The hacker changed my email and phone number. Can I still recover my account?
This is the most common reason people think it's over. It usually isn't. Meta built routes for exactly this case.
Check your OLD email first
When an email is changed, Meta usually emails the previous address. That message can include a link to undo the change. Search your old inbox, including spam, right now. Links like that can expire.
What to do if the email for your Instagram account was changed
On Instagram
- Open instagram.com/hacked on a phone you used for Instagram before.
- Choose that you can't access the email or phone.
- Instagram may offer a video selfie (if the account has photos of you) and ask for a new email for the reply. Use a new email the hacker has never seen.
instagram.com/hacked Lost access to email or phone number linked to Instagram account Why you might be asked to upload a video selfie to confirm your identity on Instagram
On Facebook
- Open facebook.com/login/identify on a device you've used before.
- Find your account, then choose the option for no longer having access to the email or phone.
- Facebook may ask you to confirm your identity with an ID.
facebook.com/login/identify Recover your Facebook account if you can't access your account email address or mobile phone number Types of IDs that Facebook accepts
Tips that help
- Use a device and Wi-Fi Meta has seen you on before.
- Do the flow once, slowly. If it says try later, wait 24 hours.
- Keep any device that's still logged in. Don't log out of it.
- Never send ID photos to anyone who messages you, even if they say they work for Meta.
Get the plan for your exact case
5 quick questions → your steps in the right order, with Meta's official links. First steps free. No password needed.
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