Having your WhatsApp number banned can be very frustrating. WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by over 2 billion people. Getting blocked from using it means you are cut off from communicating with many of your contacts.
There are a few main reasons why your WhatsApp account may get banned:
- You violated the Terms of Service – for example, by sending spam messages or inappropriate content
- Your account was flagged for suspicious activity – like registering with an invalid phone number
- Too many people reported your account
The good news is that in many cases, you can recover your access by fixing the issue that got you banned in the first place. This article will explain the main methods you can use to get your banned WhatsApp number unbanned.
Method 1: Verify your phone number
The first thing to try is verifying ownership of your phone number with WhatsApp. This is especially important if you received a “fake number” ban.
Here are the steps to verify your number:
- Uninstall WhatsApp and delete your account. You’ll need to do this even if your app is already deleted.
- Wait for 24 hours after deleting your account before reinstalling WhatsApp.
- Once 24 hours have passed, download and install WhatsApp again.
- Enter your phone number and tap “Verify”. WhatsApp will send a 6-digit confirmation code via SMS or call.
- Enter the code you receive to verify your number.
Going through this process forces WhatsApp to re-verify your number is valid. In many cases, this can automatically lift the ban.
If you receive an error message that your number is banned after verifying, move on to the next methods below.
Method 2: Appeal the ban
If verifying your number doesn’t work, the next step is to appeal your ban directly to WhatsApp.
Here’s how to appeal a ban:
- Open WhatsApp and tap Settings > Help > Contact Us.
- Tap “My account is banned” and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Complete the appeal form detailing why you believe your account was wrongly banned.
- Submit the form and wait for a response from WhatsApp’s support team.
WhatsApp’s agents will thoroughly review your appeal and the activity on your account. If it was an error or you can prove you didn’t violate policies, they may lift the ban.
However, keep in mind that appeals are not always successful, especially if you clearly broke the rules. Only submit appeals in good faith with evidence to support your case.
Method 3: Try again after the ban period
If you are unable to verify your number or successfully appeal the ban, you will have to wait out the duration of the ban period.
Bans can last anywhere from 24 hours up to 90 days, depending on the severity of the violation. For example:
- 24-hour ban – Usually for logging in with an invalid SIM card.
- 1-week ban – Common for violating policies like spamming.
- 1-month ban – For more serious or repeated violations.
- 90-day ban – Only for severe abuse, like threatening people.
Once your ban period has completed, you can try registering your number with WhatsApp again. Make sure you don’t repeat the same activity that got you banned in the first place.
If your number gets banned again immediately, you may be permanently blacklisted from WhatsApp. Trying a different phone number on your device would be the only option at that point.
Method 4: Change your SIM card
Some ban scenarios may block your specific mobile or SIM card number from being allowed on WhatsApp. This can happen if there was serious illegal activity linked to that number.
The only way to use WhatsApp in this case is to change to a new SIM card and phone number.
Here are the steps to try using WhatsApp with a new SIM:
- Contact your mobile carrier to obtain a new SIM card with a different phone number.
- Insert the new SIM card into your device in place of the banned card.
- Restart your phone and verify the new phone number is active.
- Delete and reinstall WhatsApp, then register your account using the new number.
- Verify your new phone number when prompted.
As long as your device itself wasn’t also permanently blocked, this should allow you to access WhatsApp again with your new number.
Keep in mind you’ll lose your chat history by switching numbers. Make sure to export your chat logs before making the change if you need them.
Method 5: Use a different device
In some cases, WhatsApp may completely ban your phone or device from accessing the service. This is rare, but can happen if your device was involved in severe TOS violations.
If you find your device is entirely blocked, your only option is to use a different phone instead. Here are the steps to try:
- Obtain a new mobile phone or device to use WhatsApp on.
- Insert your existing SIM card (with your original number) into the new device.
- Install WhatsApp on the new device and register your account.
- Verify your number when prompted.
With any luck, WhatsApp will have blocked only your old device from accessing the service. Using your same number on a new phone should allow you to bypass the device ban.
Of course, this method only works if your phone number itself is not banned. But it’s worth trying if you can confirm only your device specifically was blocked.
Conclusion
Having your WhatsApp account banned can be annoying and isolating. But in many cases, you can recover access by taking the right steps. The keys are:
- Carefully verifying your number ownership
- Submitting ban appeals demonstrating you didn’t violate policy
- Waiting out the ban period and trying again later
- Switching to a new SIM card or device if necessary
Be patient and persistent, and there’s a very good chance you can regain access to WhatsApp. Just be sure to avoid repeating the same behavior that triggered a ban initially. With the right approach, you can get your account unblocked and enjoy WhatsApp again in no time.