Getting permanently banned on WhatsApp can be frustrating, especially if you rely on the messaging app to stay in touch with friends and family. A permanent ban means you can no longer use your phone number with WhatsApp. While there is no direct way to undo a permanent ban, there are some steps you can try to get your account unbanned.
Why Was I Permanently Banned on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp bans accounts for violating their Terms of Service. Some of the main reasons accounts get permanently banned include:
- Sending spam or abusive messages
- Using unauthorized third-party apps like WhatsApp Plus or GB WhatsApp
- Creating too many accounts with the same number after getting banned
- Sending threats or harassing other users
If you received a notice that your account was banned, it likely means WhatsApp detected serious or repeated violations from your account. A permanent ban is their way of removing accounts that abuse the platform.
Can I Simply Create a New WhatsApp Account?
Since your phone number is banned, you cannot simply create a new WhatsApp account using the same number. WhatsApp bans are tied directly to your mobile number. If you try using your banned number again, your new account will quickly get banned again.
You have two main options if you want to use WhatsApp again:
- Attempt to get your banned account unbanned by contacting WhatsApp and pleading your case
- Obtain a new phone number and create a new WhatsApp account
Getting a new SIM card and phone number is the most reliable way to use WhatsApp again if you were permanently banned. But there are some steps you can try first to get your original account unbanned without changing numbers.
Contact WhatsApp Support
The first step is to directly contact WhatsApp and ask them to reconsider your ban. Explain why you need the account unbanned and politely ask if there is any way to lift the permanent ban.
To contact WhatsApp support:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone
- Go to Settings > Help > Contact Us
- Select ‘Banned Accounts’ and follow the prompts to send an email to WhatsApp
In your message, be honest about why you were banned and explain why you need access to your account restored. For example, you rely on it to run your business or need it to communicate with family abroad. Ask nicely if there is anything they can do or any information you can provide to get your account unbanned.
However, keep in mind that if your account was banned for severe abuse like harassment or threats, WhatsApp is less likely to ever restore your account.
Try WhatsApp’s Ban Appeal Process
WhatsApp recently introduced a new way for users to directly appeal bans on their platform. Here are the steps to try the WhatsApp ban appeal process:
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
- Tap on your profile name at the top
- Scroll down and tap ‘Request account info’
- A screen will pop up saying your account is banned. Tap ‘Request Review’
- Select a reason why your account was banned incorrectly
- Add an explanation of why you feel the ban was a mistake
- Tap ‘Submit Request’
This sends your appeal directly to WhatsApp’s review team. However, there are no guarantees they will lift the ban even if you go through this process. It likely depends on the severity of violations from your account in the past. But it is still worth trying this method as WhatsApp designed it for appealing permanent bans.
Try Reaching Out on Social Media
If contacting WhatsApp directly does not work, another option is reaching out to them on social media. WhatsApp has an active presence on platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
Try sending a polite message to their social media accounts explaining your situation and asking for help recovering your account. Make sure to include your phone number so they can look up your banned account. While you may not get a response, it is another way to get your issue in front of WhatsApp’s team.
Wait at Least 3 Months Before Trying Again
If your initial attempts to get unbanned are unsuccessful, the next step is to wait patiently. WhatsApp bans are harsher right after they happen. But there is a chance they may soften over time, especially if it was not an extreme offense.
Wait at least 3 months before trying to appeal the ban again. Then go through the same appeal process, explaining how much time has passed and politely asking for another chance.
Here is a summary of steps to try after waiting 3 months:
- Send a new email to WhatsApp Support asking nicely for your account back
- Try the Ban Appeal process again in the WhatsApp app
- Reach out on WhatsApp’s social media pages with your appeal
While not guaranteed, giving it some time demonstrates to WhatsApp you have learned your lesson and are patiently trying to earn your account privileges back.
Change Your Phone Number
If you have tried all other options and still cannot get unbanned after several months, the last resort is getting a new phone number. Here are the steps to use WhatsApp again with a new number:
- Obtain a new SIM card with a new phone number
- Insert the new SIM in your phone
- Verify your device with your new phone number
- Download and install WhatsApp again
- Create a new WhatsApp account using your new number
This will allow you to access WhatsApp again as the ban is tied to your old phone number. However, there are some downsides to getting a new number:
- You will lose your chat history and media from your banned account
- You will have to let all your WhatsApp contacts know about your new number
- Changing phone numbers can be inconvenient and costly
But if you rely heavily on WhatsApp for communication, getting a new number may be your only viable long-term solution after being permanently banned.
Key Takeaways
Here are some key tips to remember about unbanning a permanently banned WhatsApp account:
- Directly contact WhatsApp Support and politely plead your case
- Use WhatsApp’s new built-in Ban Appeal process in the app
- Try reaching out to WhatsApp on social media to appeal the ban
- Wait at least 3 months before appealing the ban again
- Getting a new phone number is the most surefire way to use WhatsApp again
And most importantly, avoid any behavior that could risk another permanent ban if you manage to get your account unbanned or start using WhatsApp with a new number.
Can I Retrieve My Chat History if Unbanned?
Unfortunately, if your WhatsApp account gets unbanned after being permanently banned, you will not be able to retrieve your previous chat history and media. The data from your banned account will not be recoverable.
WhatsApp does not store or backup chat data that is associated with banned accounts. So if your account gets unbanned through the appeal process, it will be like starting a brand new account without any of your previous chats or media.
This is one significant downside to getting banned on WhatsApp. Even if you manage to appeal the ban, you lose all your account data that existed before the ban. There is no way to get that chat history back unless you had your own existing backups.
To avoid losing your chat history forever in the future, make sure to regularly back up your WhatsApp data locally or to a cloud service. This will allow you to restore your chats and media even if your account gets banned and then unbanned later on.
Can WhatsApp Detect if I’m Using a New Number?
WhatsApp has advanced systems in place to detect if a user is trying to open a new account after getting banned. Here are some of the ways WhatsApp tries to link new accounts to previously banned numbers or users:
- Matching your device’s unique identifiers like IMEI number or hardware ID
- Tracking your device’s IP address and location
- Analyzing your contacts list and messaging patterns for similarities
- Using advanced AI and machine learning to detect your device and usage fingerprints
If WhatsApp finds strong signals that your new account is linked to a previously banned account, they may ban your new account as well.
The best way to avoid this is to get an entirely new device along with your new SIM card and phone number. This makes it harder for WhatsApp to technically link your new account to a banned account. But there is no 100% guarantee WhatsApp won’t detect a connection.
Should I Use a VPN or Proxy to Get Unbanned?
Using a VPN or proxy to try to evade a WhatsApp ban is risky. It often leads to getting caught again and banned even faster on any new accounts you try to create.
WhatsApp actively monitors for users trying to mask their device IDs and IP addresses. Any manipulation like this often triggers anti-fraud alerts. And attempting to manipulate your identity is against WhatsApp’s Terms of Service.
Rather than trying to be sneaky with technical workarounds, your best bet is honesty. Admit you were banned, be polite, explain you have learned your lesson, and appeal to WhatsApp’s customer support. Approaching this way builds trust rather than raising suspicions of further policy violations.
How to Prevent Getting Banned Again
If you successfully get your WhatsApp account unbanned or start fresh with a new number, be very diligent to avoid another permanent ban. Here are some tips to stay in good standing:
- Never send bulk messages, spam, or automated messages
- Don’t use any third party apps that claim to enhance WhatsApp
- Avoid illegal, abusive, dangerous or harassing behavior
- Carefully follow all WhatsApp Terms of Service
- Don’t buy, sell or share WhatsApp accounts
- Back up your chats externally so you don’t lose your history again
Stay on your best behavior and don’t give WhatsApp any reasons to suspect you are violating their policies again. This will give you the best chance of keeping your account in good standing over the long term.
Conclusion
Getting permanently banned on WhatsApp can be frustrating, but is survivable. Contact WhatsApp Support politely to plead your case for getting unbanned. Try their built-in ban appeal process. Reach out on social media. And wait patiently before trying again.
If you still cannot regain access to your number, get a new SIM card and phone number as a last resort. But avoid any TOS violations so you do not risk another permanent ban.
With patience and politeness, many users are able to successfully convince WhatsApp to overturn a ban. But there are never any guarantees when it comes to regaining access to a permanently banned account. Extreme offenses like harassment may never get overturned. But for milder violations, a polite appeal explaining why you need access back can sometimes work after an initial ban. Be honest, show you’ve learned your lesson, and don’t try to game the system. This gives you the best shot at using WhatsApp again after a permanent ban.
WhatsApp provides an invaluable messaging platform to over a billion users. Losing access can cut you off from friends, family, work, or even business. While banned accounts should be taken seriously, a polite and patient appeal process can sometimes lead to regained access or a clean slate with a new number. With the right approach, even permanently banned users still have a chance of messaging again on WhatsApp.