There can be a lot of reasons for blocking, ranging from an unfortunate set of circumstances to malicious violations of the rules of the user agreement of the social network.
In this article, we will not go into details of the reasons for blocking, but we will understand its types and learn step by step how to restore a blocked account. nine0003
Contents
- Interlock types
- Step-by-step instructions for repair
- Personal experience
Interlock types
1. Blocking for suspicious activity.
A typical variant of a permanent block, which is issued by the Instagram algorithm when the likes, subscribers and other indicators are too actively cheated on your account, as well as when recommendations are not followed when automating the process of placing likes, subscriptions and other things to other users of the social network. nine0003
There were cases when commercial accounts were blocked for too frequent correspondence with users in Direct, most likely suspecting them of some kind of automation.
2. For content complaints from users.
Issued sometimes by a person, sometimes by the Instagram algorithm. This is usually the result of regular complaints from users about the regular publication of inappropriate materials or about the account as a whole. In the first case, the Instagram algorithm will more often just remove the invalid image with a notification. In the second case, if the decision is made by an Instagram employee regarding the account as a whole, then this will be a complete blocking of it, and not individual publications. nine0003
3. For copyright infringement.
The heaviest type of blocking. Instagram is the most fiercely protective of legal entities and objects of copyright. If individuals or legal entities repeatedly report violations of their copyrights, the page will most likely be blocked by an Instagram employee.
Step-by-step instructions for repair
1. Log in to Instagram through the official mobile application.
nine0013Try to log in to a blocked account using your username and password. If the account is indeed blocked, then on the smartphone screen you will see something like the following message, as shown in the screenshots below.
In the pop-up window, click the button Learn more , then you will be taken to the Instagram help page, where you need to select the link tell us about it , as shown below.
In some cases, instead of the page listed above, another page may be displayed where there is no such link. nine0003
To question This account is used to represent a company, product or service click No .
After that, you can optionally fill in the field Full name and last name .
But it is important to fill in the following three fields accurately: enter your account login, e-mail address and the country from which you are sending this request.
Based on our experience, the e-mail address that is indicated in the recovery form does not play a special role. We successfully managed to restore blocked accounts using unrelated e-mail addresses. nine0003
After completing the form, click the button Submit .
If your submission is successful, you will be automatically redirected to the main page of the Instagram help center.
In some cases, the following errors may occur when filling out the form:
- Your request cannot be processed
Your request could not be processed. There was a problem with this request. We are working to fix it as soon as possible. nine0003
- Verify account to request verification
Before submitting a verification request, go to Instagram and verify your identity.
In both cases above, we recommend that you register a new and clean email address that is not associated with any Instagram account. Then fill out the recovery form again and wait for an automatic response from Instagram. nine0003
3. Send a selfie with a code.
A few minutes after filling out the restoration form (depending on the loading of the Instagram service), an email with further instructions will be sent to the e-mail address indicated in the form.
If after 15 minutes you have not received an email from Instagram, try creating a new e-mail address and specify it when submitting the recovery form.
We suspect that in some cases Instagram may mistakenly or intentionally blacklist your email address when filling out a form. nine0142
If the form is successfully completed, you will receive the following response.
From the content of the email, it is clear that Instagram wants to get a reaction from you, which is difficult to automate.
It has been experimentally established that Instagram is not interested in your face and there is no real check whether you are in the photo or someone else.
Such an unlocking system is made in order to exclude the fact of mass automated unlocking of accounts. nine0003
The face, as well as the login, are deliberately hidden for the article. You don't have to.
Take a blank sheet of paper and write with a dark marker or felt-tip pen large and legible the code indicated in the letter, below the name and surname in accordance with what you indicated when filling out the form and account login. Then take a photo with a piece of paper in your hand.
Save the photo with the code in JPEG format. This is an extremely important step. The file extension must be ".jpeg" and no other. Otherwise, the letter may not reach. nine0003
If the image is not suitable, you can get the following response. In our case, the file weighed 3 MB and most likely could not be displayed by an Instagram employee as an attached file.
To correctly convert photos to JPEG format, use the JPEG-PNG Image file converter application.
Reply to the email you received from Instagram and attach your jpeg file to the email. Nothing more can be written in the letter.
Send a letter and be patient for a few days. nine0003
The image with the code should be sent only by return mail, because for each such unblocking request, Instagram creates a special unique email address.
When sending a photo, select medium mode attachments, the photo should not weigh much, in our case these are always photos of 100-200 KB in size.
4. Wait for a response from Instagram.
In case of successful unlocking, you will receive the following letter.
nine0098If more than 7 days have passed and there is still no letter, then we recommend filling out the form again and preferably from some other mail that was not previously used on Instagram.
If after sending the letter with the code you did not receive a positive response, then do not lose hope. Feel free to write a letter through the form again.
The human factor plays an important role in unlocking. Continue to request an unlock through the appropriate form and send response emails with the code. nine0003
As you know, Instagram is famous for a large number of errors that occur when working with certain functions of the social network.
Personal experience
About a month ago, my personal Instagram account @sergeykomlev was blocked. Contacting the recovery forms did not help, a personal contact with Facebook support via chat did not give any result.
The Facebook staff responded fairly quickly to my request and even called me on my mobile when, unexpectedly for them, I stopped responding in the chat. nine0003
But they could not help me restore access to my Instagram account, citing the fact that a separate department in Instagram is responsible for blocking issues and they do not have any tools to influence it.
On February 28, 2021, I tried again to fill out the form at this link and I finally got it.
When filling out, I used a new mail, which is in no way associated with my Instagram account.
If you need help with unlocking your Instagram account, you can contact me on Telegram. nine0003
How to unlock an account / Unlock an Instagram account / General / SocialKit
In the course of working with Instagram, under certain circumstances, you may encounter a so-called eternal ban. This is a blocking in which access to the Instagram account is limited indefinitely, however, the account itself is not deleted from the Instagram database, i.e. if desired, access to it can be restored in most cases.
First of all, you need to decide on the type of permanent blocking. The type is directly related to the type of offense. nine0003
1). For suspicious activity. A typical variant of permanent blocking, which is issued by the robot when the likes, subscribers and other indicators are too actively boosted to your account, as well as when recommendations are not followed when automating the process of placing likes, signatures and other things to other users of the social network.
2). For content complaints from users. Issued sometimes by humans, sometimes also by robots. This is usually the result of regular complaints from users about the regular publication of inappropriate materials or about the account as a whole. In the first case, the robot often simply removes the invalid image with a corresponding notification. In the second case, if the decision is made by an Instagram employee regarding the account as a whole, then it will be a complete blocking of it, and not individual media. nine0003
3). For copyright infringement. The most difficult type of blocking. Instagram is the most fiercely protective of legal entities and objects of copyright. If individuals or legal entities repeatedly report violations of their copyrights, the page will most likely be blocked by an Instagram employee.
The first type of lock is the easiest to remove. This usually takes no more than 2-3 days. It is this example that we will consider in the case below, since this is the most common type of permanent blocking. nine0003
The second type of blocking is more difficult to remove. Most likely, you will need to prove the same thing in a circle for a long time and tediously to different Instagram employees responsible for solving such issues. It is possible that in addition to the photo with the code, you will need to send some other scans of documents.
The third type of blocking is extremely difficult to remove and, alas, not always. Everything will depend on who acts as the object whose copyright has been violated. If this is an individual, then the probability of removing the block after a long and tedious correspondence is higher. If it is a well-known corporation or brand, then the chances are low. nine0003
TYPICAL PERMANENT BLOCK
1. Log in to the official Instagram client on your smartphone (iOS or Android - it doesn't matter) and try to log into the blocked account using your username and password. If the account is indeed blocked, then on the smartphone screen you will see something like the following message, as shown in the screenshot below.
If you successfully logged in, you may have encountered an error from Instagram (see below). nine0003
An example of a blocked notification when logging into an Instagram account from an Android smartphone.
2. In the pop-up window, click the " More " button, then you will be taken to the Instagram help page, where you can select the link " tell us about it ", as shown below.
Point to send a request to restore access to your account in the Instagram help system. nine0248
In some cases, instead of the page listed above, another page may be displayed where there is no such link. This usually happens when the reason for blocking was described in p2 and p3 above. Then, to apply for an unlock, you can use this link .
3. After clicking on this link, a form will open for making a request to unlock the account. To the question " This account is used to represent a company, product or service "click" No ". After that, you can optionally fill in the field" Full name and surname ". But it is important to fill in the following three fields exactly: indicate the exact login of the account, the E-Mail associated with it and the country from which you send this request.The country of registration of the account does not play a role.If you do not remember the associated E-Mail, but the blocked account was once promoted in SocialKit and you have a SocialKit database file where the required account is present, then you can spy the associated E-Mail in account details via double click or find mention of E-Mail in logs.0142
IMPORTANT! You must have access (login and password) to the E-Mail associated with the Instagram account. Otherwise, you will not be able to complete the procedure for unlocking your Instagram account.
An example of filling out a form to restore access to a blocked Instagram account.
4. After all the fields are filled in, press the button " Send ". If you did not make a mistake in the email address and this address is working, then within a minute (depending on the loading of the Instagram service), an email with further instructions will be sent to E-Mail, as shown in the example below. nine0003
Instagram's response to the generated request to unblock the account.
From the content of the email, it is clear that Instagram wants to get a reaction from you, which is difficult to automate. It has been experimentally established that the developers are not interested in your face and there is no real verification of whether you are in the photo or someone else is not carried out. Such an unlocking system is made in order to exclude the fact of mass automated unlocking of profiles. nine0003
5. Thus, if you are trying to unblock your page and are not worried about your photo going into the Instagram database, then you can safely follow the steps outlined in the letter, namely:
- Take a clean sheet paper (for example, a notebook in a box or a standard A4).
- Write with a dark marker large and legible the code indicated in the letter, below the name and surname in accordance with what you indicated when filling out the form in paragraph 3, even below the account login. If writing with a pen, then circle the code and other data several times so that they are clearly visible. nine0003
- Take a picture of yourself so that your face is clearly visible, as well as your hand with a piece of paper.
- Rename the resulting image so that the file name contains the account login and the code from the letter through the symbol " _ ", for example, " dmitry_sidorov_18181.jpeg ". The file extension must be " .jpeg " and nothing else. Otherwise, the letter may not reach.
- Reply to the letter received from Instagram, and attach your jpeg file as an attachment. Nothing more can be written in the letter. Send a letter and be patient for 2-3 days. nine0003
IMPORTANT! The image with the code should be sent only by return mail, because for each such unblocking request, Instagram creates a special unique email address.
If you don't want to send your face, you can do the trick - send someone else's face with a piece of paper embedded with the code from the letter. Oddly enough, this trick works great.
- Search the Internet for a male or female photo (depending on what data you entered when filling out the account recovery request in paragraph 3 above) with a piece of paper in hand. Don't take high quality studio photos. Look for photos taken with the selfie cameras of phones, tablets. In social networks (for example, VKontakte) there are a lot of such photos - the so-called "signs". An example is shown below - we have hidden the author's face. nine0003
Selecting an already finished photo for further manipulations in Photoshop.
- Using a graphic editor (we used Photoshop), remove everything superfluous from a piece of paper in the original photo so that a blank sheet of paper remains - you need to paste the code from the letter into it.
An example of a photo taken by us for later editing.
Only a piece of paper with a code, full name and login is important in this photo. nine0248
- Write with a dark marker large and legible the code indicated in the letter, below the name and surname in accordance with what you indicated when filling out the form in paragraph 3, even below the account login. If writing with a pen, then circle the code and other data several times so that they are clearly visible. Then take the sheet in your hand and take a picture of it with your smartphone. Try to arrange the lighting so that it roughly matches the original photo.
Editing process: combining two photos in Photoshop. nine0248
The author's face and login are intentionally hidden for the article. You don't have to.
- Match the original (foreign) photo with your photo as carefully as possible. The data from your piece of paper should be on a piece of paper in the original (someone else's) photo and it should look as natural as possible.
The original image and the photo of the sheet embedded in it with the code and login.
The author's face and login are intentionally hidden for the article. You don't have to. nine0248
- Save the resulting image so that the file name contains the account login and the code from the letter through the symbol " _ ", for example, " dmitry_sidorov_18181.jpeg ". The file extension must be " .jpeg " and nothing else. Otherwise, the letter may not reach.
- Reply to the letter received from Instagram, and attach your jpeg file as an attachment. Nothing more can be written in the letter. Send a letter and be patient for 2-3 days. nine0003
IMPORTANT! The image with the code must be sent only by return mail, because for each such unblocking request, Instagram creates a special unique email address.
In our example, we got the following letter:
Forming a response letter with a photo for Instagram.
We used a fake photo with an embedded image of a sheet with the code:
The file with the image must be attached as an attachment to the reply letter. nine0248
The reaction from Instagram was not long in coming - on the second day the account was already unblocked.
Instagram notification that the account was unblocked - fake photo worked.
As you can see, you don’t need to make any special efforts to unlock your Instagram account, everything is quite simple. If you plan to unblock several accounts in this way, then do not forget to change the original (foreign) photos and IP addresses from which you send requests to unblock. nine0003
If you haven't received a positive response after sending the email with the code, don't lose hope. The human factor plays a big role in unlocking. Continue to request an unlock through the appropriate form and send response emails with the code.