How to recover a hacked Facebook account quickly and securely
Lena Fisher
Content Manager, Octo Browser
Facebook remains one of the largest social media platforms globally, with 3.07 billion monthly active users and an advertising reach exceeding 2 billion users.
Facebook, like any major social platform, carries real hacking risks. When an account gets compromised, you could lose access to your profile, private messages, and posts. For businesses, the stakes are even higher: attackers can defraud your audience, gain access to ad accounts and payment details, expose customer communications, and seriously damage your reputation.
This article explains how to recover a hacked Facebook account quickly while reducing future hack risks.
Contents
Maintain your online anonymity with Octo Browser. Your real digital fingerprint cannot be tracked.
Would you like to try Octo Browser at а discount?
Use the promo code OCTOBLOG to get 30% off any subscription. This offer is valid only for new users.
Signs your Facebook account has been hacked
If your account has been compromised, you'll likely notice warning signs immediately. Act fast if you spot even one of the following:
You can't log into your Facebook account.
Facebook notifies you of a login attempt or a successful login you didn't make.
An unknown device or location appears in your active sessions.
Posts or comments that you didn't create appear on your profile.
Messages that you didn't write were sent from your account.
Unauthorized actions were taken on your behalf (follows, likes).
Your profile picture, name, email, or other details have suddenly changed.
Two-factor authentication has stopped working.
Friends report strange messages or unusual activity from your account.
For business accounts, watch for follower complaints, unexpected unfollows/shares, or messages about odd content from your account.
You receive a Facebook email about an email or phone number being added or removed.
Make sure that Facebook emails aren't phishing attempts by checking the sender domain. Legitimate emails end with @fb.com, @facebook.com, @facebookmail.com, @meta.com, @metamail.com, or @global.metamail.com. If the domain looks off, don't click links or follow instructions.
If even one sign of a potential Facebook account hack checks out, protect your profile immediately.
What to do immediately after discovering a hack
If you notice suspicious activity, act fast. Don't click suspicious email or message links; instead, type https://www.facebook.com/ directly in your browser or open the Facebook app.
If you can still access your account
Change your password
You can do this from the Accounts Center. Simply click on the relevant account, enter your old password, then enter your new password twice.
Check active sessions
Find the active sessions section in your privacy settings. If you see unfamiliar devices, end those sessions.
Verify contact information
Ensure the email and phone in your account are yours, with no unfamiliar addresses or numbers. Check the linked email inbox for password, email, or phone change notifications. Address change emails include an undo link.
Run a security checkup
Go to www.facebook.com/hacked from a device you've previously used to log into Facebook and follow the prompts.
Enable two-factor authentication
This adds security by requiring an extra code when logging in. Setup instructions are available here.
If you can't access your account
Can't log into Facebook with your usual credentials? First regain access to your Facebook account. Here's how to recover it using different methods.
How to recover access to Facebook via email or phone number
Start by resetting your password. This works if hackers haven't changed your contact info yet.
First, check your email for Facebook notifications about password, email, or phone changes. If found, use the link to reverse these changes if they are still available. Try logging into Facebook from a familiar device. If successful, immediately change your password and end all unfamiliar sessions.
How to recover access to Facebook if there are no relevant emails, links don’t work, or you still can't log in after reverting the changes:
Open the Facebook login page and click the "Forgot Password?" link.
Choose how to receive the code (email or phone number).
Enter the code.
Set a new password. Use a password that you've never used on other websites or services.
Check active sessions and end all unfamiliar ones.
How to recover access to Facebook using the account recovery page
Suspect your Facebook account has been hacked? Use www.facebook.com/hacked. This is the platform's own recommendation.
How to recover access to Facebook step by step:
Open www.facebook.com/hacked on a device you've previously used to log into Facebook.
Enter the information the system can use to locate your profile (email or phone number).
If your profile is found, click "Recover."
Choose a recovery method: code via email, phone number, or video selfie (this option isn't available in every region).
Enter the code and set a new password.
Verify your contact information and active sessions.
Facebook recommends using a familiar device because it has previous login context—browser data, cookies, past session info. This helps Facebook match your recovery attempt with your normal usage and flag it as less suspicious.
You can recover your Facebook account using a new device, but successfully passing automated checks is more likely on a familiar phone or desktop with your usual browser.
How to recover access to Facebook if hackers have changed your email or phone number
Attackers can change your contact info, leaving you unable to receive recovery links and codes.
If your email has been changed, check your inbox. Facebook notifies the previous address about the change with a link to undo it.
If the link is unavailable or expired, open www.facebook.com/hacked on a familiar device. Select the hacked or unable to log in option and follow the prompts.
Don't submit multiple requests unnecessarily. Carefully fill in the form using the information genuinely associated with your Facebook account.
How to recover access to Facebook if you're not receiving a verification code
If you haven't received a verification code via email or phone, check the following:
Whether the phone number or email has been entered correctly;
Your "Spam" folder;
Your Internet connection;
Whether you've requested multiple codes in a row.
If you’re still not receiving the code, try choosing a different delivery method. For example, if you can’t get it by text message, select email instead.
Avoid requesting multiple codes in quick succession or guessing the code. Wait a few minutes before trying again. A newer code may invalidate earlier ones, and repeated requests or failed attempts can sometimes result in temporary restrictions.
If you suspect that someone has changed the contact information associated with your account, don’t continue with the standard password-reset process. Instead, use Facebook’s hacked-account recovery flow at www.facebook.com/hacked.
How to recover a Facebook account if it's blocked for security reasons
Facebook may block an account for several reasons—for example, if the system detects unusual activity. In this situation, it's important to first determine the reason for the restriction, as this affects recovering access to your account. We've covered the reasons for blocks on Facebook and their types in more detail here.
If you work with multiple Facebook accounts, it's important to use an anti-detect browser, such as Octo Browser. Facebook considers multi-accounting a violation of its terms and may block access to all related accounts. Therefore, it's crucial for affiliate marketers, targeting specialists, agencies, and media buyers who use multiple Facebook accounts to run each account in an isolated anti-detect browser profile with its own digital fingerprint: device parameters, operating system, time zone, and dozens of other parameters. This way, you can work with any number of Facebook accounts simultaneously using a single browser, and Facebook will still see them as independent sessions.
To regain access after your account has been blocked, open Facebook on a device you’ve used to log in before and follow the on-screen instructions. You may be asked to:
Verify your identity;
Confirm your email or phone number;
Complete an additional security check.
Facebook's instructions on how to recover an account in case of a block are available here.
How to recover an old Facebook account if you've forgotten your login details
If you need to access an account you haven't logged into for a long time, try finding it on the search and recovery page. The platform will prompt you to enter the associated email or phone number in the search bar. If you don’t remember them or no account is found, try searching by the name shown on your profile or by your username. Once you find the account you need, Facebook will offer to send a verification code to the associated email address.
How to recover access if you can't log into the account's email:
Click "No longer have access to these?"
Under the selected account, click "Recover".
Choose how to recover access: code via email (the platform will show the first and last characters of the email associated with the account), phone number, or video selfie (if this option is available).
How to protect your Facebook account after recovery
Once you've regained access to your Facebook account, take additional steps to protect it. This will reduce the risk of future hacks.
Change your password
Set a unique, complex password that isn't used on any other online platform. If your old password was used elsewhere, change it there too. Avoid combinations related to your name, date of birth, company name, or any other easily guessable information.
End unfamiliar sessions
Find the activity log and active sessions in your privacy settings. End all unfamiliar sessions.
Verify contact information
If unfamiliar email addresses or phone numbers have appeared in your profile, remove them. Make sure you still have access to each listed contact method.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication adds an additional verification layer on top of your password—for example, a code from a dedicated authenticator app or SMS. Detailed two-factor authentication setup instructions are available here.
Review apps and websites
Open the list of apps and websites that have access to your account. Remove any connections you don’t recognize or no longer need, and avoid granting access to apps unless you trust them.
Separate work environments
If you manage multiple accounts or projects, don't use the same browser profile for all of them. In a shared browser environment, cookies, saved authorizations, and session data can get mixed up. This makes it easier to accidentally open the wrong account or perform an action on behalf of a different project.
Affiliate marketers, media buyers, digital agencies, and social media managers use Octo Browser when they need to work with multiple accounts on Facebook. Octo isolates cookies and website settings and stores isolated session data across different profiles. So if you ever need to recover access to Facebook, you'll have the previous environment available—the one where the account was already used.
Common mistakes when recovering a Facebook account
Most recovery issues stem from typical mistakes.
Multiple requests
If you duplicate support requests and create numerous recovery applications, the system may flag this as spam or suspicious activity.
Clicking links in suspicious emails
A link in a fake notification can lead to a phishing site where attackers request your username, password, and two-factor authentication codes. After this, recovery becomes more complicated: the attacker changes contact information, and you lose control of your Facebook account.
Recovering access from unfamiliar or new devices
Attempting to log into Facebook from an unfamiliar phone, computer, different country, or via VPN reduces system trust. Facebook is more likely to suspect a hack and tighten verification requirements.
Repeatedly entering incorrect passwords and codes
Due to password and code guessing attempts, the platform may restrict login ability, block code delivery, or require additional identity verification.
Conclusion
Now you know how to recover Facebook account access in various situations. If you need to act quickly and aren't sure what's causing the problem, immediately use the official recovery scenario at www.facebook.com/hacked using a familiar device. Afterwards, be sure to protect your account: change your password, end all unfamiliar sessions, and set up two-factor authentication.
If you work with multiple accounts, manage them in separate isolated browser profiles of an anti-detect browser.
FAQ
How do I know if my Facebook account has been hacked?
You may notice something is wrong if you receive unexpected Facebook notifications, can’t log into Facebook with your usual credentials, or find changes to your profile photo or contact information. Other warning signs include unfamiliar posts, reactions, or messages sent from your account.
How to recover a hacked Facebook account as quickly as possible?
Open www.facebook.com/hacked from a device you've previously used to log into Facebook. Make sure you have access to the email address and phone number listed in the account, then follow the prompts.
How to recover a Facebook account if I forgot my password?
If you see the account icon and the "Forgot Password?" link, click it and choose how to send the verification code. Once you enter the code, you'll be able to set a new password.
If you don't see the account you need, first find it via the search and recovery page, then click "Forgot Password?"
How to recover a hacked Facebook account if the email has been changed?
Check your previous email inbox. If someone tries to change your email, the platform sends a notification to the old address with a link to undo the change. If there's no such email or the link doesn't work, open www.facebook.com/hacked on a familiar device and follow the prompts.
Can I recover my Facebook account without a verification code?
Sometimes, yes—if Facebook offers another way to verify your identity or recover access to your account, for example, with a video selfie. Available account recovery options depend on which contact information remains and which verification methods are available for your specific account.
Why isn't Facebook sending me a verification code?
Most likely, the problem is with receiving the code rather than sending it. If you’re expecting the code by email, wait a few minutes, check your Spam folder, and make sure you have a stable Internet connection. If the code was sent to your phone, double-check that you entered the correct number.
Avoid requesting new codes too frequently. If you’re still not receiving one, try using a different delivery method.
If none of the available options work, use Facebook’s official Facebook.com/hacked recovery flow for hacked accounts. It will guide you through the steps available for your specific situation.
Maintain your online anonymity with Octo Browser. Your real digital fingerprint cannot be tracked.
Would you like to try Octo Browser at а discount?
Use the promo code OCTOBLOG to get 30% off any subscription. This offer is valid only for new users.
Signs your Facebook account has been hacked
If your account has been compromised, you'll likely notice warning signs immediately. Act fast if you spot even one of the following:
You can't log into your Facebook account.
Facebook notifies you of a login attempt or a successful login you didn't make.
An unknown device or location appears in your active sessions.
Posts or comments that you didn't create appear on your profile.
Messages that you didn't write were sent from your account.
Unauthorized actions were taken on your behalf (follows, likes).
Your profile picture, name, email, or other details have suddenly changed.
Two-factor authentication has stopped working.
Friends report strange messages or unusual activity from your account.
For business accounts, watch for follower complaints, unexpected unfollows/shares, or messages about odd content from your account.
You receive a Facebook email about an email or phone number being added or removed.
Make sure that Facebook emails aren't phishing attempts by checking the sender domain. Legitimate emails end with @fb.com, @facebook.com, @facebookmail.com, @meta.com, @metamail.com, or @global.metamail.com. If the domain looks off, don't click links or follow instructions.
If even one sign of a potential Facebook account hack checks out, protect your profile immediately.
What to do immediately after discovering a hack
If you notice suspicious activity, act fast. Don't click suspicious email or message links; instead, type https://www.facebook.com/ directly in your browser or open the Facebook app.
If you can still access your account
Change your password
You can do this from the Accounts Center. Simply click on the relevant account, enter your old password, then enter your new password twice.
Check active sessions
Find the active sessions section in your privacy settings. If you see unfamiliar devices, end those sessions.
Verify contact information
Ensure the email and phone in your account are yours, with no unfamiliar addresses or numbers. Check the linked email inbox for password, email, or phone change notifications. Address change emails include an undo link.
Run a security checkup
Go to www.facebook.com/hacked from a device you've previously used to log into Facebook and follow the prompts.
Enable two-factor authentication
This adds security by requiring an extra code when logging in. Setup instructions are available here.
If you can't access your account
Can't log into Facebook with your usual credentials? First regain access to your Facebook account. Here's how to recover it using different methods.
How to recover access to Facebook via email or phone number
Start by resetting your password. This works if hackers haven't changed your contact info yet.
First, check your email for Facebook notifications about password, email, or phone changes. If found, use the link to reverse these changes if they are still available. Try logging into Facebook from a familiar device. If successful, immediately change your password and end all unfamiliar sessions.
How to recover access to Facebook if there are no relevant emails, links don’t work, or you still can't log in after reverting the changes:
Open the Facebook login page and click the "Forgot Password?" link.
Choose how to receive the code (email or phone number).
Enter the code.
Set a new password. Use a password that you've never used on other websites or services.
Check active sessions and end all unfamiliar ones.
How to recover access to Facebook using the account recovery page
Suspect your Facebook account has been hacked? Use www.facebook.com/hacked. This is the platform's own recommendation.
How to recover access to Facebook step by step:
Open www.facebook.com/hacked on a device you've previously used to log into Facebook.
Enter the information the system can use to locate your profile (email or phone number).
If your profile is found, click "Recover."
Choose a recovery method: code via email, phone number, or video selfie (this option isn't available in every region).
Enter the code and set a new password.
Verify your contact information and active sessions.
Facebook recommends using a familiar device because it has previous login context—browser data, cookies, past session info. This helps Facebook match your recovery attempt with your normal usage and flag it as less suspicious.
You can recover your Facebook account using a new device, but successfully passing automated checks is more likely on a familiar phone or desktop with your usual browser.
How to recover access to Facebook if hackers have changed your email or phone number
Attackers can change your contact info, leaving you unable to receive recovery links and codes.
If your email has been changed, check your inbox. Facebook notifies the previous address about the change with a link to undo it.
If the link is unavailable or expired, open www.facebook.com/hacked on a familiar device. Select the hacked or unable to log in option and follow the prompts.
Don't submit multiple requests unnecessarily. Carefully fill in the form using the information genuinely associated with your Facebook account.
How to recover access to Facebook if you're not receiving a verification code
If you haven't received a verification code via email or phone, check the following:
Whether the phone number or email has been entered correctly;
Your "Spam" folder;
Your Internet connection;
Whether you've requested multiple codes in a row.
If you’re still not receiving the code, try choosing a different delivery method. For example, if you can’t get it by text message, select email instead.
Avoid requesting multiple codes in quick succession or guessing the code. Wait a few minutes before trying again. A newer code may invalidate earlier ones, and repeated requests or failed attempts can sometimes result in temporary restrictions.
If you suspect that someone has changed the contact information associated with your account, don’t continue with the standard password-reset process. Instead, use Facebook’s hacked-account recovery flow at www.facebook.com/hacked.
How to recover a Facebook account if it's blocked for security reasons
Facebook may block an account for several reasons—for example, if the system detects unusual activity. In this situation, it's important to first determine the reason for the restriction, as this affects recovering access to your account. We've covered the reasons for blocks on Facebook and their types in more detail here.
If you work with multiple Facebook accounts, it's important to use an anti-detect browser, such as Octo Browser. Facebook considers multi-accounting a violation of its terms and may block access to all related accounts. Therefore, it's crucial for affiliate marketers, targeting specialists, agencies, and media buyers who use multiple Facebook accounts to run each account in an isolated anti-detect browser profile with its own digital fingerprint: device parameters, operating system, time zone, and dozens of other parameters. This way, you can work with any number of Facebook accounts simultaneously using a single browser, and Facebook will still see them as independent sessions.
To regain access after your account has been blocked, open Facebook on a device you’ve used to log in before and follow the on-screen instructions. You may be asked to:
Verify your identity;
Confirm your email or phone number;
Complete an additional security check.
Facebook's instructions on how to recover an account in case of a block are available here.
How to recover an old Facebook account if you've forgotten your login details
If you need to access an account you haven't logged into for a long time, try finding it on the search and recovery page. The platform will prompt you to enter the associated email or phone number in the search bar. If you don’t remember them or no account is found, try searching by the name shown on your profile or by your username. Once you find the account you need, Facebook will offer to send a verification code to the associated email address.
How to recover access if you can't log into the account's email:
Click "No longer have access to these?"
Under the selected account, click "Recover".
Choose how to recover access: code via email (the platform will show the first and last characters of the email associated with the account), phone number, or video selfie (if this option is available).
How to protect your Facebook account after recovery
Once you've regained access to your Facebook account, take additional steps to protect it. This will reduce the risk of future hacks.
Change your password
Set a unique, complex password that isn't used on any other online platform. If your old password was used elsewhere, change it there too. Avoid combinations related to your name, date of birth, company name, or any other easily guessable information.
End unfamiliar sessions
Find the activity log and active sessions in your privacy settings. End all unfamiliar sessions.
Verify contact information
If unfamiliar email addresses or phone numbers have appeared in your profile, remove them. Make sure you still have access to each listed contact method.
Enable two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication adds an additional verification layer on top of your password—for example, a code from a dedicated authenticator app or SMS. Detailed two-factor authentication setup instructions are available here.
Review apps and websites
Open the list of apps and websites that have access to your account. Remove any connections you don’t recognize or no longer need, and avoid granting access to apps unless you trust them.
Separate work environments
If you manage multiple accounts or projects, don't use the same browser profile for all of them. In a shared browser environment, cookies, saved authorizations, and session data can get mixed up. This makes it easier to accidentally open the wrong account or perform an action on behalf of a different project.
Affiliate marketers, media buyers, digital agencies, and social media managers use Octo Browser when they need to work with multiple accounts on Facebook. Octo isolates cookies and website settings and stores isolated session data across different profiles. So if you ever need to recover access to Facebook, you'll have the previous environment available—the one where the account was already used.
Common mistakes when recovering a Facebook account
Most recovery issues stem from typical mistakes.
Multiple requests
If you duplicate support requests and create numerous recovery applications, the system may flag this as spam or suspicious activity.
Clicking links in suspicious emails
A link in a fake notification can lead to a phishing site where attackers request your username, password, and two-factor authentication codes. After this, recovery becomes more complicated: the attacker changes contact information, and you lose control of your Facebook account.
Recovering access from unfamiliar or new devices
Attempting to log into Facebook from an unfamiliar phone, computer, different country, or via VPN reduces system trust. Facebook is more likely to suspect a hack and tighten verification requirements.
Repeatedly entering incorrect passwords and codes
Due to password and code guessing attempts, the platform may restrict login ability, block code delivery, or require additional identity verification.
Conclusion
Now you know how to recover Facebook account access in various situations. If you need to act quickly and aren't sure what's causing the problem, immediately use the official recovery scenario at www.facebook.com/hacked using a familiar device. Afterwards, be sure to protect your account: change your password, end all unfamiliar sessions, and set up two-factor authentication.
If you work with multiple accounts, manage them in separate isolated browser profiles of an anti-detect browser.
FAQ
How do I know if my Facebook account has been hacked?
You may notice something is wrong if you receive unexpected Facebook notifications, can’t log into Facebook with your usual credentials, or find changes to your profile photo or contact information. Other warning signs include unfamiliar posts, reactions, or messages sent from your account.
How to recover a hacked Facebook account as quickly as possible?
Open www.facebook.com/hacked from a device you've previously used to log into Facebook. Make sure you have access to the email address and phone number listed in the account, then follow the prompts.
How to recover a Facebook account if I forgot my password?
If you see the account icon and the "Forgot Password?" link, click it and choose how to send the verification code. Once you enter the code, you'll be able to set a new password.
If you don't see the account you need, first find it via the search and recovery page, then click "Forgot Password?"
How to recover a hacked Facebook account if the email has been changed?
Check your previous email inbox. If someone tries to change your email, the platform sends a notification to the old address with a link to undo the change. If there's no such email or the link doesn't work, open www.facebook.com/hacked on a familiar device and follow the prompts.
Can I recover my Facebook account without a verification code?
Sometimes, yes—if Facebook offers another way to verify your identity or recover access to your account, for example, with a video selfie. Available account recovery options depend on which contact information remains and which verification methods are available for your specific account.
Why isn't Facebook sending me a verification code?
Most likely, the problem is with receiving the code rather than sending it. If you’re expecting the code by email, wait a few minutes, check your Spam folder, and make sure you have a stable Internet connection. If the code was sent to your phone, double-check that you entered the correct number.
Avoid requesting new codes too frequently. If you’re still not receiving one, try using a different delivery method.
If none of the available options work, use Facebook’s official Facebook.com/hacked recovery flow for hacked accounts. It will guide you through the steps available for your specific situation.
Stay up to date with the latest Octo Browser news
By clicking the button you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Stay up to date with the latest Octo Browser news
By clicking the button you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Stay up to date with the latest Octo Browser news
By clicking the button you agree to our Privacy Policy.
Join Octo Browser now
Or contact Customer Service at any time with any questions you might have.
Join Octo Browser now
Or contact Customer Service at any time with any questions you might have.
Join Octo Browser now
Or contact Customer Service at any time with any questions you might have.