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Why can’t I make a new Snapchat account after being deleted?

Why can’t I make a new Snapchat account after being deleted?

If you’re unable to create a new Snapchat account after deleting your old one, there are a few potential reasons why this may be happening.

You May Be Temporarily Locked Out

One of the most common reasons Snapchat prevents you from immediately making a new account after deleting your old one is to prevent abuse. Snapchat may temporarily lock your device from creating new accounts if you try to create multiple accounts in a short period of time.

This temporary lockout is designed to prevent activities like spamming from new accounts or trying to circumvent a ban. The good news is that it’s usually only temporary – you just need to wait a little while before trying to make a new account again.

How Long Does the Lockout Last?

There’s no definitive timeframe for how long Snapchat’s temporary lockout lasts. It seems to range anywhere from 12 hours to a couple of days in most cases. The duration likely depends on what activity triggered the lockout and your history with violating Snapchat’s terms of service.

If it has been over 72 hours and you still can’t create a new Snapchat account, you may need to contact Snapchat support to resolve the issue.

You May Have Been Permanently Banned

In some cases, Snapchat may decide to permanently ban your device from creating new accounts. This extreme measure is reserved for severe or repeated violations of Snapchat’s terms of service.

Some of the activities that can trigger a permaban include:

  • Spamming or harassing other users
  • Impersonation of other accounts
  • Posting illegal or dangerous content
  • Distributing hacked/leaked content
  • Using third-party apps that violate Snapchat’s terms

If you believe you have been permabanned in error, you can appeal the ban through Snapchat’s support options. However, keep in mind permanent bans are not handed out lightly, and Snapchat may reject appeals if the violation is severe enough.

How to Tell if You’re Permabanned

Here are some signs that your device may have been permanently banned by Snapchat:

  • Unable to create new account for over 72 hours
  • Get error message saying “Oh Snap! Your account was locked.”
  • Lockout persists even after uninstalling/reinstalling app
  • Lockout persists when trying to sign up on new device

Your Account Was Deactivated, Not Deleted

Another possibility is that you only deactivated your old Snapchat account, rather than fully deleting it. Deactivating an account removes your profile from view and logs you out, but it doesn’t actually delete your account.

Snapchat prevents you from creating a new account while your old one is still in deactivated status. To fully delete your old account and start fresh, you need to:

  1. Log back into your deactivated account
  2. Go to your account settings
  3. Choose to delete your account and confirm
  4. Wait 30 days for account to be permanently deleted

After the 30 day deletion period, your account will be fully purged from Snapchat’s systems and you’ll be free to create a brand new account.

You’re Using an IP Address or Device Associated with Ban

If your device or IP address was associated with an account that was banned, Snapchat may prevent you from making new accounts from that same device or address.

For example, if your old account was banned while logging in from your home WiFi, Snapchat may block that home IP from being used with new accounts. Or if it was your mobile device that got banned, Snapchat may block any new accounts associated with that device’s identifiers.

To resolve this, you need access to a device and IP address that wasn’t associated with your old banned account. You may need to try creating your new Snapchat on a different WiFi network or a friend’s mobile device not linked to you.

Using a VPN or Factory Reset May Help

If Snapchat has blocked your device or local network IP address, there are a couple things you can try to circumvent the ban:

  • Use a VPN service to mask your IP address and make it appear you are logging in from a different location.
  • Perform a factory reset to wipe your mobile device and remove any unique identifiers associated with your old banned account.

However, keep in mind these methods aren’t guaranteed to work if Snapchat has robust device fingerprinting methods.

Your Account Was Hacked

In some cases, users find they are locked out of Snapchat because their account was hacked by someone else. The hacker may have changed the password and logged in from an unknown IP address that then gets banned.

If this happens, you’ll need to go through Snapchat’s account recovery process to regain access to your legitimate account. Here are the steps:

  1. Go to the Snapchat login page and click “Forgot your password?”
  2. Enter your username and complete the captcha challenge.
  3. Select whether you can still access your email or phone number associated with the account.
  4. Follow the instructions to reset your password via email or SMS message.
  5. Once you regain access, enable 2-factor authentication to secure your account.

If you can no longer access your associated email or phone number, the process may be more difficult. You’ll need to provide Snapchat with proof of ownership of the account through methods like verification codes or screenshots.

Your Account Was Compromised in Data Breach

In rare cases, being locked out of Snapchat can be the result of your account details being compromised in a data breach.

For example, if a hacker obtains your Snapchat login credentials from a breach of another site, they may log into your Snapchat account and get it banned through malicious activity.

If this happens, make sure to change your Snapchat password to something completely new that wasn’t compromised in the breach. Also change the password anywhere else you used the same credentials, and turn on two-factor authentication.

Conclusion

Being unable to create a new Snapchat after deleting your account is frustrating, but in most cases it’s due to a temporary lockout or your account still being in deactivated status. The issue should resolve in a few days if you wait and refrain from trying to make new accounts.

For permanent bans, you’ll need to appeal to Snapchat support or access an entirely new device and IP address not linked to your banned usage history. Restoring a hacked account also involves going through Snapchat’s account recovery process.

With hundreds of millions of users, Snapchat aims to maintain the quality of the community experience by discouraging abusive account creation. While its restrictions may seem excessive at times, a short waiting period is a small inconvenience to endure to regain access for legitimate purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Snapchat’s temporary account creation ban last?

Snapchat’s temporary ban on creating new accounts after deleting your old one typically lasts anywhere from 12 hours to a couple days. If it has been over 72 hours, contact Snapchat support.

What gets you permanently banned on Snapchat?

Activities leading to a permaban include spamming, harassment, impersonation, illegal content distribution, and repeated terms of service violations. Permabans are difficult to overturn unless issued by mistake.

Can you undo a Snapchat deletion?

No, deleting your Snapchat account is permanent after 30 days and cannot be undone. However, you can deactivate your account temporarily to save your data before the 30 day window expires.

Does Snapchat ban devices?

Yes, Snapchat may associate device identifiers like advertising IDs with banned accounts and block new accounts being created from those same devices.

Can a VPN help create a new Snapchat if banned?

Using a VPN can mask your IP address and location to circumvent an IP ban. However, if the device hardware itself is banned, a VPN may be less effective.

Statistical Information on Snapchat Bans

Here are some statistics on account banning and locks on Snapchat:

Total monthly active Snapchat users 265 million (as of Q4 2019)
Estimated percentage of accounts banned per month Less than 1%
Most common reasons for temporary locks Spamming, multiple account creation
Most common reasons for permanent bans Illegal content distribution, harassment
Accounts banned in February 2020 1.7 million
Ban appeals granted in 2020 Less than 15%

These statistics illustrate Snapchat’s significant scale in account banning and blocking. The tiny percentage of accounts affected each month highlights how bans are reserved only for serious and repeated misuse according to Snapchat’s published community guidelines.

The low rate of successful ban appeals reflects the deliberateness of Snapchat’s ban criteria. However, the appeals that are overturned represent those issued mistakenly against legitimate accounts.

Steps to Take If You’re Locked Out of Snapchat

Here is a summary of steps to take if you find yourself unable to make a new Snapchat account after deleting your old one:

  1. Wait it out – Temporary locks typically resolve in 12-48 hours
  2. Appeal ban – If permabanned, politely request Snapchat review your case
  3. Use new device – Try creating account on friend’s device or public computer not associated with you
  4. Change IP address – Sign up using different WiFi network or VPN service
  5. Factory reset device – Wipes unique device identifiers linked to banned account

Avoid trying to circumvent restrictions by creating multiple new accounts, which will only extend temporary locks. Be patient and use official channels to restore your access.

Preventing Snapchat Bans

Here are some tips to avoid getting banned on Snapchat in the first place:

  • Don’t spam other users or post inappropriate mass content
  • Don’t harass, threaten, or impersonate others
  • Don’t distribute illegal or dangerous content
  • Don’t use third-party apps that claim to boost Snapchat functionality
  • Don’t automate Snapchat activities through scripts or bots
  • Don’t buy or sell Snapchat accounts or data

Following Snapchat’s community guidelines and acting responsibly will help you maintain uninterrupted access to your account. Avoid activities that compromise other users’ enjoyment of the platform.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Adding two-factor authentication using your phone number is an important account security step that helps prevent unauthorized logins. SMS-based verification codes prevent hackers from accessing your account even if they obtain your password through a breach.

Recovering Access After Losing Credentials

If you can no longer access the email address or phone number associated with your Snapchat account, recovery becomes challenging but is still possible.

You’ll need to provide Snapchat with detailed information to prove account ownership. This may include:

  • Account creation date and device
  • Locations where you logged in from
  • Friends you interacted with
  • Verified phone numbers or emails previously linked
  • Screenshots showing your user profile info

The more details you can provide about your usage history, the better chance you’ll have to convince Snapchat support you are the legitimate account owner so they will unlock your access.

Avoid Buying/Selling Snapchat Accounts

Purchasing or taking over someone else’s Snapchat account is strictly against Snapchat’s terms. Any access credentials you obtain this way will likely get the account banned once detected.

trying to gain access to the account. Focus your efforts on communicating directly with Snapchat to recover your original compromised or lost account.

Conclusion

Losing access to Snapchat can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you feel powerless to create a new account. But in most cases, the restrictions are temporary and designed to combat spam and policy violations.

Be patient, refrain from account hopping, and use official appeal channels to resolve permanent bans. With some perseverance, you should be able to eventually regain access to Snapchat as long as you haven’t engaged in serious misuse of the platform.