19 April 2022

How Do I Recover My Banned WhatsApp Number? (+Tips to Prevent It)

Have you had your WhatsApp number suspended? Here are a few solutions to this problem, as well as five tips to avoid being banned in the future.

Saqlain Mushtaq

Content Writer

Reading time: 6 minutes

Without a doubt, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used programs with billions of users worldwide.

The messaging platform has over 2 billion monthly users and 50 million WhatsApp business accounts and is available in 60 languages.

While WhatsApp enjoys all of these plaudits, it is not without flaws. Only a handful of users are aware that the program has certain ‘Terms of Service’ (TOS) which must be adhered to, or accounts will be temporarily or permanently banned.

Sometimes, WhatsApp might suspend your account even if you think that you haven’t done anything wrong.

Many WhatsApp users have voiced concerns that their accounts have been banned permanently — not just temporarily. To help with this, we’ve gathered a list of tried-and-true methods for lifting the ban, whether it’s permanent or temporary.

Types of ban

There are two types of bans, depending on the seriousness of what you’ve violated based on the platform’s policies:

Temporary ban
Permanent ban

Temporary ban

As the name implies, the temporary ban is only temporary, and you may be able to have it lifted.

Temporary bans aren’t as awful as permanent bans because they only last 24 to 48 hours. This penalty acts as a deterrent regarding acts you’ve taken that the application deems inappropriate.

The temporary ban might be because of one of the following reasons:

Your account has been blocked or reported by a large number of users
You’re using unapproved apps or plugins (e.g. WhatsApp Plus, GBWhatsApp, etc).
You’re bulk messaging people who don’t have you in their contacts (i.e. spamming)
You’re engaging in scraping to extract information using an automated or manual tool for any unpermitted purposes
If you’ve been temporarily banned, you’ll receive an in-app message that notifies you of this ban.

Permanent ban

The permanent ban is a long-term ban and it’s a really tough restriction to overcome.

With the permanent ban, you aren’t allowed to use WhatsApp with the same number in the future. Similarly, you’d receive an in-app message that notifies you that your phone number is banned from using WhatsApp.

If you perform suspicious activities such as distributing false information, sharing child abuse messages, or selling unlawful items and services, you will be permanently banned from WhatsApp.

The permanent ban also applies if you’ve previously been warned about violations with temporary bans but chose to ignore them.

What causes the WhatsApp ban?

1. Spamming

2. WhatsApp mods

3. Spreading fake news

4. Selling illegal products and services

5. Spreading malware or malicious files

6. Hate speech

7. Getting reported

8. Impersonation

How do I unban my WhatsApp account?

The idea of regaining access to WhatsApp after a permanent ban is more daunting than the prospect of recovering from a temporary suspension.

A permanent ban on WhatsApp is frequently the result of a breach of WhatsApp’s policy and terms. It may be due to the usage of WhatsApp for unlawful purposes, such as the ones stated above.

However, regardless of the situation, there is almost always a solution. So, let’s dive into the possible options.

For temporary bans

Ban due to WhatsApp mods

If you’ve been temporarily suspended because of third-party apps, here are the steps you should take to recover your account:

Back up your chat data and uninstall the modified WhatsApp software.
Download the WhatsApp app from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
Register on the newly installed app with your phone number and import the backed-up chat data.
Wait for 12 to 24 hours, and you’ll be able to access WhatsApp just as before.

For Permanent Ban

Contact WhatsApp’s customer support team

To do so, follow these steps:

Open the WhatsApp app which still shows the ‘your account has been banned’ message.
Click the ‘Support’ option on the bottom left corner of the window.
Briefly describe the issue in the first textbox.
WhatsApp will present the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section for you to search your query there, but you have to tap on the button at the bottom saying ‘This doesn’t answer my question.’
Tap ‘Next’ in the upper right corner. The message will be sent to support@whatsapp.com right away.

You can also contact the WhatsApp support team through email through the following email addresses:

Android – android_web@support.whatsapp.com.
iPhone – iphone_web@support.whatsapp.com.
Windows Phone – wp_web@support.whatsapp.com.
Web and Desktop – webclient_web@support.whatsapp.com.
Other – support@whatsapp.com.

Create another account with a different number

This would be the last resort, where contacting WhatsApp’s customer support doesn’t lead to any conclusion.

Using this method would mean that you would lose everything on your former account and there’s no way you can get them back.

While this time-consuming and troublesome, it is still a viable option if you have to use WhatsApp for business and are permanently banned.

Simply get a new phone number, download the official WhatsApp app, and you can resume using it once you’ve set everything up. Keep in mind not to violate WhatsApp’s TOS again to avoid having to repeat this process.

Tips to prevent getting banned on WhatsApp

1. Practice safe broadcasting

WhatsApp Broadcast is a valuable feature for many businesses to bolster their chat marketing efforts.

However, WhatsApp uses a combination of machine learning (algorithms) and user reports to identify and block accounts that send unsolicited mass automated messages.

So, you should practice safe WhatsApp broadcasting practices to prevent your account from being suspended, whether temporarily or permanently.

Some broadcasting best practices you should follow include:

Use pre-approved message templates that don’t include message content that is deemed ‘promotional’, symbols, and emojis
Avoid broadcasting fake news or promoting illegal material and businesses
Do not broadcast messages to more than 256 recipients

2. Avoid collecting personal information

The automated collection of information from users, such as phone numbers, user profile photos, and WhatsApp statuses, is a breach of WhatsApp’s TOS.

Whether you’re using WhatsApp for customer support or marketing purposes, refrain from collecting data from your customers by asking them to present their personal information through the platform.

3. Get your customers to opt-in

WhatsApp considers it a problematic act if you send a large number of messages to people who are not on your contact list. As a result, when sending mass marketing messages, you should always send them to recipients who are already on your contact list (and vice versa).

However, getting your customers to opt-in to your messaging list is easier said than done. To start off, you can make use of your existing marketing channels like social media, emails, advertisements, or blog articles to encourage people to add your business number and text you first.

You could also get people to subscribe to your messaging list like an email newsletter — send them daily tips and tricks through chat messages.

Feel free to include your WhatsApp business number on places like your LinkedIn profile, website, and even email signatures.

4. Use physical mobile phones

Instead of using emulators, use physical mobile devices as WhatsApp WhatsApp can distinguish between a mobile device and an emulator. Also, emulators don’t have a valid International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number that all mobile phones and smartphones have.

5. Have a profile picture

While not having a profile picture doesn’t directly result in you getting banned, having one proves your identity and makes you more credible. This prevents you from getting flagged as spam by your recipients.

Furthermore, if you’re using a WhatsApp business account, it’s required that you have a profile picture when setting up your business profile, detailing your business and type of industry, and get started with connecting to your customers.

Conclusion

WhatsApp has become an integral part of our daily routine, especially if you’re using it to market your business. Having your phone number banned on WhatsApp can really impede your workflow. We have discussed the best methods to tackle a banned WhatsApp account.

TL;DR:

There are two types of bans: temporary and permanent.
WhatsApp might ban you due to the use of WhatsApp mods, sale and purchase of illegal products and services, hacking or sending suspicious files, and false information and hate speech, among other reasons.
The best course of action for a temporary ban is to wait while contacting WhatsApp’s customer support is most appropriate for a permanent ban.

Looking to bolster your WhatsApp marketing efforts? NovoChat is a chat marketing platform with features like WhatsApp broadcast and automation. Get started today! 👇👇👇

Try NovoChat for free! 🚀

An e-commerce chat marketing platform to grow your sales.