What to do if your Instagram account has been temporarily locked

Have you ever logged into your Instagram account only to be greeted with a message that says your account has been temporarily locked? It’s a frustrating experience that can leave you confused and unsure of what to do next.

What could have caused this? Was it something you did or something out of your control? These questions might be racing through your mind. Whether it’s due to security concerns, a violation of community guidelines, or suspicious activity, there are various reasons why your Instagram account may be temporarily locked.

But there is no need to panic. Let’s take a closer look at the causes and whether there is anything you can do about it.

What is an Instagram temporary lock?

An Instagram temporary lock is a security feature that prevents you from accessing your account. When you try to log in, you will see a message that says, “Your account has been temporarily locked.” This may happen if Instagram suspects that your account has been compromised or if you have violated their terms of service.

Why does Instagram temporarily lock accounts?

Instagram may temporarily lock your account for several reasons, including:

• Security reasons: Instagram may lock your account if they suspect that someone has tried to hack into it or if they detect suspicious activity on your account.
• Violation of community guidelines: Instagram has strict guidelines that users must follow. If you violate these guidelines, your account may be temporarily locked.
• Unusual activity: Instagram may lock your account if they detect unusual activity, such as quickly posting too many photos or comments.
• Third-party apps: Instagram may temporarily lock your account if you use third-party apps that violate their terms of service.

Probably the most noteworthy item is Unusual activity. What does it cover? These typical actions may result in Instagram issuing an account lock.

Bot-like activities

Instagram monitors the frequency of activities performed per hour and within 24-hour periods. Engaging in actions at an abnormally fast rate is classified as “bot activity,” which could lead to a temporary account lock. Some examples of such activities include:

• Bulk following and unfollowing of users.
• Excessively liking and unliking pictures.
• Rapidly commenting on posts and posting the same comment repeatedly.

While it is common to follow and have users follow you back, following hundreds of users at once and unfollowing them shortly after could trigger Instagram’s detection system. Similarly, liking or unliking many pictures in one session or rapidly commenting on numerous posts implies artificial actions and could result in a temporary account lock. Repetitively posting the same comment devalues conversation and often indicates bot use. Instagram’s automated system detects such actions as bot behavior and may lock your account temporarily.

Phished account credentials

If you have unknowingly provided your Instagram login details to a fraudulent website, hackers could access your account and trigger a red flag with Instagram. As a result, your account may be temporarily locked to prevent further unauthorized access.

Hackers can use various techniques to obtain your login credentials, including mimicking the Instagram login screen. Once in possession of your credentials, they can access and control your account as they please. It’s crucial to safeguard your account and prevent unauthorized access by enabling two-factor authentication, avoiding suspicious links, and reporting any unusual activity to Instagram.

How to unlock your Instagram account

If your Instagram account has been temporarily locked, here are some steps you can take to unlock it:

Wait for a few hours

In most cases, Instagram will automatically unlock your account after a few hours. Therefore, the first step is to wait a bit and try to log in again.

Reset your password

If waiting doesn’t work, resetting your password is next. To do this, click the “Forgot password” option on the login screen and follow the instructions to reset your password.

Contact Instagram

If none of the above steps work, you may need to contact Instagram’s support team. You should complete a special form called “My Instagram Account Was Deactivated.” So here’s how:

• Go to the form by following this link.
• Mark that you agree and understand the terms and wish to continue.

• After that, complete the form by entering your name, an email address tied to the Instagram account you’re trying to unlock, and an Instagram username.

• Next, state why you think your account should not be deactivated.
• You can even attach additional evidence in the file format.
• Finally, click Send.

After submitting a request to unlock your temporarily locked Instagram account, Instagram will provide you with further instructions on how to regain access. One of the steps may require you to submit a photo of yourself holding a piece of paper with a unique code provided by Instagram.

What should the photo be like?

The photo must be original, clear, and unedited, showing your face alongside the code. Instagram has strict guidelines for accepting photos and may reject the submission if they suspect it is not genuinely you. Therefore, ensuring that the photo you submit is authentic and meets Instagram’s criteria is essential. By following the instructions and submitting the required information, you can work towards unlocking your account and getting back to using Instagram.

How long do you have to wait for a response?

Once you have submitted the photo required to unlock your temporarily locked Instagram account, there is typically a waiting period while Instagram reviews your submission. If your photo meets their criteria, you will receive a confirmation that your account has been successfully unlocked.

However, the approval process can take some time, ranging from a few days to several weeks, depending on Instagram’s workload and the requests they receive. It’s essential to be patient and wait for a response, as attempting to submit multiple requests or contacting Instagram repeatedly may further delay the process. In the meantime, preventing future account locks is essential by avoiding suspicious activity, using strong passwords, and keeping your login information secure.