Facebook Account Restricted From Advertising: What It Means and What to Do
Quick fix
A Facebook account restricted from advertising means Meta has restricted your personal profile: you can't advertise or create new ads, even on accounts you manage. Open Business Support Home, check the Outstanding tab for actions, and if you think it's a mistake, request a review. Other people on the ad account may still advertise.
- Open Business Support Home and check the
Outstandingtab for actions. - Check whether only your profile is restricted, or the ad account or portfolio too.
- Ask another admin to keep campaigns running while you deal with it.
- Request a review if you believe the restriction is wrong.
Can't fix it yourself? Send me the details
What this error means
The restriction is on you as a person, not on an ad account. While it applies you can't advertise or create new ads, and any ad account where you're the only user may also be disabled. Other members of the business portfolio, ad account or Page may still be able to advertise.
Meta says that if a personal profile is restricted, you are not allowed to use Meta Products to advertise.
Why it happens
1Your profile broke a Meta policy
The profile didn't follow the Community Standards, Advertising Standards, Commerce Policies or other policies and terms.
How to tell if this is you: Business Support Home lists a policy issue against your Facebook account.
2Meta suspects your profile was compromised
Meta restricts assets it suspects have been compromised or hacked.
How to tell if this is you: You've had login alerts, password resets or posts you didn't make.
3Two-factor authentication not set up
You haven't met Meta's two-factor authentication requirements for account security.
How to tell if this is you: The listed action asks you to secure your account.
How to fix it
See what Meta wants you to do
- Open Business Support Home and go to your account overview.
- Select the
Outstandingtab inRecent account issuesto see current issues and the actions you can take. - Use the overview to check that any email, text or call claiming to be from Meta is genuine before you act on it.
Keep the business advertising meanwhile
- Ask another admin of the business portfolio, ad account or Page to manage campaigns. They may still be able to advertise.
- Make sure each ad account has more than one user, because ad accounts where you are the only user may also be disabled.
How to appeal or request a review
If you believe your profile was restricted by mistake, request a review. You must be an admin on the account.
- Open Business Support Home and choose
Account status overviewfrom the menu on the left. - Select the restricted account.
- In the
What you can dosection, selectRequest review. - Complete the on-screen steps. You must be an admin on the account.
What not to do
- Profiles created or repurposed to get round an earlier removal can be restricted too, so work through the review instead.
- Reviews are limited and the decision is final once completed, so complete the listed actions first.
How long it takes
Meta says a restriction review is typically completed in 48 hours, although it may take longer in some cases.
How to stop it happening again
- Turn on two-factor authentication on your Facebook profile.
- Keep at least two people on every ad account so one restriction does not disable it.
- Check suspicious "Meta" messages in Business Support Home before clicking anything.
From my desk
A restriction on a personal profile belongs to that person, so I first check the client's business assets do not depend on that one login. A second team member with full admin access on the Business portfolio can keep campaigns running while the restricted person uses Meta's own review option. I do not look for ways around the restriction.
Muhammed Abdul Kalam
When to get help
- You've requested a review and been refused, and the account is needed for the business to keep trading.
- You can't tell which asset is restricted: the personal profile, the ad account, the Page or the business portfolio.
- Several people and agencies have access and nobody is sure who changed what.
Stuck on this? Send me the details.Tell me what the platform shows and what you've tried so far.
Send me the detailsFAQs
What does restricted from advertising mean on Facebook?
Meta has restricted your personal profile from advertising. You can't advertise or create new ads, and ad accounts where you're the only user may also be disabled.
Can my colleagues still run our ads?
Other members of the business portfolio, ad account or Page may still be able to advertise.
How do I request a review of my profile restriction?
In Business Support Home, select Account status overview, choose the restricted account, then select Request review in the What you can do section and follow the steps.
How long does the review take?
Meta says it is typically completed in 48 hours, although it may take longer in some cases.
Will requesting a review make things worse?
Meta says requesting another review of its decision won't hurt your standing in any way. The number of reviews is limited, though, and the outcome is final.