How to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account

Step-by-step guide to regain access to your compromised Facebook account, secure it from future attacks, and protect your personal data.

1. Check if you can still log in. Go to facebook.com and attempt to log in with your email and password. If successful but you notice suspicious activity, proceed to step 4. If login fails because your password was changed, continue to step 2.
2. Use Facebook's account recovery tool. Navigate to facebook.com/login/identify and enter your email address or phone number. Click 'Search' then select your account from the results. Choose how you want to receive your reset code - email or SMS.
3. Reset your password. Enter the 6-digit code sent to your email or phone. Create a strong new password using at least 12 characters with a mix of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using personal information or previously used passwords.
4. Review and remove suspicious activity. Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login. Check 'Where You're Logged In' for unfamiliar devices or locations. Click the three dots next to suspicious sessions and select 'Log Out'. Review recent posts, messages, and friend requests for unauthorized activity.
5. Enable two-factor authentication. In Settings > Security and Login, find 'Use two-factor authentication' and click 'Edit'. Choose 'Text message' or 'Authentication app' as your method. Follow the prompts to complete setup and save your backup codes in a secure location.
6. Check connected apps and remove unauthorized access. Navigate to Settings > Apps and Websites. Review all connected applications and remove any you don't recognize by clicking the checkboxes and selecting 'Remove'. Pay special attention to apps requesting extensive permissions.
7. Verify your recovery information. In Settings > General > Contact, confirm your email addresses and phone numbers are current and belong to you. Remove any unfamiliar contact information the hacker may have added. Add a trusted contact who can help you regain access if needed.
8. Report the hack to Facebook. Visit facebook.com/hacked and select 'My Account Is Compromised'. Follow the prompts to report the incident and provide details about what happened. Facebook may provide additional security recommendations or investigate further.