First, we need to warn you that trying to recover a hacked Facebook account is not the easiest thing. If you realize someone has gained access to your account, you must take action immediately. Otherwise, it will be even harder for you to get the control back as the hacker will be continuing to change the information on your account. If you are not sure whether somebody else is using your account or not, here are some common signs.
- Posts, messages, events that you did not create
- Another account using your name and photos
- Changes in key information such as e-mail, password, or profile name
- Friend requests sent to people you do not know
If you notice any of these things, it is quite likely that someone has hacked your account. In such a case, you should act immediately by following the steps below:
Visit the “My Account Is Compromised” Page on Facebook
The first thing you need to do is to land on this page by logging through Facebook. When you click on the button where it says “My Account Is Compromised,” it will direct you to the “Find Your Account” page. There, you need to verify your account by entering your e-mail or phone number and then click on “Search.” Sometimes hackers might change your e-mail or your phone number information. If this is the case, you should try entering your username or your profile name.
Enter Your Recent or Your Old Password
After you verify your Facebook account, the next step is to enter a recent or an old password. To report your account to Facebook, click on “Continue.” Facebook may ask you to upload a picture of your ID for verification purposes.
Reset Your Password
On this page, you will be seeing two options. You can either choose the option “e-mail me a link” or “text me a code” to reset your password. If you still have access to your e-mail address and phone number, any of these two options will work to gain your account.
On the other hand, if you can access neither of them, click on “no longer have access to these.” Then, you will see the page where it asks, “How can we reach you?” In the boxes under this question, you need to write a new e-mail address or another phone number. Facebook will inform you about the further details regarding the recovery process of your account through this new contact information you have provided.
Choose the Option Suggested Depending on Your Settings
Time needed: 1 hour.
Upon entering your new e-mail or number, you will come across another page. This page offers you any one of the three options below, depending on the settings of your Facebook profile.
- OPTION A
“Ask your trusted contacts for help.”
With this option, Facebook wants you to contact three people on your list that you trust. You need to ask these people to visit the URL which appears on the page. After doing so, each of them will give you a code. Once you collect all of the codes, you need to enter them in the boxes one by one.
- OPTION B
“Ask your friends for help.”
With this option, Facebook wants you to contact 3 out of 5 random friends it has suggested. The rest of the procedure is the same as “Option A.” Again; you need to collect the codes and enter them in the respective boxes.
- OPTION C
“I can’t log in.”
If you come across this option, you should fill out the form on the page. Facebook will ask you to describe the issue and upload a picture of your ID on that same form. Therefore, make sure that you have a vivid picture of your ID ready for submission.
Choose a New Password
The last step to recover a hacked Facebook account is to create a new password. Regardless of which option you go with, Facebook will ask you to do so. After that, Facebook will send a message to your new e-mail address, including a link to confirm your identity. Once you click on that link, you will recover your account. As a final thing to do, you have to wait for 24 hours to log in to Facebook – but this time with your new e-mail and password!
Concluding on How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account
In this article, we have talked about the common signs that show us whether someone has hacked your account. We explained the process as to how to recover a hacked Facebook account. Also, we suggested some useful tips on how to secure your Facebook account from hackers. We do hope that you never have to recover a hacked Facebook account. However, we suggest you take a look at this article to find out what to do in such a case. Have fun reading it! Curious about how to start a poll on Facebook? Here are the steps!