X (Twitter) Account Locked or Limited? How to Unlock It

Does this match what you see?

• X says “Please verify your account” or “Your account has been locked.”
• X says “We’ve temporarily limited some of your account features.”
• You can browse but can’t post, like or repost.
• You can post from a browser but not from the app.
• People visiting your profile see a warning about unusual activity.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on X Help Center “Help with locked or limited account”, supplied by the site owner, October 31, 2026.

Why this happens: the possible causes

X says a locked or limited account may be compromised, or may have broken the X Rules or Terms of Service.

• Suspected compromiseCheck this first

  X says a security lock means it detected suspicious behavior and your account may have been compromised.

• Automated or aggressive activityCheck this first

  X says automated behavior, aggressive following or aggressive engagement (likes, reposts, quotes) can lead to a lock or limit.

• A possible rules violationPossible

  X may limit features if it detects behavior that may break the X Rules.

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.

“Your account has been locked for security purposes”

X says this means it detected suspicious behavior and your account may have been compromised.

• You can still log in: follow the on-screen instructions to restore access and change your password. X also emails instructions if there’s an email on the account.
• You can’t log in: contact X support for help unlocking it. See also someone else is using my account and remove connected apps and sessions.

“Some of your account features are temporarily limited”

X says it may limit features after aggressive following or aggressive engagement (likes, reposts, quotes), or behavior that may break the X Rules. For example, only your followers may see your posts, likes and reposts, and you may be filtered out of search results and notifications. The length varies by violation.

• Verify to restore features: select Verify and confirm your phone number or email.
• Or wait it out: select Continue to X to start the countdown. X says if you choose this, you won’t be offered the verify option again for that limit.
• X says if your account had repeated violations or very aggressive engagement, you may not get the phone option and can only wait out the limit.

You can post from a browser but not the app

X says in a limited state you may only have certain features, such as posting from a desktop browser but not the app. Wait for the limit to end, or verify if X offers it.

Limited because it may have violated the X Rules

X says you can still browse, but you can only send DMs to your followers, and you can’t post, repost or like. Only your followers can see your past posts, and visitors may see a warning.

• Log in, find We’ve temporarily limited some of your account features, select Start and complete the requested actions. X says these can include verifying your email, adding a phone number or deleting posts that break its rules, before the countdown starts.
• X says repeat violations may lead to permanent suspension. See account suspended.
• Think it’s a mistake? X says you can appeal by contacting its support team.

A post was limited, labeled, or you must delete it to keep posting

X says it can act on a single post instead of your whole account:

• Visibility limited: the post may be left out of search, trends, recommended notifications and the For you and Following timelines, kept only on your profile, pushed down in replies, or have likes, replies, reposts and sharing turned off. X says these posts get a label telling you, and you can appeal the label if you think it’s wrong.
• Post removal required: for more serious violations, X says you must delete the post or appeal before you can post again. The post is hidden behind a notice meanwhile.
• Misleading information label: X may add context, and Community Notes may also appear.
• Sensitive media notice or age limit: X may put adult or graphic content behind a warning, and restrict some of it for viewers under 18 or without a birth date on their profile. That isn’t a violation.
• Withheld in a country: X may block content in one country after a valid legal request from that country.

X says it usually starts by showing you the post, explaining which rule it broke and asking you to remove it; repeat violations bring stronger actions, like verifying your account or a temporary posting limit, and then possible permanent suspension. When an account is locked pending a challenge like adding a phone number, X says it’s removed from follower counts, reposts and likes until you complete it.

Post or account “withheld” in a country

X says it may withhold a post or a whole account in a specific country after a valid legal demand (such as a court order) or because the content breaks local law. The content is blocked only in that country; X shows a notice in its place there.

• Seeing a “withheld” notice on someone else’s post? X decides which country you’re in from information about your location (see wrong country on your account). X says changing your country setting won’t affect content it withholds under local law.
• Your own content withheld? Unless it’s prohibited (for example a sealed court order), X says it tries to tell you by email and/or an in-app notification, usually naming the content and where the request came from. Your withheld posts or account also show a clear notice.
• Think it’s a mistake? X says reply to X’s email if it was a legal demand, or contact X through its Help Center if it was withheld under local law.
• X says it’s up to you whether to challenge the request. You can also leave the content up, remove posts, or deactivate your account.

Our advice: don’t try to get around a country block; challenge it through X instead.

Locked because you signed up before age 13

X says you must be 13 or older to use X. If you made your account before you were 13 and you’re now old enough, X says you can get it back by letting X remove some data.

• Removed: posts and likes from before you were 13, Direct Messages sent and received before you were 13, profile details other than your handle and date of birth, and saved Moments, Lists and collections.
• Kept: your handle, contact information, date of birth, who you follow and your followers. X asks you to confirm your contact information first.
• X says you’ll be opted out of some personalization and data-sharing settings; review your privacy and safety settings (external site, opens in a new tab) afterward.
• How: if your account is eligible, X prompts you in your account to start. X says it can take up to 72 hours, and it notifies you through X and by email when it’s ready.
• Deadline: X says once you’re eligible you have 30 days to go ahead, or you can no longer get the account back.
• Follower and following counts can take about 24 hours to return to normal after unlocking.
• Problems? X has an account restoration form (external site, opens in a new tab).

Lost the phone or email on the account?

X says to contact its support team. It also warns that sometimes the only option is to create a new account. If you’re locked out while setting up a new account, X says to contact support too.

X says locked accounts can also request deactivation or a copy of their data through its request forms or the “How To Contact Us” section of its Privacy Policy.

How to know it worked

• Our check: no lock or limit message appears, and you can post, like and repost from the app.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Locked out after too many login attempts? See can’t log in to X.

Frequently asked questions