Having a Snapchat account locked or temporarily disabled can be frustrating. There are a few main reasons Snapchat might lock an account, and steps you can take to try to get your account back.
Why Was My Snapchat Account Locked?
Here are some of the most common reasons Snapchat might lock your account:
- Violating Snapchat’s Terms of Service or Community Guidelines – Things like sending spam, bullying/harassment, explicit content, buying/selling accounts, or using third-party apps can get your account locked.
- Suspicious activity – If Snapchat detects suspicious login activity or actions on your account, they may lock it temporarily as a security measure.
- Inactivity – If you don’t use your Snapchat for a prolonged period of time, Snapchat may deactivate the account due to inactivity.
- Age violation – Snapchat requires users to be at least 13 years old. If they believe you created your account as a minor, they will lock the account.
- Copyright or trademark infringement – Sharing content that infringes on someone’s intellectual property rights can lead to an account lock.
If you’re unsure exactly why your account was locked, it’s a good idea to go through Snapchat’s terms of service and community guidelines to see if anything you’ve done goes against their policies.
How to Unlock Your Snapchat Account
If your account has been locked, here are some steps you can try to get it reactivated:
- Log in to Snapchat – If your account is temporarily locked, logging in successfully can automatically unlock it in some cases.
- Verify your identity – Snapchat may prompt you to upload a photo of yourself showing your full name and birthday, to prove you are the account owner.
- Reset your password – Changing your password can sometimes help regain access to a locked account.
- Contact Snapchat support – You can fill out a form on Snapchat’s support site explaining your issue. A support representative may be able to assist you.
- Wait for a certain period – Some account locks are temporary (like 24 hours). Simply waiting it out and trying again later may work.
- Submit an unlock request – Snapchat has an account unlock request form you can try submitting.
The exact options available depend on the reason your account was locked in the first place. The Snapchat support team has discretion in deciding whether to unlock accounts, so there is no guarantee. But going through these steps provides your best chance.
How to Avoid Getting Your Snapchat Locked Again
Once your account is unlocked, you’ll want to be careful to avoid the activities that got you locked out in the first place. Here are some tips:
- Read Snapchat’s community guidelines and terms of service carefully. Follow all rules and don’t engage in any prohibited activities.
- Use Snapchat appropriately and respectfully. Do not send unsolicited messages, use slurs, or bully others.
- Do not buy, sell, or trade Snapchat accounts. Only use your own legitimate account.
- Do not use third-party apps or tools meant to enhance Snapchat. These break Snapchat’s terms.
- Make sure your account is secure. Use a strong password and be cautious about clicking suspicious links.
- Do not share inappropriate, explicit, or copyrighted content. This can get your account reported or banned.
- If inactive for a while, log in periodically so your account stays active.
Following these guidelines and generally using Snapchat appropriately and safely will help minimize your risk of getting locked out again. But mistakes happen, so be sure to have an alternate email and phone number on file in case you need to recover access to your account.
What to Do If You Get Locked Out Again
If you follow all the rules but still end up with your Snapchat locked again, here are a few things you can try:
- Submit an account unlock request again right away.
- Contact Snapchat support through email or social media to explain it’s your second lock.
- Provide as much detail as possible on why you believe the lock was a mistake.
- Politely follow up with Snapchat support every few days if you don’t hear back.
- Double check you haven’t violated any terms, in case you missed something.
- As a last resort, delete your current account and start fresh with a new one.
Getting repeatedly locked out of Snapchat can be annoying, but try to have patience. If you did nothing wrong, you have a good chance of regaining access by working politely but persistently with their support team. Avoid creating a new account while your old one is still locked, as this may be seen as trying to evade a ban.
Can Someone Else Get My Snapchat Unlocked?
Only the rightful owner of a Snapchat account can request it to be unlocked. Snapchat does not allow other people to access or modify someone else’s locked account. The unlock process requires verifying your identity as the account holder. So unfortunately, if your friend’s Snapchat is locked, there is nothing you can directly do to unlock it – only they can initiate the unlock process for their own account. You can of course advise them on the steps covered in this article. But the account owner must contact Snapchat themselves. Snapchat aims to avoid security risks of third parties accessing accounts they shouldn’t have access to. So workarounds like asking a friend to unlock your Snapchat will not work. The responsibility ultimately falls on the account owner to follow the proper steps to regain access to their locked account.
Conclusion
Having your Snapchat account locked can certainly be an annoyance, especially if you rely on it heavily for communication or business purposes. However, in most cases you should be able to regain access to your account by verifying your identity, resetting your password, contacting customer support, and patiently following their unlock process. Be sure to avoid the behavior that got you locked out in the first place, as repeated offenses will make it very difficult to get your account back. While there are never any guarantees when it comes to dealing with tech company policies, following the tips in this article will give you the best shot at quickly getting your locked Snapchat account reactivated.