Quick answer
On a computer: profile picture > Settings & privacy > Accounts Center (or Meta Account) > Password and security > Advanced Protection, then follow the steps and click Fix Now. On a phone: look for the Advanced Protection notification in your Feed, tap Get Started > Next > Next > Fix Now. If you’re required to turn it on, you’ll need two-factor authentication or a passkey. A genuine email comes from [email protected], and Facebook never asks for your password by email or message.
Does this match what you see?
- Facebook says you’re required to turn on Advanced Protection.
- You got an email about Advanced Protection and aren’t sure it’s real.
- You can’t find Advanced Protection in your settings.
- The Advanced Protection notification disappeared.
- Meta Verified says you need Advanced Protection on.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
Steps come from Meta’s help page: settings steps for a computer, and notification steps for the iPhone, iPad and Android apps and mobile browsers. Meta is gradually moving people to Meta Accounts (external site, opens in a new tab), so you may see Meta Account instead of Accounts Center.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Who Meta says is more likely to be targeted, and who must turn it on.
| Type of account | Higher risk | Required (with a notification) |
|---|---|---|
| Accounts connected to businesses that advertise (for example, Page admins) | Yes | — |
| Accounts added to a Business Portfolio that advertises with Meta | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts in a Business Portfolio with monthly invoicing | — | Yes |
| Creators, Pages or profiles with many followers | Yes | Yes, if they can reach many people |
| Politicians, journalists and other civic actors | Yes | Yes |
| Meta Verified subscribers | Yes | Needed to subscribe (Meta Verified) |
- Your account is in a higher-risk groupPossible
Meta says accounts connected to advertisers, large creators, civic actors and Meta Verified subscribers face a higher risk of phishing and hacking attempts.
- Your account meets Meta’s requirementPossible
Meta requires Advanced Protection for some accounts and notifies them by email and on Facebook.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Check your Feed for an Advanced Protection notification.
- On a computer, look under Password and security.
- Have your phone ready for two-factor authentication or a passkey.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Turn on Advanced Protection (Meta’s steps)
Meta scans your account for weak spots as you turn it on and suggests fixes, such as creating a passkey, choosing a stronger password or turning on two-factor authentication. If you’re required to turn it on, this page says you need either two-factor authentication or a passkey (Meta’s passkeys page says a passkey).
iPhone & iPad
- Log in and look for the notification in your Feed prompting you to defend your account with Advanced Protection.
- Tap Get Started.
- On the welcome screen, tap Next. On the benefits screen, tap Next again.
- Tap Fix Now and follow the on-screen instructions.
Android
- Log in and look for the notification in your Feed prompting you to defend your account with Advanced Protection.
- Tap Get Started.
- On the welcome screen, tap Next. On the benefits screen, tap Next again.
- Tap Fix Now and follow the on-screen instructions.
Computer (browser)
- Click your profile picture in the top right of Facebook.
- Click Settings & privacy, then Accounts Center or Meta Account.
- Click Password and security, then Advanced Protection.
- Follow the instructions, then click Fix Now and finish the prompts.
Meta says that on a phone, if you don’t see an Advanced Protection notification when you log in, you may not be required to turn it on. If you are required and don’t finish setup, Meta says you may lose access to certain features or your account. Need help with codes? See login code not received.
Did it work? You’ve finished the Fix Now steps and the setup is complete.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Got an Advanced Protection email? Check the sender
Advanced Protection exists because these accounts are targeted by phishing, so expect fake versions of the email.
- Check the sender: Meta says a genuine email comes from [email protected].
- Remember Meta’s rule: Facebook will never ask for your password in an email or Facebook message.
- Don’t click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender. Our advice: open Facebook yourself and use Fix 1 instead.
More on fake emails and messages: Facebook phishing, Facebook recovery scams, and Meta’s pages on keeping your account secure (external site, opens in a new tab) and phishing (external site, opens in a new tab).
Did it work? You know whether the email is genuine.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Can’t find Advanced Protection? Add a passkey instead
Meta says that if you don’t see a way to turn on Advanced Protection but want better security, you can create a passkey.
- Follow Meta’s steps to create a passkey (external site, opens in a new tab).
- Our advice: turn on two-factor authentication too, if you haven’t already.
Did it work? A passkey is set up on your account.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 4: The “required” notification disappeared?
Meta says an account can fall out of eligibility for the requirement. It’s then no longer required to turn on Advanced Protection, and may stop seeing the notification.
- Usually there’s nothing to do. If the notification comes back, follow Fix 1. Meta says you can still turn it on voluntarily for extra security.
Did it work? You know whether you still need to act.
Did Fix 4 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 4. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 5: Turn off Advanced Protection (only if you chose it)
Meta says accounts that are required to have Advanced Protection can’t unenroll. If you turned it on voluntarily, you can.
- Go to your settings in the app you’re using.
- Tap or click Accounts Center or Meta Account, then Password and security.
- In the Advanced Protection section, click Advanced Protection.
- Click the profile you want to unenroll.
Subscribed to Meta Verified? Meta says Advanced Protection must be on for verified profiles and can’t be turned off while the subscription is active.
Did it work? You’ve completed the unenroll steps for that profile.
Did Fix 5 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 5. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
How to know it worked
- Advanced Protection is on, or you’ve confirmed you’re not required to use it.
- Two-factor authentication or a passkey is set up.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Locked out while setting it up? See can’t log in to Facebook.
- Think someone already got in? Follow Facebook hacked account recovery, or Facebook Page hacked if you manage a Page.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
What is Advanced Protection on Facebook?
Meta’s extra security setting for accounts at higher risk of hacking, such as accounts connected to businesses that advertise, large creators, civic actors and Meta Verified subscribers. It requires stronger logins like passkeys or two-factor authentication and adds monitoring for hacking threats.
Why does Facebook say I must turn on Advanced Protection?
Meta requires it for civic actors, accounts in business portfolios that advertise or have monthly invoicing, and accounts connected to Pages or profiles with many followers. If you don’t finish setup, Meta says you may lose access to certain features or your account.
Is the Advanced Protection email real?
Meta says genuine emails come from [email protected], and Facebook never asks for your password by email or message.
Can I turn off Advanced Protection?
Only if you turned it on voluntarily. Meta says accounts required to have it can’t unenroll.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Advanced Protection on Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)
- About Meta Accounts (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Subscribe to Meta Verified for creators (external site, opens in a new tab)
- About Meta Verified for creators (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 22 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 20 January 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 22 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Facebook. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.