Alexis Kestler
Having your Facebook account disabled because your linked Instagram got deactivated is incredibly annoying. But don‘t stress – in most cases, you can re-gain access to your Facebook by getting your Instagram reactivated.
As a long-time technology geek and social media expert, I‘m going to walk you through the step-by-step process to resolve the "You cannot use Facebook because your linked Instagram account is disabled" error message. Whether your Instagram was disabled by accident or for violations, this comprehensive guide will help you submit an appeal and restore both accounts.
What Triggers This Error Message
When your Instagram account gets disabled or deactivated, it automatically disables your Facebook too if they‘re linked.
You‘ll see the error "You cannot use Facebook because your linked Instagram account is disabled" when trying to access Facebook on the web or mobile app.
According to Instagram‘s 2021 transparency report, they disabled over 5 million accounts for policy violations including:
- Spam: 1.3 million accounts
- Illegal content: 1 million
- Impersonation: 735,000
- Harassment: 685,000
So if your Instagram was disabled for any of those reasons, chances are your Facebook was too. But don‘t freak out yet – read on to learn how to fix this.
Step 1: Submit an Appeal to Instagram
The first step is submitting an appeal asking Instagram to review the deactivation of your account.
Go to the "My Instagram Account Was Deactivated" Form:
You can find the form here: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/606967319425038
Or search Google for "My Instagram Account Was Deactivated" and click the Facebook result.
Fill Out and Submit the Form:
The form will request your full name, email address, Instagram username, and mobile number.
In the description box, explain why you think your account was wrongly disabled and make your case for reactivation.
I suggest using a polite, respectful tone in your appeal. Once fully completed, submit that form!
Step 2: Send Photo Verification to Instagram
After submitting the appeal form, Instagram will email you within a few hours asking to verify your identity.
Reply to their email with a photo of yourself holding a handwritten code, your full name, and Instagram username.
Make sure the photo clearly shows your entire face. This allows Instagram to confirm it‘s really you trying to access the account.
They need to match your photo to the account details in order to reactivate it. Send this ASAP so they can review your appeal faster.
Step 3: Wait for Instagram‘s Response
Once you‘ve sent the photo verification, you‘ll have to wait for Instagram to review both it and your initial appeal request.
This whole process takes at least 1 week, sometimes longer if they have a high volume of appeals. Be patient during this waiting period. Check your email daily for a response.
If they decide your account was wrongly disabled, you‘ll get an email that your Instagram has been reactivated. Then you can move on to step 4.
However, if your account was rightfully disabled for violating Instagram‘s guidelines, it will likely stay deactivated. Keep reading for other options if this happens.
Step 4: Log Back Into Your Facebook
Once you receive confirmation that your Instagram account has been successfully reactivated, you can now log back into your Facebook!
Since the disabling link between the two accounts is now removed, you should be able to access Facebook normally again.
If for some reason you still see the error about your Instagram, try logging out and back into Facebook again. Or clear your browser cookies and cache.
What If My Instagram Stayed Disabled?
If your appeal was denied and your Instagram remains deactivated, your Facebook will stay disabled too. Here are a few next steps to try:
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Submit another appeal explaining again why you believe the deactivation was a mistake. Sometimes multiple appeals are required.
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Contact Facebook support and explain your linked accounts were disabled. They may be able to separately reactivate your Facebook if Instagram refuses.
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Remove the link between your Instagram and Facebook in Facebook‘s settings. This may allow Facebook access again, but Instagram would stay disabled.
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Create a new Instagram account and link it to your Facebook. However, be very careful not to violate policies on this new account.
Diving Deeper into Account Deactivations
As a tech expert, I wanted to provide some more context on what causes Instagram to deactivate accounts in the first place. This info can help you avoid getting deactivated again in the future.
Types of Violations That Lead to Deactivation
There are a few main reasons Instagram will disable an account:
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Community guideline violations – content that goes against Instagram‘s policies like nudity, hate speech, harassment.
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Inauthentic behavior – using third-party apps, buying followers/likes, repetitive unwanted messaging.
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Intellectual property violations – posting copyright-infringing or trademarked content repeatedly.
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Impersonation – pretending to be someone else by using their name/likeness.
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Underage users – using Instagram under the minimum age of 13 years old.
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Inactive accounts – not logging in or posting for an extended period of time.
How Instagram Detects Policy Violations
Instagram uses a mix of human reviewers and artificial intelligence to detect policy-breaking activity:
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User reports – people can report posts or accounts that violate guidelines.
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Automated tools – AI detects spam, fake accounts, nudity, bullying comments.
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Manual reviews – content flagged by users or AI goes to human reviewers.
Consequences of Violations
If Instagram finds an account broke their rules, initial consequences may include:
- Deleting rule-breaking posts
- Temporarily restricting account functionality
- Requiring ID/age verification
- Disabling account for set time (1 week, 1 month, etc)
Repeated or more serious violations can lead to permanent deactivation. That‘s when you have to go through the full appeal process outlined in this guide.
In Conclusion
Fixing the "You cannot use Facebook because your linked Instagram is disabled" error requires getting Instagram reactivated first.
Submit an appeal ASAP, send your photo verification, and wait patiently for response. If approved, you can regain access to both accounts quickly.
I hope these detailed steps and additional info help you resolve this issue, my friend. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!
