Instagram has restricted your account: what to do, how to appeal and how to prevent it

First find out what kind of restriction it is: open Account Status in the app, where Instagram shows policy violations, some restrictions and how long they will last. Then stop the activity that may have triggered the restriction. If you believe this is a mistake, request a review directly in the app; for a deactivated account, log in and follow the on-screen instructions.

What types of restrictions can Instagram impose?

Instagram may remove content, restrict some account features, or deactivate the account. Instagram's Community Guidelines expressly state that a violation may lead to removal of content, deactivation of the account or other restrictions (as of October 2026).

In practice, restrictions differ in how they appear and what you can do about them:

Type of restriction	How it usually appears	What to do
Removal of a post, story or comment	In-app notification, a record in Account Status, or possibly a strike	Read which rule Instagram says you broke, and if you disagree, request a review
Temporary restriction of actions (following, liking, commenting, messaging)	The app won't allow the action and will display a message	Stop repeating the action, check connected apps, wait until the restriction ends
Reduced content visibility	Posts are shown less often to people who do not follow you	Check your Account Status and any content that may have violated the rules
Account deactivation	When you log in, a deactivation message is displayed, and other people cannot see your account	Log in and, following the on-screen instructions, request a review if the app offers this option

Reduced visibility is often called a shadowban, an unofficial name for a situation where an account's content stops being shown to new people without any notice. We describe how to recognise it in our article shadowban on Instagram: how to recognise it and what to do.

Where can you find out why Instagram restricted your account?

Look for the reason and duration of the restriction in Account Status. Meta states that it will notify you when it removes content or adds a restriction, and that in Account Status on Facebook and Instagram you will see your violation history, some restrictions and how long they will last (as of October 2026).

The exact location of Account Status in the app may vary between versions. Check it in the app, for example by searching for "Account Status" in the settings.

A strike is a record of a violation of the Community Standards that is saved in your account history. According to Meta, strikes are counted on both Facebook and Instagram, and all of them expire after one year. Whether you receive a strike at all depends, according to Meta, on the severity of the content, the context and the time of publication (as of October 2026).

One detail to note: the graduated restrictions based on the number of strikes, which Meta describes in detail (for example a ban on creating content for one, three, seven or thirty days), apply, according to its page, only to accounts on Facebook. For Instagram, therefore, rely on what you see directly in Account Status.

What to do immediately after a restriction: step-by-step procedure

The most important thing is not to make the situation worse and to find out the exact reason. Proceed as follows:

1. Do not delete anything and do not create a new account. Meta's rules on inauthentic behaviour prohibit attempts to circumvent the enforcement of Community Standards, so a replacement account may end up being treated the same way.
2. Open Account Status. Find out which content or activity is listed as a violation and how long the restriction will last.
3. Stop the activity that triggered the restriction. Typically this means mass following, liking, commenting or sending the same messages.
4. Check the apps and web services connected to your account. Remove access from anyone you have given your password to, or from anything that performs actions for you automatically.
5. Change your password and turn on two-factor authentication, if you suspect that someone else has had access to your account.
6. Decide whether to appeal. If you believe the content did not violate the rule, request a review. If you did violate the rule, wait out the restriction and do not repeat the activity.
7. Once the restriction ends, start slowly. Return to your normal pace of posting and interacting, not the pace that triggered the restriction.

How do you submit an appeal and what should you write in it?

A review is requested directly in the Instagram app for the specific decision; the app will show you the exact steps in the notification or in Account Status. Meta states that if you believe it made a mistake, you can let it know in the app (status as of October 2026). Do not submit a request outside the app, for example via e-mails or messages from strangers.

What to write in your request

• Briefly and factually, explain why you believe the content or activity does not violate the rules.
• Context that may not be obvious from the post (for example, that it is your own photograph, irony, news reporting or education).
• If your account was hacked, say so and describe what you did (changed your password, removed apps).
• If the form offers a choice of options, select the one that matches the facts.

What to avoid in your request

• Repeatedly submitting the same request and making threats.
• False statements, for example that an app performed actions without your knowledge when you connected it yourself.
• Sharing your password or codes with anyone who promises to “sort out” the request for you.

What to do if your account is deactivated or you cannot access it?

You can recognise a deactivated account by the message displayed when you log in. The Instagram Help Center states that if you believe the account was deactivated by mistake, you can request a review by logging in and following the on-screen instructions. A deactivated account is not visible to other users (status as of October 2026).

If you do not see a deactivation message but still cannot log in, the same Help Center article says this may be a technical login problem, unauthorised access by someone else, or deletion of the account by you or by someone who knew your password. A deleted account cannot be restored; you can create a new one even with the same e-mail address, but you may not get the same username.

Scammers target restricted and deactivated accounts, offering “account recovery” or “unblocking” for a fee. Instagram's Terms of Use prohibit requesting, collecting or using other users' login credentials. Therefore, never give your password or two-factor authentication codes to anyone. If you have already lost money or access, report it through the Instagram Help Center and consider filing a report with Policie ČR. We describe further warning signs in the article how to recognise a risky seller.

How can you avoid having your Instagram account restricted?

The most reliable prevention is to behave like a regular user: a reasonable pace of activity, no automation, and no artificial gathering of interactions. Specifically, the rules prohibit the following activities (status as of October 2026):

• Activity at a very high frequency. Meta's spam policies prohibit posting, sharing or reacting to content at a very high frequency, whether manually or automatically.
• Automation and third-party applications. Instagram's Terms of Use prohibit creating accounts or accessing information automatically without express permission. Applications that ask for your password in order to follow or like on your behalf therefore pose a risk to your account and its security.
• Artificial gathering of interactions. Instagram's Community Guidelines ask that you not obtain likes, followers or shares artificially, and Meta's spam policies prohibit the sale, purchase or exchange of interactions such as likes, views or followers.
• Repetitive content and messages. The Community Guidelines also refer to repeated comments or content and repeated contact with people for commercial purposes without their consent.
• Buying and selling accounts. The Terms prohibit buying, selling or transferring any part of an account, including the username.

If restrictions were imposed after you purchased followers or likes, please bear in mind that Instagram's and Meta's rules do not permit paid or inauthentic activity. Purchased interactions also do not replace content, do not guarantee audience interest, reach or sales, and may worsen your ratio of reactions to followers. They will not help you with an appeal or with lifting the restriction.

When paid promotion makes sense and when it does not?

If your account is currently restricted, has a warning in Account Status or is awaiting review, paid promotion does not make sense and may make the situation worse. Likewise, it will not help if you do not have regular content, or if you expect it to bring genuine audience reactions, sales or fulfilment of verification requirements. First resolve the restriction and then return to normal operation.

For a new profile without restrictions and with quality content, a package may serve as an initial social proof (the impression that the profile already attracts interest) or as support for a specific campaign alongside your own work on content. However, the risk of restriction cannot be ruled out even in that case; this is also noted by terms of service (Art. 3.3) sledujici.eu. If you decide to proceed, you will find the offer on the page followers on Instagram and prices at price list; answers to frequently asked questions can be found in the section FAQ section.