What to do first
Don’t post, follow or message anyone yet. Take ten minutes to lock things down. If the account was hacked, assume whoever had it may still have the email or a saved login somewhere.
Step 1: Change the password and sign out other devices
Set a new, unique password in Accounts Center under Password and security, and use the sessions list to log out everywhere else. Do it on a device you trust.
Step 2: Check email, phone and linked accounts
Open Contact info and make sure the email and phone are yours. Review linked accounts and remove third-party apps you don’t recognise. If the email linked is not yours, change it and secure that mailbox too.
Step 3: Turn on two-factor authentication
Use an authentication app and save backup codes somewhere safe. See our guide on lost two-factor access for what to do if you’re ever locked out.
Step 4: Review what changed
- Look through recent posts, Stories, bio and links for edits you didn’t make.
- Check sent messages and the accounts you follow.
- Open Account Status for removed content or feature limits.
- Warn followers about any suspicious messages sent from your account.
Step 5: Ease back in
If the account was restricted for activity, return slowly. Post normally, avoid bulk follows, likes or comments, and don’t reuse anything that was removed.
Why a restored account can fail again
If the account was hacked, the attacker may have tried to leave a way back in: a connected app, a forwarding rule on the email, or a saved device session. If it was restricted for activity, the same behaviour, such as rapid follows or repeated links, will trigger the same system again. Thinking about the cause is more useful than any single setting.
Keep a note of the date it was restored and what you changed. If something odd happens in the next few weeks, you’ll know where to start looking.
What not to do
- Don’t publicly announce details of how you got it back in a way that invites scammers.
- Don’t reconnect suspicious apps or tools.
- Don’t assume the problem is over without checking Account Status.
Official sources
Meta and Snap update their help pages and flows often. Always follow the wording on your own screen and the current official Help Center. Unbanz is an independent service and is not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook or Snapchat.