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    Safety & Privacy
    Beginner
    5 min read 6 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Get Back Into a Locked or Hacked Facebook Account

    If you're locked out of Facebook or your account was hacked, Facebook's official recovery process can help you get back in and secure your account.

    At a Glance

    Category
    Safety & Privacy
    Difficulty
    Beginner
    Read Time
    5 min read
    Steps
    6
    Topics covered
    facebook
    account recovery
    hacked
    locked out
    password reset
    security

    In this guide (6 steps):

    1. 1.Go to Facebook's account recovery page
    2. 2.Find your account
    3. 3.Choose how to receive a recovery code
    4. 4.Enter the code and reset your password
    5. 5.If the account was hacked, secure it immediately
    6. 6.Turn on two-factor authentication
    1

    Go to Facebook's account recovery page

    ~16s
    Open a web browser and go to facebook.com/login/identify — type this directly in the address bar. If your account was hacked, go to facebook.com/hacked instead, which has additional steps for compromised accounts. If you're on the regular login screen, tap "Forgot password?" below the password field.
    2

    Find your account

    ~22s
    On the account recovery page, type your email address, phone number, Facebook username, or full name in the search box. Tap "Search." Facebook will show you the account it found. Confirm it's yours by checking the profile photo, then tap "This is My Account."

    Quick Tip

    If you have multiple email addresses, try each one. Facebook will find the account attached to whichever email you used when you signed up.

    3

    Choose how to receive a recovery code

    ~30s
    Facebook will show you the options it has on file for your account — usually a partially hidden email address and/or phone number. Choose which one you'd like to use to receive a 6-digit recovery code. Tap "Continue." Then check your email or text messages for the code Facebook sends.

    Warning

    The recovery code expires after about 15 minutes. If you don't receive it, check your spam or junk folder in email. If the number shown is no longer yours, tap "No longer have access to these?" to try other options.

    4

    Enter the code and reset your password

    ~19s
    Type the 6-digit code from your email or text into the box on Facebook and tap "Continue." You'll be taken to the password reset screen. Enter a new password that you haven't used before — something with at least 8 characters, mixing letters, numbers, and symbols. Type it again to confirm, then tap "Continue."
    5

    If the account was hacked, secure it immediately

    ~18s
    After regaining access, go to Settings > Security and Login (or Settings > Password and Security). Under "Where You're Logged In," review all active sessions. Tap "Log Out of All Sessions" to remove everyone — including any hackers — from your account. Then change your password again for good measure.
    6

    Turn on two-factor authentication

    ~31s
    In Settings > Security and Login (or Security and Privacy), find "Two-Factor Authentication" and turn it on. Choose "Text Message" to have Facebook text you a code whenever someone (including you) tries to log in from a new device. This makes it much harder for anyone else to access your account in the future.

    Quick Tip

    After securing your account, check your profile for any posts or messages you didn't write. Delete anything suspicious and let your friends know your account was temporarily compromised so they don't click on anything suspicious that may have been sent from your account.

    You Did It!

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    Being locked out of Facebook — or discovering that someone else has gotten into your account — can be stressful. The good news is that Facebook has a dedicated account recovery process, and in most cases you can regain access within a few minutes.

    There are two common situations:

    Situation 1: You forgot your password

    This is the most common scenario. You go to log in but can't remember your password. Facebook will help you reset it by sending a code to your email or phone number.

    Situation 2: Someone hacked or took over your account

    If you try to log in and your password doesn't work anymore, or if you see posts and messages you didn't make, someone may have changed your password. Facebook has a special process for this at facebook.com/hacked.

    For both situations, start at: facebook.com/login/identify

    This page lets you find your account by entering your email address, phone number, username, or full name. Once Facebook finds your account, it will offer ways to verify who you are — a code sent to your email, a code texted to your phone, or answers to security questions.

    If you no longer have access to the recovery email or phone number:

    Facebook may ask you to verify your identity by answering questions about your account — like the names of friends or the approximate date you created your account. In some cases, Facebook may ask for a government-issued ID.

    After you recover your account:

    - Change your password right away to something new and strong - Review which devices are logged in (Settings > Security > Where You're Logged In) and remove any you don't recognize - Turn on two-factor authentication (Settings > Security > Two-Factor Authentication) to prevent this from happening again - Check your email address and phone number in settings to make sure they're still yours

    Facebook also has a "Trusted Contacts" feature that lets you ask friends to help you recover your account if you're ever completely locked out.

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    facebook
    account recovery
    hacked
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    password reset
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    Official Resources

    FTC Consumer ProtectionCISA — Cybersecurity TipsAARP Fraud Watch Network

    Sources used to create and verify this guide. View all sources →

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