Skip to Content

What happens if my Snapchat account is locked?

What happens if my Snapchat account is locked?

Having your Snapchat account locked can be frustrating, but there are usually steps you can take to get it unlocked. Here’s an overview of what to do if you find your Snapchat account has been locked:

Why Your Snapchat Account May Be Locked

There are a few common reasons why Snapchat may lock your account:

You violated Snapchat’s Terms of Service

If you break any of Snapchat’s rules, such as by sending spam, bullying others, or otherwise misusing the app, Snapchat may lock your account. Violating Snapchat’s Terms of Service is the most common reason accounts get locked.

Suspicious activity was detected

If Snapchat notices suspicious activity like login attempts from unknown devices or locations, it may temporarily lock your account for security reasons. This serves to protect your account from potential hackers.

You have an old or inactive account

Snapchat occasionally locks accounts that have been inactive for a very long time. This frees up username availability. Accounts that are locked for inactivity can still be recovered.

Your account was hacked

If a hacker gains access to your Snapchat account, they may change critical account details like the password and email. This triggers Snapchat’s security algorithms and causes your account to be locked.

How to Unlock Your Snapchat Account

If your Snapchat account is locked, don’t panic. Here are the steps to get back into your account:

Try logging in again after some time has passed

For short lockouts due to suspicious activity, trying to log back in after a few hours may work. Snapchat’s system may automatically unlock your account once it determines there is no threat.

Reset your password

If you can still access your account’s linked email, try resetting your Snapchat password. This will override any changes made if you were hacked.

Update your password and recovery email

Log into Snapchat through a web browser and update your password and recovery email to addresses you control. This secures your account from hackers.

Submit an unlock request

You can fill out Snapchat’s account unlock form and provide details about why your account was locked. Snapchat reviews these requests.

Contact Snapchat Support

If other options don’t work, you can contact Snapchat Support to look into unlocking your account. Be ready to provide proof of ownership.

How to Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Snapchat Account

To avoid issues that can get your account locked, keep these tips in mind:

Don’t violate Snapchat’s rules

Abide by Snapchat’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines to avoid blocks. Don’t spam, intimidate, or mislead others.

Enable two-factor authentication

Turn on two-factor authentication in your account’s Settings. This adds extra login security to prevent hackers.

Change your password regularly

Update your Snapchat password every few months to keep it secure. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts.

Be cautious of third-party apps

Third-party apps that connect to your Snapchat could trigger locks if they violate Snapchat’s policies. Research apps before connecting them.

Monitor account activity

Check your account’s login history periodically to spot unauthorized access attempts that could lead to locks.

What to Do If You Can’t Get Back Into Your Account

If your Snapchat account remains persistently locked and you’ve exhausted all unlock options, you may need to create a new account. Before doing this:

Back up your memories

If possible, export your Snapchat Memories to your camera roll so you have copies. You won’t be able to access old Snaps from a locked account.

Inform friends

Let friends know you have a new Snapchat account so they can find and connect with you again.

Contact Snapchat

One last try is to fill out Snapchat’s account deletion form to fully disable the locked account. You can then create a new account with the freed up username.

Conclusion

Having your Snapchat locked can be inconvenient, but is usually temporary if you take the right steps. Maintain your account in good standing, enable security features, and contact Snapchat Support if you get locked out. With some persistence, you can usually recover access to your account.

Reason for Lock Solution
Violated Terms of Service Submit unlock request form, contact support
Suspicious activity Try logging in again after some time
Inactive account Login and use account normally
Account hacked Reset password, update recovery email

Having your Snapchat account locked can be a nuisance, but this guide covers the common reasons it happens and steps you can take to get your account unlocked. Be patient and persistent and you should be able to regain access.

Snapchat is one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among younger demographics. According to Snapchat’s own statistics from 2020, over 265 million people use Snapchat every day. With this huge userbase, it’s inevitable that sometimes things go wrong with accounts.

Getting locked out of your Snapchat account can be incredibly frustrating. Your account might contain years of memories and conversations you don’t want to lose. Thankfully, in many cases, Snapchat lockouts can be reversed if you take the right steps.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Snapchat account locks including:

  • Common reasons your account can get locked
  • How to unlock your Snapchat if it gets locked
  • Tips to avoid getting locked out
  • What to do if you can’t recover your account

Read on to learn how you can get back into your Snapchat account if you ever find yourself locked out!

Why Your Snapchat Account May Be Locked

There are a few main reasons why Snapchat locks user accounts. These include:

You violated Snapchat’s Terms of Service

The most common reason for Snapchat to lock accounts is if a user violates their Terms of Service. This is the policy you agree to when signing up for and using Snapchat.

Examples of Terms of Service violations include:

  • Sending spam or repetitively posting the same content
  • Impersonating others
  • Bullying or harassing other users
  • Posting illegal or sexual content
  • Using third-party apps that abuse Snapchat’s API

If Snapchat detects any of these policy breaches or others outlined in their Terms of Service, they may lock your account temporarily or permanently, depending on the severity of the violation.

Suspicious activity was detected

Snapchat’s system automatically scans for suspicious activity that could indicate account hacking attempts. This includes things like:

  • Logins from unknown devices or locations
  • Multiple failed login attempts
  • Changes to account information like the password or email

If Snapchat detects suspicious activity, it may lock your account as a security precaution until it can confirm you are the legitimate account owner.

You have an old or inactive account

Snapchat occasionally locks very old or inactive accounts. This frees up dormant usernames and allows new users to sign up with those names.

Accounts that haven’t been logged into for over 12 months are most likely to be locked for inactivity. But as long as you still have access to the login details, you can recover an inactive account.

Your account was hacked

If a hacker manages to access your account, they may change critical login credentials like your password or email address. As outlined above, these types of changes trigger Snapchat’s security systems.

To lock down the account and stop the hacker’s access, Snapchat will swiftly lock the account until it can confirm with the rightful owner.

How to Unlock Your Snapchat Account

Don’t panic if you find your Snapchat account locked. There are several ways you can get your account unlocked and regain access. Try the following solutions:

Try logging in again after some time has passed

If your Snapchat account was temporarily locked due to suspicious activity, trying to log in again after a few hours may work. Snapchat’s system locks accounts down fast at first signs of trouble, but may automatically unlock shortly after if it determines there is no threat.

Reset your password

If your account was likely locked due to a hacking attempt, and you still have access to your account’s linked email account, try resetting your Snapchat password. This will override any password changes made by the hacker.

On the Snapchat login screen, select “Forgot password?” and input your username and email address. Follow the reset instructions emailed to you.

Update your password and recovery email

Even if resetting your password worked, it’s a good idea to also update your recovery email address. This prevents the hacker from trying to reset your password again.

The best way to update your credentials is by logging into Snapchat through a web browser instead of the mobile app. Then update your password to something secure, and change the email on your account to an email you control.

Submit an unlock request

If the above solutions don’t work, Snapchat provides an account unlock request form you can fill out. Go to accounts.snapchat.com/accounts/unlock and submit details on why your account was locked.

In the form, be sure to provide your username and explain in detail why you believe your account was locked. Snapchat’s team manually reviews these requests and will unlock accounts if the reasoning is justified.

Contact Snapchat Support

The last resort is to directly contact Snapchat Support if your account remains locked. Explain your situation and provide proof that you are the account owner.

Documents Snapchat may request to verify identity include your photo ID, proof of address, last 4 digits of a payment method used, and more. Check Snapchat’s locked account support page for details.

With persistence, Snapchat Support can unlock most accounts as long as you can demonstrate ownership. But the process may take weeks depending on how responsive their team is.

How to Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your Snapchat Account

Taking the right precautions can help prevent your Snapchat account from getting locked in the first place. Follow these best practices:

Don’t violate Snapchat’s rules

It should go without saying, but avoid breaking any of Snapchat’s Terms of Service or Community Guidelines if you want to stay in good standing. Never engage in spam, harassment, or anything illegal.

Enable two-factor authentication

Add an extra layer of login security by enabling two-factor authentication in your Snapchat account’s Settings page. This requires you to input a rotating code from an authentication app whenever logging in from a new device.

Change your password regularly

Update your Snapchat password every few months to keep it secure. Avoid reusing the same password across multiple accounts, as this allows hackers to access more of your accounts if one is compromised.

Be cautious of third-party apps

Third-party apps that connect to your Snapchat account and access your data can get your account locked if they abuse Snapchat’s API or policies. Thoroughly research any third-party apps before allowing them to link to your Snapchat.

Monitor account activity

Routinely check your Snapchat account’s login activity under Settings > Login Activity. Watch for logins from unknown locations or devices, which could indicate your account was hacked.

What to Do If You Can’t Get Back Into Your Account

If your Snapchat remains persistently locked even after you’ve exhausted every unlock method, you may need to accept that you’ve lost access to your old account. Here are tips on what to do in this worst-case scenario:

Back up your memories

If possible via another logged in device, export your Snapchat Memories to your camera roll before abandonning your account. Your memories will not be accessible from a locked account.

Inform friends

Let any friends or contacts know that you’ve unfortunately lost access to your old Snapchat account, and provide them your new account name so they can find and re-add you.

Contact Snapchat

As a last-ditch effort, you can fill out Snapchat’s account deletion form. Fully deleting a locked account can allow you to sign up again fresh with the same desired username.

But beware – actually getting Snapchat to delete a locked account is very difficult, so manage expectations.

Conclusion

Having your Snapchat account locked can be a temporary annoyance or a permanent loss depending on the circumstances. While frustrating, try not to stress too much. With some patience and by following the right steps, you stand a good chance of regaining access to your account.

Be sure to bookmark guides like this in case your account ever does get locked out. The key is staying calm, methodically trying solutions, and providing as much helpful context to Snapchat as possible. This maximizes your odds of unlocking your account and getting back to Snapping!