FAQ
TwitterAbout locked accounts
Why do you need my phone or email to unlock my account?
What should I do if I’m setting up my account and get locked out?
How do I unlock an account if I don’t have access to the phone or email associated with my account?
What happens when my account is locked for security purposes?
How do I confirm I’m the account owner
About limited accounts
Why did I receive a message that my account features are temporarily limited?
Why can I Tweet from a browser, but not my app?
Some of your account features are limited due to suspicious activity
What should I do if my account features are limited due to suspicious activity?
What does temporary limited state mean?
How do I choose to use Twitter in a limited state?
How do I use my phone number or email to verify my account and restore features?
About limited accounts
Why did I receive a message that my account features are temporarily limited?
Why can I Tweet from a browser, but not my app?
Some of your account features are limited due to suspicious activity
What should I do if my account features are limited due to suspicious activity?
What does temporary limited state mean?
How do I choose to use Twitter in a limited state?
How do I use my phone number or email to verify my account and restore features?
Your account is limited because it may have violated the Twitter Rules
What happens when my account is limited because it may have violated the Twitter Rules?
What should I do if my account is limited due to a violation?
About locked accounts
Why do you need my phone or email to unlock my account?
When you sign up or try to log into Twitter we ask for additional information like an email and / or phone number that helps us identify you as the account owner.
What should I do if I’m setting up my account and get locked out?
If you’re setting up a new account and get locked out, contact our support team.
How do I unlock an account if I don’t have access to the phone or email associated with my account?
If you’ve lost access to the email or phone number associated with your account contact our support team. Sometimes the only option in this situation is to create a new account.
What happens when my account is locked for security purposes?
If your account is locked because we’ve detected suspicious automated behavior that violates the Twitter Rules, you’ll need to confirm you’re the valid account owner. When your account is in this state, people who visit your profile may see a message letting them know the account has displayed unusual activity and asking them to confirm they still want to view it.
How do I confirm I’m the account owner?
To unlock your Twitter account, we need to confirm you are the valid owner. Depending on the verification message you see, try verifying your account by phone, email or recaptcha challenge.
Deactivations, appeals and other locked account information
About limited accounts
Why did I receive a message that my account features are temporarily limited?
Conversations are core to Twitter, but if we detect behavior that may violate the Twitter Rules or inhibit other people’s ability to express themselves freely, we may temporarily limit certain account features. For example, this could mean only your followers are able see your activity on Twitter, including Tweets, likes, Retweets, etc. Limiting the reach of potentially abusive content creates a safer environment and stronger Twitter community.
When you log in and see this message, select Continue to Twitter to initiate the countdown to restore your account features. You can read more about Twitter’s abusive behavior policy, and find guidelines for our hateful conduct policy.
How are my account features limited?
If you’ve received a message that your account features are limited, this could mean that only your followers are able see your activity on Twitter, including Tweets, likes, Retweets, etc.
Why can I Tweet from a browser, but not my app?
If your account is in a limited state, you may only have access to certain features including access to Tweet from a desktop platform and not an app.
Some of your account features are limited due to suspicious activity
What should I do if my account features are limited due to suspicious activity?
If your account appears to have exhibited aggressive following or aggressive engagements (such as, like, Retweet, and Quote Tweet), which violates the Twitter Rules, you will see a message that your account’s features have been limited for a specified time, which varies based on the nature of the violation.
You will have two options to choose from:
- Use Twitter in a temporary, limited state for the specified time listed.
- Complete our instructions to verify your phone number or email address.
Note: If your account appears to have engaged in repeated violations of the Twitter Rules, or has aggressively engaged with other accounts, you may not be presented with the option to verify by phone. In this case, you will only be able to use Twitter in a limited state for the specified time listed.
What does temporary, limited state mean?
During a limited state, your account and Tweets may be filtered out of certain places on Twitter, including from search results and notifications.
How do I choose to use Twitter in a limited state?
When you log in and see a message that your account is temporarily limited, select Continue to Twitter to initiate the countdown to restore your account features. You can read more about Twitter’s abusive behavior policy, and find guidelines for our hateful conduct policy.
If you choose the option to use your account in a limited state, your account will remain limited for the specified time, and you won’t see the option to restore your account by verification again.
How do I use my phone number or email to verify my account and restore features?
To restore your account by verifying your phone number or email address, select Verify, and follow the instructions we provide. Verifying your phone number and email address helps reduce potentially automated or scripted activity on Twitter.
Note: If your account appears to have engaged in repeated violations of the Twitter Rules, or has aggressively engaged with other accounts, you may not be presented with the option to verify by phone. In this case, you will only be able to use Twitter in a limited state for the specified time listed.
Your account is limited because it may have violated the Twitter Rules
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What happens when my account is limited because it may have violated the Twitter Rules?
If your account has been limited because it may have violated the Twitter Rules, you can still browse Twitter, but while in this state, you can only send Direct Messages to your followers. You will not be able to engage in actions such as Tweeting, Retweeting, or liking, and only your followers can see your past Tweets.
If your account is temporarily restricted, people who visit your profile may see a message letting them know the account may have violated the Twitter Rules and asking them to confirm they still want to view it.