The fastest way to get back into Facebook

If you can still log in with your password, go to facebook.com, enter your email address or phone number and your password, and click Log In. If that works, you are back in your account. Stop here.

If you cannot remember your password or think someone else changed it, Facebook has a recovery process built in. Click "Forgotten password?" on the login page, enter the email address or phone number connected to your account, and Facebook will send you a link to reset it. The link usually arrives within a few minutes.

If you do not have access to the email address or phone number on file, or if you think your account was hacked, the process takes longer but Facebook can still help you prove the account is yours.

Key Takeaways

  • If you remember your password, log in at facebook.com with your email or phone number — no extra steps needed.
  • If you forgot your password, click "Forgotten password?" and Facebook will email you a reset link within minutes.
  • If someone changed your password or you cannot access your recovery email, use Facebook's account recovery tool to prove the account is yours with a photo ID.
  • Recovery by photo ID takes three to five business days, so plan ahead if you need your account urgently.
  • If you think your account was hacked, change your password immediately after regaining access and review your login activity.

Resetting a forgotten password

Go to facebook.com and look for the login box. Below the password field, click the link that says "Forgotten password?" or "Forgotten account?" — the exact wording depends on your device and language setting.

Facebook will ask you to enter the email address or phone number tied to your account. Use whichever one you remember. Click "Search" or "Next." Facebook will then send a password reset link to that email address or phone number. Check your inbox (and your spam folder, since the email sometimes lands there by mistake). Click the link in the email, create a new password, and log in.

The reset link usually works for 24 hours. If you wait longer than that, go back to the "Forgotten password?" page and request a new link.

Recovering an account when you cannot access your email or phone

If the email address or phone number on your account no longer works — because you changed providers, lost the phone, or no longer have access to that email — Facebook offers another path. On the "Forgotten password?" page, after you enter your email or phone, look for a link that says "No longer have access to these?" or "Can't access this email?" Click it.

Facebook will ask you to enter a different email address or phone number where they can reach you. Use one you control right now. Facebook will send a link to that new address. Click it, and you will be taken through a series of questions to prove the account belongs to you — usually asking about recent activity, friends, or photos you posted.

If Facebook cannot verify your identity through questions alone, they will ask you to upload a photo of your ID. Take a clear photo of the front of your driver's license, passport, or state ID card. The photo must show your face and match the name on your Facebook account. Upload it through Facebook's form. A person at Facebook will review it within three to five business days and let you know if you can reset your password.

What to do if your account was hacked

If you think someone else logged into your account without permission, start with the password reset process above. Once you regain access, change your password to something new that you have not used anywhere else. Make it at least 12 characters long and mix in numbers, capital letters, and symbols.

After you change your password, go to Settings (the gear icon in the top right on desktop, or the three horizontal lines on mobile). Scroll down and click "Security and login." You will see a list of devices and locations where your account has been logged in recently. If you see a login from a place you do not recognize or a device you do not own, click "Log out" next to it. This forces that device to log out of your account.

Review the apps and websites connected to your account. In Settings, click "Apps and websites" and look through the list. Remove any app or website you do not recognize or no longer use. Each one had permission to see parts of your account, so removing old ones reduces the damage if one of them was compromised.

Logging in on a phone or tablet

Open the Facebook app or go to facebook.com in your phone's web browser. The login process is the same as on a computer: enter your email or phone number, enter your password, and tap Log In. If you forgot your password, tap "Forgotten password?" and follow the same steps as above.

On a phone, Facebook can also send you a login code by text message instead of a password reset link. If you see the option "Send login code," tap it and Facebook will text you a six-digit code. Enter that code on the next screen to log in. This method works even if you cannot remember your password, as long as you still have access to the phone number on your account.

Two-factor authentication and login codes

If you turned on two-factor authentication (a security feature that requires a second step to log in), Facebook will ask for a login code after you enter your password. This code comes from an authenticator app on your phone, a text message, or a backup code you saved earlier.

If you no longer have access to the phone or app that generates these codes, you can use a backup code instead. Facebook gives you a list of backup codes when you first turn on two-factor authentication. If you saved them, enter one of them when Facebook asks for a login code. If you did not save them and cannot access your authenticator app or phone number, you will need to go through the account recovery process with a photo ID to turn off two-factor authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get back into my account?

If you remember your password, you can log in immediately. If you forgot your password and still have access to your email or phone, the reset link arrives within minutes. If you need to prove your identity with a photo ID, Facebook reviews it within three to five business days.

What if I do not have a photo ID?

Facebook prefers a government-issued ID like a driver's license or passport, but some countries accept other forms of ID. When you upload your photo, Facebook will tell you what types of ID they accept in your region. If you do not have any accepted ID, contact Facebook through their help center to explore other options.

Can I recover my account if I never set a recovery email or phone?

Yes, but it takes longer. Facebook will ask you security questions about your account activity, and if you cannot answer them, you can submit a photo ID. The ID verification process takes three to five business days.

What should I do after I get back into my account?

Change your password to something new and strong. Review your recent login activity and remove any unrecognized devices. Check the apps and websites connected to your account and remove any you do not use. If you think your account was hacked, consider changing passwords on other websites too, especially if you used the same password elsewhere.

Can I recover a deleted account?

If you deactivated your account (which hides it but keeps it), you can reactivate it by logging in. If you permanently deleted it, Facebook keeps your data for 30 days before erasing it. During that window, you can contact Facebook to cancel the deletion. After 30 days, the account cannot be recovered.