Recovering a hacked Facebook account in 2025 involves swift action and following specific steps provided by Facebook’s recovery tools. Below is a step-by-step guide based on the latest information available:
1. Identify Signs of a Hack
- Check for unfamiliar activity: Look for changes to your profile (e.g., name, email, or phone number), posts or messages you didn’t create, or friend requests sent to unknown people.
- Review login activity: Go to Settings > Security and Login > Where You’re Logged In to see devices and locations accessing your account. Log out of unrecognized devices by selecting the three dots next to the device and clicking Log Out.
2. Try Logging In
- If you can still log in:
- Change your password immediately: Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Password and Security > Change Password. Use a strong, unique password (at least 12 characters with letters, numbers, and symbols).
- Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): Navigate to Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication to add an extra layer of security.
- Remove unfamiliar apps: Check Settings > Apps and Websites and revoke access to suspicious apps.
- Report the hack: Visit facebook.com/hacked, select “My Account Is Compromised,” and follow the prompts to report the incident.
3. If You’re Locked Out
- Use Facebook’s Find Your Account Page:
- Go to facebook.com/login/identify or click “Forgot Password?” on the login page.
- Enter the email address or phone number associated with your account and click “Search.”
- Follow instructions to reset your password via a code sent to your email or phone.
- If the hacker changed your email/phone:
- Check your email for a message from Facebook (sent from “facebookmail.com”) about the email change. Use the “Secure Your Account” or “Change Your Password” link to reverse it.
- If you can’t access the old email/phone, select “No longer have access to these?” and provide a new email or phone number. You may need to upload a government-issued ID to verify your identity.
- Use Trusted Contacts: If set up, use trusted contacts to recover your account by following the instructions on the recovery page.
- Report to Facebook: Go to facebook.com/hacked and report the compromise. Provide details like unauthorized logins or changes.
4. Additional Recovery Options
- Use a friend’s account: From a friend’s logged-in account, go to your profile, click the three dots under the cover photo, and select Find support or report profile > Something Else > Recover this account. Follow the prompts.
- Submit ID for verification: If prompted, upload a clear photo of your government-issued ID. Ensure it’s well-lit and legible. Facebook typically responds within 48 hours to a week.
- Try a previously used device: Log in from a device or browser where you were previously logged in, as it may bypass some verification loops.
5. Secure Your Account Post-Recovery
- Change passwords: Update passwords for your Facebook account and any related accounts (e.g., email, Instagram). Avoid reusing passwords across platforms.
- Enable 2FA: This is critical to prevent future hacks.
- Review login activity: Log out all unrecognized devices.
- Warn contacts: Inform friends not to engage with suspicious messages or posts from your account.
- Run a malware scan: Scan your devices for malware that could have compromised your account.
- Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi: Protect your data on unsecured networks.
6. If Recovery Fails
- Contact Facebook Support: Use the Facebook Help Center or report a login issue via the “Report a Login Issue” form.
- Escalate via Meta Verified (if applicable): For urgent cases, consider subscribing to Meta Verified for Instagram or Facebook to access human support. Provide your original account URL, a new email not linked to Meta, and screenshots of unauthorized activity.
- Avoid creating a duplicate account: This can complicate recovery.
- Check for data breaches: Use services like haveibeenpwned.com to see if your credentials were exposed.
7. Prevent Future Hacks
- Use a strong, unique password and a password manager.
- Enable login notifications for unrecognized devices in Settings > Security and Login.
- Be cautious of phishing scams; verify URLs before entering credentials.
- Limit third-party app permissions.
