How to get into a locked instagram account
How to get back into a locked account
This story has been updated. It was originally published on March 11, 2020.
Most of the time, we log into our apps and digital accounts on autopilot—it’s easy when our devices remember our information and we never sign out. That’s why losing access to one or more of the services you rely on every day can be a major headache.
Perhaps you’re setting up a new device and can’t remember your password because it’s been so long since you actually had to log in somewhere new. Or maybe you’ve been the victim of a hack or data breach, and someone else has changed your password and locked you out of your accounts.
Hopefully you’re never in situations like those, but if you are, fixing the problem will be much easier if you prepare now. Each of your accounts has some kind of recovery process, so it’s important to find out what those steps are and confirm that the information they’re using is up to date.
We’ve covered some of the most well-known apps and accounts here, but we recommend doing the same checks on all your important accounts. If you’re using any we haven’t listed, you should be able to find similar recovery options by digging around in the settings or having a look online.
From a security standpoint, remember that someone trying to gain access to your accounts can also use the same recovery options. So if you have backup phone numbers and email addresses on file, you should make sure those accounts are also well-protected against unauthorized access.
Get back into your Google account
If you log into your Google account on the web, you can get at everything related to account access by clicking the Security link on the left. You should be particularly interested in the Ways we can verify it’s you box—these are the methods Google will use to make sure you are who you say you are if you get locked out of your account.
The options should include a recovery cellphone number, a recovery email address, and a security question—click on any of the entries to make changes and to check that everything is up to date.
If you need to regain access to your account, Google will send a special link to your phone or alternative email address, so that contact information needs to be current.
Access your Apple account again
Open your Apple ID page on the web, and you’ll see six categories of data under your name and photo on the left-hand side of the screen. Each one leads to a page of subcategories. For example, click Sign-In and Security to find the information Apple associates with your account (like the devices you’ve entrusted with handling two-factor authentication), or Devices to see the gadgets you’re currently signed into. (If you’ve been logged out of your Apple account on one device, you might still be able to access it from another one.) To edit any of this information, click the blue icon that’s next to pretty much every subcategory.
[Related: It’s a great day to secure your Apple and iCloud accounts]
As far as future account recovery is concerned, two bits of information are important here: the Account Security and Account Recovery sections under Sign-In and Security.
Make sure both of these are stocked with correct, up-to-date details, as these will help Apple reset your password if you can’t remember it.
Break back into your Microsoft account
Head to your Microsoft account page on the web, and you’ll have access to everything related to it, such as your ongoing subscriptions, the devices you’re logged in on, and how much data Microsoft is collecting on you. To configure your account recovery options, click Security, then Advanced security options.
It’s the usual drill here: You can provide both a cellphone number and an email address and Microsoft will use them to contact you and verify your identity if you ever get locked out of your account. There are also options to add other two-factor authentication methods like security keys and authenticator apps, and you can even set up passwordless access to your account. Click on each one to edit it, or on Add a new way to sign in or verify to do just that.
Unlock your Netflix account
Protecting access to your Netflix account might not be as vital as keeping your Google, Apple, and Microsoft accounts locked down, but it’s still definitely worth securing. If you log into Netflix on the web, you can find various security options by hovering the mouse over your avatar (top right) and choosing Account.
The first and third choices at the very top are the ones you’ll need to ensure are accurate: the account email and account phone number. If Netflix needs to send you a password reset link, it’ll use these details to do it. You can also reset a Netflix password if you know your billing details—follow the instructions here.
Get your Instagram back
Instagram will use the email address and phone number you have on file to reset your password, if necessary. You can find this information by logging into your Instagram account on the web and clicking Edit profile on the left. You can have one email address and one cellphone number, so make sure they’re in use and well-protected.
[Related: The best hidden Instagram tricks]
As you can see from Instagram’s password reset page, you can enter your username, registered phone number, or email address to receive a reset link that will let you back into a locked account.
Unlock your Facebook account
Facebook lets you get back into your account in numerous ways. Go to your Facebook account on the web, then click the downward arrow in the top right, followed by Settings & privacy, and Settings. You should enter the General tab, and you can scan the details there to make sure the information under Contact is correct. Click Edit to get the full picture. You can add several email addresses and phone numbers here, which Facebook will use to get in touch with you if you’re ever logged out.
Another handy feature is listed under Security and Login: find the Setting Up Extra Security heading and click Edit next to Choose 3 to 5 friends to contact if you get locked out, and you can give Facebook the names of three, four, or five people you’re connected to on the social network.
If you are locked out, Facebook can contact these people to make sure you’ve really been hacked or have truly forgotten your password (you’ll need to let your friends know, of course).
“Your Account Has Been Temporarily Locked”
For various reasons, Instagram can temporarily lock your account to protect users and the platform and encourage the best experience. If you received the “Your account has been temporarily locked” notice, this article explains what might have prompted the message and how to unlock it as quickly as possible.
You’ll also find examples of specific Instagram activity that gets deemed suspicious, which generally leads to a locked account. Let’s get started!
Why Was My Instagram Account Locked?
Instagram will temporarily lock your account if they believe you have breached any of their user policies. The lock can happen even if you have nothing to do with the violation. Their bots and automated systems detect such activity without human intervention, which means your account can also get locked without violating any terms due to a technical issue with the system.
Here are the typical activities that cause Instagram to issue an account lock:
1. Bot-Like Activity
Instagram looks for actions performed too quickly per hour and in 24-hour periods. The following acts performed at an unnaturally fast rate are considered “bot activity” and trigger a temporary account lock:
Following and Unfollowing Users in Bulk
Typical Instagram conduct includes “following” someone and having them “follow” you straight back. To exploit this practice, one could “follow” hundreds of people at once, then once they’ve been “followed,” the person “unfollows” them.
Instagram will deem this bot behavior as abuse to the system and its users.
Liking and Un-Liking Pictures Too Quick
Rapidly liking and unliking images/posts too quickly and in bulk triggers the potential detection of bot behavior.
Scrolling through your feed and ‘liking” a couple of photos or so at an average pace is matched to typical human behavior.
However, “liking” or “un-linking” a hundred pictures in one brief session, for example, often occurs when using a bot program.
Commenting on Posts Too Quickly
The more comments you leave on people’s posts, the more engagement you get and, eventually, the more followers. Super-fast commenting on numerous posts implies artificial actions to the Instagram algorithm, leading to bot detection.
Posting the Same Comment Multiple Times
Not only would copying/pasting a comment in bulk reduce the value of a conversation, but it also is not something that a user who is genuinely engaging with posts would do. This action typically occurs when using bots, so Instagram’s automated systems detect it as bot use and lock your account.
2. Use of Third-Party Apps
Using some third-party applications on Instagram breaches their Terms of Use. Not all apps are banned; there is an approval process for some apps to have access.
Regardless, third-party apps that help automate actions are prohibited and easily detected by Instagram.
Bots work against a great user experience, so any account suspected of using them will get locked.
3. Phished Account Credentials
Hackers can obtain your sign-in details using a fraudulent website. If you accidentally submitted your Instagram credentials by signing into a login screen that looked like Instagram, you may have given away your login details.
Since your account is compromised and hackers can do what they want, whatever they did has triggered a red flag with Instagram, and the platform responded with an account lock.
How To Unlock a Locked Instagram Account
To unlock your account when seeing the “Your Account Has Been Temporarily Locked” message at login, you need to submit the My Instagram account has been deactivated form:
- Go to the “My Instagram account has been deactivated” form or conduct a search for “My Instagram account has been deactivated” in a search engine, and choose the Facebook result.
- Complete the form, then enter the “email address” tied to the Instagram account you’re trying to unlock.
- Explain that your account got blocked by mistake and that you believe you haven’t violated the user guidelines.
- Once you’ve completed the form, click “Send.”
- You’ll eventually receive a reply. Instagram requests a photo of you holding up a written piece of paper with the code they’ve sent you. The picture must be 100% original and clear, showing your face next to the code—no Photoshop editing. Instagram is stringent and may reject the photo if they believe it isn’t you.
- There is a waiting period after you’ve sent the photo. If approved, you’ll receive a confirmation from Instagram that your account got unlocked. Approval times can take anywhere between a few days to a few weeks.
In closing, an Instagram account is automatically locked whenever Instagram believes a user has breached its community guidelines, whether it is legit or not.
Bots and hackers are typical reasons for an Instagram account to get locked. To create the best user experience, Instagram prohibits using most third-party apps and blocks any account displaying bot-like behavior or one that exhibits irregular activity.
Luckily, unlocking your account is usually one form away. By completing the form and proving you are the human owner of the profile, Instagram will recover your account as quickly as possible. Of course, there is potential for denial based on human action. Bots can’t handle this part of the recovery process.
Instagram Locked FAQs
How long does an Instagram ban last?
The length of a temporary ban depends on your number of past bans and the causes of those bans. A typical duration could last from a few hours on the lighter side to 24-48 hours for repeated infractions.
If you receive subsequent bans, Instagram’s ban duration may become longer. Therefore, do your best to avoid bot-like behavior so your account doesn’t get flagged.
If you receive the “Your Account Has Been Temporarily Locked” message when trying to sign in, complete and submit a “My Instagram account has been deactivated form” to reinstate your account as soon as possible.
Does Instagram ban IP addresses?
Some platforms take banning very seriously. They don’t just ban the account; they want to ban the user permanently. The only way to permanently block a user is to restrict their device’s IP Address. Instagram has not issued official statements, but many users have reported receiving an IP ban.
If Instagram deems you violated their Terms of Service or Community Guidelines, the company will ban your device and your account.
What do I do if my appeal gets denied?
If you followed the steps above and Instagram didn’t restore your account, you can process the appeal again. While not confirmed, there are some theories that a second or third appeal can work because another reviewer looked into your case.
Also, remember that repeatedly submitting content that Instagram asks for can lead to denial or a more extended ban due to suspicions of hacking, just like numerous login attempts. After all, a hacker is desperate to confiscate your account and doesn’t care what happens during the process. They’ll just move on to another profile.
If I get banned, can I create a new account?
In most cases, you can create another Instagram profile. However, beware that creating a new account with the same (or similar username) can result in an immediate ban.
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.
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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 restore access to the Instagram account
Restoration of the Instagram account* step
We tell , where to write, so that the Instagram account is unlocked (belongs to the organization recognized in Russia).
How to restore access to your Instagram account*
Welcome! We are Reputation Moscow, an agency that removes negative reviews, videos and slander from the Internet. nine0027
After Roskomnadzor blocked Instagram (owned by an organization recognized as extremist in Russia), cases of blocking Russian accounts have become more frequent. A violation of the rules is indicated as the reason, although users note that everyone complied.
How to unblock an Instagram account (owned by an organization recognized as extremist in Russia) after an undeserved blocking? To do this, in the block notification window, select items "Details" and "Tell us about it" .
A window with an application form will open, in which you must specify:
- name and surname in Latin;
- login;
- e-mail;
- country where you are located.
What to do next and how to restore a blocked Instagram account (owned by an organization recognized as extremist in Russia)? Wait until technical support sends an email with the code.
Write it down on a piece of paper and take a selfie with it. Send a photo to tech support along with some text with explanations. nine0003
Write that you:
- apologize for a direct or indirect violation of the rules;
- published only useful materials that contributed to the development of the social network;
- invested a lot of money in Facebook advertising (owned by an organization recognized as extremist in Russia);
- you undertake to pay more attention to the rules.
The letter should be written in a polite and calm tone. Threats and insults will delay the process of restoring the Instagram account (owned by an organization recognized as extremist in Russia) indefinitely. nine0003
"We are often asked: "What should I do if my account on Instagram (belongs to an organization recognized as extremist in Russia) is blocked?" Ask a digital agency for help, which will contact a loyal technical support employee and within a short period of time will receive a positive decision on your issue.
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