In short
What should I do if my WhatsApp account is banned?
Open WhatsApp and tap Request review. WhatsApp notifies you when it has decided and says most reviews are completed within 24 hours. If there is no review option, WhatsApp says the ban is final. Nobody outside WhatsApp can remove a ban.
What the ban message means
When an account is banned, WhatsApp shows the message “This phone number can't use WhatsApp” with an option to request a review. WhatsApp says it bans accounts when it believes the activity breaks its Terms of Service, for example spam, scams or putting other users at risk.
While the account is banned, you can't access your chats or backups.
How to request a review
- 1Open WhatsApp and tap Request review.
- 2Wait for WhatsApp's notification with the decision. You can also check the status by opening the app.
- 3Send one request per phone number. Contacting WhatsApp outside the review, or through someone else's account, doesn't speed it up.
- 4If you don't see a review option, WhatsApp says the ban is final.
Temporarily banned?
A “Temporarily banned” message usually means you are using an unofficial version of WhatsApp or collecting other users' information automatically, known as scraping. Switch to the official app; WhatsApp says that otherwise the account may be banned permanently.
No one can sell you an unban
WhatsApp says third-party services can't ban an account or remove a ban; only WhatsApp can. That includes us. Anyone who offers to unban a number for a fee is very likely a scammer; you can check their message with our scam message checker.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a WhatsApp review take?
WhatsApp says most reviews are completed within 24 hours, and it notifies you in the app when there is a decision.
Can I get my chats back?
Not while the number is banned. WhatsApp says a backup can only be restored after the phone number tied to it is unbanned.
Is a modified WhatsApp app safe if I'm careful?
No. Unofficial apps break WhatsApp's Terms of Service and are a common reason for temporary bans. Use only the official app.
Official sources
The platforms' own help and policy pages. We are not affiliated with them.