When running ads on Meta, your account can sometimes get suspended, and that's when the panic sets in, because all active campaigns are immediately put on hold. Fortunately, there are solutions.
Before you can unblock a Facebook Ads account, it is important to understand why it was suspended and the different levels of suspension that can occur.
In this article, you'll find:
- The main reasons Meta suspends an account
- The different types of suspension
- How to prevent your account from being suspended
- The method for unblocking your Facebook Ads account
The Main Reasons Meta Suspends an Ad Account
There are three levels of review by Meta, which, in the event of a policy violation, can lead all the way to the suspension of an ad account:
- The ad account
- The ad
- The destination URL
Account-level violations:
- Suspicious activity with the payment card
- Logging into the Business Manager from a foreign IP address (for example, using a VPN)
- Using an unusual payment method (switching from a credit card to a PayPal account)
- A sharp increase in ad spend (if the increase is not gradual)
- Relaunching ads that were previously rejected by Meta's moderators
- Logging into the Business Manager with a profile that was previously banned on another account (in that case, it is best to create a new profile)
- Launching ads with a brand-new account (it is better to wait 2 to 3 weeks after account creation before running your first ads)
Ad-level violations:
- Ad that violates the laws of the country where it is being served
- Promotion of prohibited products
- Unethical advertising
- Low-quality ad (spelling errors, too much text, poor image quality, etc.)
- Elements that are too clickbait-y
- Misleading ad
- Too many complaints against your ad
- Shock or discomfort themes (death, blood, illness, etc.)
Destination URL violations:
- The website does not match the ad
- The website contains a redirect
- The website contains a script
- The website collects data illegally
- Link pointing to a PDF or JPG file (you must redirect to a web page where you offer access to your document)
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The Different Types of Facebook Ads Account Suspension:
Your Facebook Ads ad account is suspended
This is the most common scenario: you log into your Facebook Ads account, and suddenly a message appears: "Ad account disabled. This ad account, its ads, and some of its ad assets are disabled. You cannot use it to run ads."
- All your active campaigns are paused, and you can no longer create new ones or edit existing ones.
- Using a different ad account, the pixel remains usable.
- The Facebook Page remains usable organically, using a different ad account.
Your Business Manager is blocked
This is a less common but more restrictive scenario. "This ad account is not authorized to advertise..."
- All your active campaigns are paused, and you can no longer create new ones or edit existing ones.
- It is not possible to create new ad accounts within the business.
- It is also not possible to use the pixel.
- The Facebook Page remains usable organically, using a different ad account.
Advertising restriction on the Facebook Page
This is the rarest of the three scenarios, and often the most puzzling. Meta prevents the Facebook Page from running ads, but does not block the ad account.
- The ad account is not suspended, but features are restricted.
- Ads using the affected Facebook Page will be blocked.
- The Facebook Page can still be used organically.
How to Prevent Your Ad Account from Being Suspended
Be transparent about your business information
Fill in as much information as possible about your business in the Business Manager, to avoid Meta flagging you as a fake business.
Enable two-factor authentication
By enabling two-factor authentication, you reduce the chances of Meta suspecting your account has been hacked.
Create a second ad account
This gives you a backup ad account in case of issues, including suspension. Keep in mind: if the first account is blocked and you submit a review request, wait for support to respond before using the second one (to avoid being suspected of circumventing the ban), and to prevent a full Business Manager block.
Add a second admin to the Business Manager
In case you run into issues with your first admin profile (such as a hack), having a second admin as a backup is a smart precaution.
Delete previously rejected ads
Rejected ads sitting in your account can be a factor in Meta's decision to suspend it. To prevent these ads from working against you, make sure to delete all rejected ads.
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The Method for Unblocking Your Facebook Ads Account
If you've already tried using a second ad account, or if you've tried creating a new business account, you will need to contact support.
Of course, there's no instant miracle solution, otherwise Meta wouldn't bother suspending ad accounts in the first place. But based on our experience, there are two approaches, one more effective than the other.
The first: contact support through the help center
- Fill out the Facebook "Request a Review" contact form.
- Explain your issue in a few words.
- A team member will check the reason for the suspension.
- The turnaround time can be fairly long. If after several follow-ups you still haven't heard back, you can move on to the second approach.
- Contact Facebook support
- Reach out via the support chat on this page. You need a minimum level of ad spend to access this chat.
- You won't be in direct contact with the people handling suspensions, but with intermediaries. They won't have answers to every question you ask, so stay courteous. In most cases, the support agent can submit a review request on your behalf, which can help speed up the response time.
- If you still haven't heard back after several days, you can try again.
The second: contact support via Messenger chat
Going through Messenger gives you a much better chance of reaching someone who can resolve your issue more quickly. To do this:
- Select your issue and fill out the related form to open the appropriate chat.
- Explain your problem to a real person via the Messenger chat.
- Engage with the person and ask for their help.
- A response will be sent to you by email.
If your request is denied, be persistent and try again. It is very rare that after several attempts, Facebook doesn't eventually unblock an account.
In any case, if you follow all the best practices we've outlined, you'll have very little chance of ending up suspended.
Want guidance with your digital marketing strategy? Feel free to reach out!
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