Facebook Account Restricted from Advertising? Here's Why and How to Fix It in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Restrictions can affect your business portfolio, ad account, page, or user account
• Common causes: policy violations, negative feedback, suspicious activity, unverified identity
• Fix process: Confirm identity → Complete verification → Enable 2FA → Request review
• Timeline: Minor issues 24-72 hours; severe violations potentially permanent
• Prevention is easier: maintain feedback scores above 3.0, verify identity early

When Your Account Gets Restricted

Don't panic. Most restrictions are fixable if you understand the cause and follow the right process.

Understanding Restriction Types

Meta can restrict at different levels:

Business Portfolio Restrictions

Affects all ad accounts under your business. Usually the most serious.

Ad Account Restrictions

Affects one specific ad account. Other accounts may continue running.

Page Restrictions

Limits what you can do with a specific Facebook Page.

User Account Restrictions

Affects your personal ability to manage ads across any business.

Common Causes of Restrictions

1. Policy Violations

The most common cause. Your ads violated Meta's advertising policies:

• Prohibited content (illegal products, discrimination)
• Deceptive claims (unrealistic promises)
• Objectionable content (inappropriate imagery)
• Industry-specific violations (missing disclaimers)

2. Negative User Feedback

Users can report, hide, or provide negative feedback on your ads:

3. Suspicious Activity

Meta's systems flag unusual patterns:

• Logins from unexpected locations
• Sudden changes to payment methods
• Unusual spending patterns
• Multiple failed verification attempts

4. Unverified Identity

Meta increasingly requires verification:

• Two-factor authentication not enabled
• Business verification incomplete
• Personal identity not confirmed

5. Repeated Ad Disapprovals

Consistently resubmitting rejected ads signals either:

• Intentional policy circumvention
• Failure to understand policies

Either one triggers increased scrutiny.

6. Intellectual Property Complaints

If rights holders report your ads for IP violations, restrictions can follow.

How to Fix a Restricted Account

Step 1: Identify the Cause

Go to Account Quality in Business Suite. Look for:

• Specific policy violations cited
• Feedback scores and trends
• Required actions listed

Step 2: Confirm Your Identity

Often the first required step:

• Provide email address
• Confirm phone number
• Upload government ID if requested
• Verify payment method ownership

Step 3: Address the Violation

If specific violations are cited:

• Remove or edit offending ads
• Update landing pages if needed
• Document changes made

Step 4: Enable Two-Factor Authentication

If not already enabled, this is often required for reinstatement.

Step 5: Request Review

Through Business Support Home:

What to Include in Your Appeal

• Acknowledgment of the issue
• Specific changes made
• Commitment to compliance going forward
• Any relevant documentation

Timeline Expectations

Prevention Strategies

Monitor Feedback Scores

Check weekly in Account Quality:

• 4.0+: Excellent
• 3.0-4.0: Good
• 2.0-3.0: At risk
• Below 2.0: Danger zone

Know the Policies

Read Meta's advertising policies at least quarterly. They update frequently.

Verify Early

Complete all verification steps before you need to:

• Business verification
• Domain verification
• Identity verification
• Two-factor authentication

Quality Over Quantity

Screen Creative Consistently

Build policy review into your creative process:

• Check claims before publishing
• Review landing pages for compliance
• Ensure all assets are properly licensed

When Restrictions Are Permanent

Some restrictions can't be fixed:

• Repeated severe violations
• Fraudulent activity
• Circumvention attempts
• Extreme policy violations

In these cases, your options are limited:

• Start fresh with a new business (legitimately, not circumvention)
• Consider alternative advertising platforms
• Focus on organic and non-paid channels

The Bottom Line

Account restrictions are stressful but usually recoverable. The key is understanding the cause, following the proper process, and demonstrating genuine compliance.

The advertisers who rarely face restrictions aren't lucky — they've built compliance into their DNA.