If you’ve found yourself in a situation where your access to your WhatsApp account has been blocked, don’t panic! We understand that these things can happen, often unknowingly. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this guide, we’ll not only show you how to recover your blocked WhatsApp account, but we’ll also provide tips on how to avoid being blocked in the future. It’s important to note, though, that the final decision lies with the app developers, so it’s crucial to be patient, polite, and concise throughout this process.
Understanding Why Your WhatsApp Account is Blocked
Before we dive into the recovery process, let’s first understand why you’ve been blocked. The primary reason is usually a violation of the ‘Acceptable Use of Our Services’ clause in WhatsApp’s Terms of Service. The duration of the ban, however, can vary.
Temporary Ban
Temporary bans are usually due to one or more of the following actions:
- Usage of modified (unofficial) versions of the app, such as GB WhatsApp, WhatsApp Plus, or WhatsApp OG.
- Spamming individuals or sending mass messages.
- Sending inappropriate content or altering group names to something offensive.
- Adding individuals to groups without their consent.
- Distributing malware.
- Impersonating others.
- Marketing illegal services or products.
Temporary bans can last anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, depending on the severity of the violation.
Permanent Ban
Permanent bans, as the name suggests, have no expiration date. These are usually issued for severe violations. You may also receive a permanent ban after a temporary one, particularly if you fail to uninstall an unofficial WhatsApp application.
Steps to Reactivate a Banned WhatsApp Number
1. Be Patient and Wait
For temporary bans, the simplest solution is to wait for the ban duration to end.
2. Backup and Restore Messages
If your account was blocked due to usage of a third-party WhatsApp version, you have the option to backup your messages and then import them once the ban is lifted.
Here’s how to do this for GB WhatsApp on Android and iOS:
- Open GB WhatsApp.
- Tap on ‘More options’.
- Go to ‘Chats’.
- Tap on ‘Save conversations’.
- Open your File Manager application.
- Locate a folder named “GB WhatsApp”.
- Rename this folder to “WhatsApp” only. This is often done by tapping ‘More’ or three dots in the upper right corner, then selecting ‘Rename’.
- Download and install the official WhatsApp for Android or iOS.
- Enter your phone number and verify it via a call or authentication code.
- You should then see a ‘Backup Found’ screen.
- Press ‘Restore’, then ‘Next’.
WhatsApp will now import your chats. For WhatsApp Plus and WhatsApp OG users, your chat history should restore automatically, or as an available backup after verifying your phone number.
3. Reach Out to WhatsApp Support
If you encounter a message stating: “Your phone number is banned from using WhatsApp. Contact support for assistance,” it means you’ve been permanently banned. However, you can still appeal the decision.
- Tap on the ‘Support’ option in the lower left corner.
- A new window will open.
- Briefly describe your situation in the provided text box.
- Optionally, you can attach up to three screenshots to help illustrate your issue.
- Select “This didn’t answer my question” after tapping on “Have you read our FAQ yet?”
- Tap ‘Next’ in the upper right corner.
Your appeal will be automatically sent to [email protected]. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or [email protected]. Be patient as it might take a while to get a response, and in some cases, you may not get a response at all.
4. Consider Starting Fresh
If all else fails, it might be time to move on. Although it might be a difficult decision to make, getting a new number, installing the official WhatsApp app, and ensuring you abide by the platform’s rules this time can be a viable option.
In the end, it’s important to learn from this experience and ensure that you use WhatsApp responsibly in the future to prevent similar incidents.
