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What does permanently locked on Snapchat mean?

What does permanently locked on Snapchat mean?

Having your Snapchat account permanently locked can be a frustrating experience for any user. Snapchat is one of the most popular social media apps, with over 265 million daily active users as of Q1 2021. Getting locked out means losing access to connect with friends and view stories. But what exactly does it mean when Snapchat says your account is “permanently locked,” and is there any way to get it back?

What is a permanent lock on Snapchat?

A permanent lock on Snapchat means your account has been disabled by Snapchat and you are no longer able to access it. According to Snapchat’s terms of service, the company reserves the right to lock accounts for violations of their rules or terms of use. Some of the reasons Snapchat may permanently lock an account include:

  • Repeated violations of the Snapchat Community Guidelines
  • Sending spam or abusive messages
  • Impersonation of others
  • Using third-party apps that violate Snapchat’s terms
  • Sharing unauthorized or explicit content
  • Harassment, bullying, or threats against others
  • Committing illegal activities through Snapchat

A permanent lock is different from a temporary lock, which may occur if there is suspicious activity detected on your account. With a temporary lock, Snapchat automatically unlocks your account after a certain period of time, usually 24 hours. But a permanent lock means you can no longer access your account at all.

How do you know your Snapchat is permanently locked?

There are a few ways to know if Snapchat has permanently disabled your account:

  • When you try to log in, it says your account is permanently locked or disabled.
  • You stop receiving Snapchat emails, like verification codes.
  • Your friends can no longer view your Snapchat profile or stories.
  • You cannot reset your password or unlock your account through Snapchat’s support options.

Snapchat should send an email notifying you that your account has been permanently locked. But sometimes users don’t receive this email if Snapchat no longer has access to the account’s email on file. Trying and failing to log in or reset your password is often the first way users realize their account has been banned.

Why would your Snapchat get permanently locked?

There are a variety of reasons Snapchat may decide to permanently ban an account. Some of the most common causes of permanent locks include:

  • Toxic behavior: Things like bullying, harassment, hate speech, and threats against others often lead to permanent locks on Snapchat.
  • Explicit content: Accounts sharing nudity, pornography, or sexually explicit content without consent are subject to permanent banning.
  • Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else, such as a celebrity, is grounds for a permanent ban.
  • Spamming: Repeatedly sending unsolicited snaps or chats to people who don’t want them can get accounts permanently locked.
  • Hacking or scamming: Trying to gain unauthorized access to other accounts or running scams will quickly get an account banned.
  • Illegal activity: Using Snapchat for illegal purposes like selling drugs, harassment, or stalking is prohibited.
  • Third-party apps: Using apps that claim to let you save snaps without the sender knowing violates Snapchat’s terms.

In most cases, Snapchat permanently locks accounts only after repeated policy violations or severe infractions. But in some cases, Snapchat may ban an account without warning if the behavior is especially egregious.

Is there any way to unlock a permanently locked Snapchat?

Unfortunately, if your account has been permanently disabled by Snapchat, there is no way to unlock or recover it. According to Snapchat’s ban policy, permanent locks are irreversible. There are a few things you can try, but they rarely work:

  • Submit an appeal through Snapchat’s support form explaining why you should get your account back. However, Snapchat rarely overturns permanent bans.
  • Reach out to Snapchat’s support team on Twitter @snapchatsupport and explain your situation to see if they can assist.
  • If you know someone who works at Snapchat, see if they can look into your case internally and advocate to re-enable your account.

Unless it was clearly a mistake, Snapchat typically refuses to reinstate permanently locked accounts. This is to maintain trust and safety across the platform. If your violating behavior was severe enough to warrant a permanent ban, Snapchat is unlikely to give your account access again.

What happens when your Snapchat is locked?

Here are some of the key things that happen when Snapchat permanently disables your account:

  • You are logged out and unable to log back into your account, either on mobile or on a web browser.
  • Your profile, snaps, chats, memories, and stories are removed and inaccessible.
  • You stop receiving emails from Snapchat.
  • Your Snapchat Bitmoji is deleted.
  • Your Snapchat score is erased.
  • Your friends are no longer able to view your profile or snaps.
  • You cannot create a new Snapchat account using the same mobile number or device.

Essentially, a permanent ban cuts off all access between you and Snapchat. You lose the ability to use your account, and Snapchat also removes your data from their servers. All of your snaps, stories, messages, and memories are deleted. You have no way to retrieve them, even if the content did not violate Snapchat’s policies.

What to do if your Snapchat is permanently locked

Having your Snapchat permanently disabled can be disappointing. But there are a few things you can do moving forward:

  • Accept the ban: As frustrating as it is, a permanent lock is irreversible in most cases. Accept that you likely won’t get back into your old account.
  • Learn from mistakes: Reflect on what behavior led to the ban, and learn from it moving forward.
  • Inform friends: Let people know you have a new account if you choose to recreate.
  • Remove Snapchat associations: Delete saved Snapchat passwords or logins from devices and websites.
  • Focus on alternatives: Consider other apps like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok to connect with friends.
  • Wait to create a new account: Snapchat may ban new accounts associated with your device or number if created too quickly.

The permanent loss of your Snapchat can be upsetting, especially if you used it frequently or had memories saved there. But in most cases, the only option is to move forward. Creating a whole new account and being careful to follow Snapchat’s rules can help avoid winding up in the same situation again.

Can you ever get your Snapchat account back after a permanent ban?

It is extremely unlikely that Snapchat will ever reinstate access to an account after permanently disabling it. The whole point of a permanent account lock is that it is supposed to be irreversible. Here are some key reasons permanent Snapchat bans are forever:

  • It is Snapchat’s policy not to reverse permanent locks even if you appeal.
  • Permanent means forever – Snapchat intends disabled accounts to stay that way.
  • Your data is deleted from Snapchat’s servers once your account is banned.
  • Allowing reversals could undermine Snapchat’s authority and ability to enforce rules.
  • If behavior was bad enough for a permanent ban, Snapchat does not want you back.
  • Reactivating an account sets a precedent others will expect Snapchat to follow.

For these reasons, virtually no one has success getting their permanently locked Snapchat reenabled. While it’s natural to be upset at losing your account, especially if you feel it was unjustified, the best course of action is to move on and be more mindful using other social media platforms.

Can you get around a Snapchat permanent ban?

Some people try to get around Snapchat permanent bans by creating a new account. However, this is against Snapchat’s rules and risks getting caught and banned again. Here are some things to know about trying to circumvent a permanent lock:

  • Snapchat links accounts to mobile device identifiers, so creating a new account on the same phone risks a quick ban.
  • Making an account with the same email or phone number will likely get banned since those details are flagged.
  • Using a VPN to mask your device or IP address can work temporarily but is risky if detected.
  • Having friends share your new username to re-build connections draws attention to the new account.
  • Attempting to log into the banned account from the new one can reveal you are the same user.

The safest option is to accept the permanent ban and move on. Snapchat’s systems are designed to detect users trying to evade bans. You may get away with a new account briefly, but could easily find yourself permanently locked out again soon after. It’s better to learn from what went wrong than try to circumvent their rules.

Permanently locked Snapchat account: Final thoughts

Getting your Snapchat account permanently disabled can be upsetting and inconvenient. But unfortunately, there are no reliable methods to get back into a permanently locked account. Snapchat is very strict about upholding permanent bans to maintain a safe environment for all users.

The best course of action is to reflect on what caused the ban, learn from any mistakes made, and be more mindful using other social platforms going forward. Taking the time to understand Snapchat’s rules and trying a different username or device could allow starting fresh. But attempting to circumvent the ban will likely just lead to frustration.

At the end of the day, no social media account is worth jeopardizing your digital security and safety. While it’s not easy losing access, a permanent Snapchat ban is an opportunity to re-evaluate your social media habits and make more informed choices. And plenty of alternative apps exist to connect with friends in the meantime as well.