It is alarming to publish a first ad and find the account disabled. Meta has a set path for it. Follow that path calmly and in order. Do not open a new account to get round it.
First, which problem do you have?#
Three different things look alike.
| What you see | What it means | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| One ad says "Rejected" | That ad broke a rule. The account is fine | Fix or appeal the ad. See Facebook ad rejected? |
| Ads are paused and there is a payment notice | A payment failed. Meta says ads are paused and the account is disabled until you pay what is due | Pay the balance. See Facebook ads payment failed or on hold? |
| The ad account, or your whole business account, says disabled or restricted | Meta has stopped you advertising | The steps below |
The steps Meta gives#
- On a computer, open Meta Business Support Home. It is at facebook.com/business-support-home.
- Open the account overview and click the account that is restricted.
- Look at what Meta shows for that account, including the section called "What you can do".
- Follow it. Meta says it may ask you to do one or more of these: confirm your identity, complete verification, secure your account, or request a review.
- Request the review if the button is offered, and submit it.
- Wait. Meta says a review is typically completed in 48 hours, and that it may take longer.
Meta says you must be an admin of the account to request a review.
Two more things from Meta's pages are worth knowing. An ad account disabled for a policy violation that stays ineligible for six months cannot be reinstated. And ads that were running before a restriction are not restarted automatically.
What should you have ready?#
Meta says it may ask for:
- the email address on the account,
- a mobile phone number that can receive a text,
- a photo of your ID, such as a passport or driving licence,
- the payment method on the account.
Have them to hand before you start, so you can finish in one sitting.
Why does this happen?#
Meta's list of reasons for advertising restrictions includes:
- Breaking its rules. Not following the Advertising Standards, Community Standards, Commerce Policies or other terms.
- A suspected hacked account.
- Not meeting two-factor authentication requirements. That is the extra login code sent to your phone.
- Unusual payment or account activity, including high rates of failed or disputed payments.
If you believe you did nothing wrong, say so in the review and say what your business is.
What to say in the review#
Keep it short and factual.
- Who you are and what the business sells.
- Your website or Page.
- That this is your first ad, if it is.
- Why you think the restriction does not apply, or what you have changed.
Do not send the same request again and again. Meta says there is a limited number of times you can request a review of an advertising restriction, and that once a review is complete the decision is final.
What not to do#
- Do not create a new ad account or a new profile to carry on. Meta names creating new accounts after a ban as evading enforcement, and gives it as a typical reason for an account ban.
- Do not pay anyone who promises to "unban" your account. Only an admin can request the review, through Meta's own page. Meta's pages describe no other route.
- If one ad was rejected, do not delete it. Meta warns that deleting an ad may lose your ability to request another review of it.
- Do not share your password with a recovery service.
How can you lower the risk next time?#
- Turn on two-factor authentication on your Facebook login.
- Use your real name and a payment method in the business's name.
- Create the ad account inside a business portfolio. See Business portfolio vs ad account vs Page.
- Read Meta's ad rules for your trade before the first ad.
- Start with a modest budget and raise it slowly.
- Connect only tools that sign in through Meta's own page. See Is it safe to connect an AI tool to your ad account?.
None of this is a promise. Meta decides, and it sometimes gets it wrong.
What Madder can and cannot do here#
Madder is an AI agent that sets up and looks after Facebook and Instagram ads. It works inside your own Meta ad account, so it lives by the same rules.
- It cannot appeal for you. Only an admin of the account can request a review, on Meta's page.
- It cannot see Meta's reason.
- It cannot fix a payment problem. Madder never sees or changes your payment method.
- It cannot promise your account will not be restricted. No tool can.
What Madder does do is connect through Meta's official sign-in and create every campaign paused, so nothing runs before you have looked at it. See How Madder works.
Questions people ask#
Why was my Facebook ad account disabled for no reason?
Meta's list includes breaking its rules, a suspected hacked account, missing two-factor authentication, and unusual payment or account activity. Open Business Support Home to see what Meta shows for your account.
How do I get my Facebook ad account back?
Open Meta Business Support Home on a computer, click the restricted account and follow "What you can do". You may have to confirm your identity, then request a review.
How long does a Facebook ad account review take?
Meta says a review is typically completed in 48 hours, and that some take longer.
Can a tool or an agency recover a disabled ad account?
No. Only an admin of the account can request the review, on Meta's own page. Meta's pages describe no faster route.