Is your Snapchat account locked, and you don’t know how to unlock it? This article will show you how to go about unlocking your Snapchat account.
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Locked Snapchat Account
Not very long ago, many Snapchat users began to notice that their accounts had been locked after receiving messages notifying them about it. As expected, there was confusion everywhere, and people did not know what to do or what caused the sudden occurrence. Many people were sure they had not done anything suspicious that would warrant their Snapchat accounts being locked by those in charge. However, a reasonable explanation for the occurrence is that the app might have undergone a technical glitch or could be due to some security measures. With that said, knowing how to unlock your Snapchat account when locked out is important.
There are a couple of tricks to unlocking your Snapchat account. But before we go into that, let’s see some likely reasons why your Snapchat account has been locked in the first place.
Why Is My Snapchat Account Locked?
Many reasons can cause a Snapchat user’s account to be temporarily or permanently locked. According to the app, there are four reasons, which are mentioned below:
The above points are logical scenarios that can lead to a Snapchat account being locked. In addition, a user will get warnings if another user has reported their account for any reason. Your account can be banned if you get up to 3 reports. If you are found guilty of any misconduct, you have to rectify your mistake immediately.
Now that you know what can lead to your Snapchat account getting locked, it is time to know how to unlock it. If your account is temporarily locked, there should be no cause for panic, as you can resume using it in a couple of days. However, there are specific steps you can take toward unlocking your account. These methods are given below:
Method 1. Delete Any Unauthorized Third-Party Snapchat Application
Unauthorized Snapchat applications or plugins could be the reason for your Snapchat problems. Therefore, when your account is locked, a wise step to try and unlock it is eliminating the third-party apps or plugins associated with your Snapchat account.
Not taking this measure can cause further problems for you. Therefore, it is not a good idea to immediately try accessing your account without first getting rid of the third-party apps and plugins. There is a huge possibility that they are the leading cause of your Snapchat troubles in the first place.
Method 2. Reinstall the Snapchat App
Another good measure to take towards unlocking your Snapchat account is by uninstalling and then reinstalling the Snapchat application on your phone. The process can detect and eliminate any malicious data that may be causing the trouble. But this is only a part of a restorative measure, assuming you don’t know the reason behind the sudden locking of your Snapchat account.
However, if your account is blocked because of any rule violation, this reinstalling method may not be of much help in the end. When uninstalling and reinstalling the Snapchat app, ensure a good data backup to avoid losing vital information.
Method 3. Tap on the Unlock Button
If your Snapchat account has been temporarily locked, you can unlock it by tapping on the unlock button. This button is colored yellow and can be found in the notification sent to you informing you about the likely reason for the occurrence. Usually, you will get a notification informing you when you can access your account.
However, tapping the unlock button does not readily provide access to your Snapchat account. It can take some time before you can use your account again. This can range from a few hours to a couple of days. It is advisable to take the previous methods while waiting for your Snapchat account to be unlocked.
Method 4. Force Reset Your iPhone
There are certain instances where you will need to force reset your device. This mainly occurs when there has been a glitch. Thus, forcing the reset of your iPhone or other mobile devices can resolve the problem. But this does not usually solve your Snapchat account issue.
If you want to force reset your iPhone, ensure you know the key combinations needed for the operation. Some iPhone models have specific reset key combinations. If you are using an iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone X, the following hard reset method will work for you:
- The ‘volume up’ button must be pressed and released swiftly.
- The ‘volume down’ button must be pressed and released swiftly.
- The side button must be pressed and released quickly. Do this until the Apple logo shows.
As earlier said, this method may not unlock your Snapchat account, but it will help eliminate any underlying glitch.
Method 5. Seek Assistance from Snapchat’s Customer Service
Snapchat’s customer care service is usually on hand to help you with any issues. Therefore, getting across to them is a quick way to know what is wrong with your account and see if it can be rectified immediately.
Even if your Snapchat account can’t be unlocked immediately, customer support personnel will provide you with helpful information, including when your account will likely be unlocked. If your Snapchat account has been permanently locked, the best way to try getting your account back is by contacting the application’s customer care team.
Method 6. Create a New Snapchat Account
Creating a new Snapchat account is one of the surest ways to get going on the app if you can’t wait or are tired of waiting for your old account to be unlocked. This is also the only option if your account was permanently blocked and the customer support team cannot do anything about it.
One of the problems with creating a new Snapchat account is that you are not allowed to use the email address you used in creating your former account. This means you will have to use a different email account, which might lead you to create another if you don’t have an alternative email account. Another downside is that your previous data is lost with the old Snapchat account and cannot be retrieved.
FAQs
Q: How Do I Stop Snapchat from Locking My Account?
You can stop Snapchat from locking your account simply by adhering to the rules and regulations set by the social app. Staying within the rules will ensure you don’t fall victim to a Snapchat-locked account. Ensure you don’t partake in any suspicious activity, such as sending spammy messages. The app frowns upon abusive behavior towards other users, such as bullying.
Q: What can I do if my Snapchat account is permanently locked?
If your Snapchat account is permanently locked, the best line of action is to contact the application’s customer support team. They will provide valuable details about why your account is permanently locked and what can be done about it. However, in most cases, a permanently locked account doesn’t get unlocked.
Q: What if my Snapchat account is temporarily locked?
Your Snapchat account may have been temporarily disabled for any number of reasons. However, temporarily locked accounts get unlocked after a few hours or days. Thus, there is no need to panic. Therefore, you can try any of the methods mentioned in the article, such as uninstalling third-party apps and plugins.
Q: Can I get data from my previous Snapchat account if I open a new account?
No, you can’t retrieve your old information from a previous Snapchat account if you open a new account. Also, you won’t be able to use the email address you used for your old account to open the new Snapchat account. You will need an alternative email address.
Conclusion
Your Snapchat account might have been disabled for any number of reasons. If it has been locked temporarily, you can wait for some hours or a few days for the account to be unlocked. Taking measures towards unlocking your account is essential, especially if you don’t know the cause. Therefore, uninstalling unauthorized Snapchat third-party apps and plugins, clicking on the uninstall yellow button in the notification message, forcing phone reset, reinstalling and updating the Snapchat application, and contacting the app’s customer support team, are all helpful methods.
However, if your Snapchat account has been permanently locked, there is little chance of getting it back. If contacting the app’s customer care team does not yield any results, opening a new Snapchat account may be the only option.