Short answer
Open WhatsApp and tap Request review on the ban screen. WhatsApp says most reviews are completed within 24 hours and you get a notification with the decision. Each appeal covers one phone number, and contacting WhatsApp outside the review process does not speed it up or change the result. If no review option appears, the ban is final. Temporary bans tied to unofficial WhatsApp versions lift once you move to the official app.
What the ban message means
- “This phone number can’t use WhatsApp” — the number is banned. The screen normally offers to request a review.
- A temporary ban with a countdown — commonly triggered by modified or unofficial WhatsApp apps; it ends on its own, but repeating the behaviour can make it permanent.
- No review option — WhatsApp considers the decision final.
Why WhatsApp bans numbers
WhatsApp bans accounts when it believes their activity breaks its Terms of Service — for example spam, scams, or anything that puts users’ safety at risk. In practice the triggers we see are bulk or automated messaging, many recipients blocking or reporting you in a short time, messaging large numbers of people who do not have you saved, adding people to groups without their consent, and using unofficial apps.
How to request a review
- Open WhatsApp on the phone with the banned number and tap Request review.
- If asked, explain briefly and factually how you use WhatsApp — personal, family, a small business with opted-in customers.
- Submit once. WhatsApp reviews one number per appeal.
- Wait for the in-app notification with the decision; WhatsApp says most reviews finish within 24 hours.
- If the ban is lifted, register again on the same phone and restore your backup.
Temporary bans and unofficial apps
Modified WhatsApp clones are a common cause of temporary bans. Move to the official WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app before the countdown ends. Back up your chats first; backups from unofficial apps may not transfer cleanly, so export anything important.
Business numbers
Businesses that message customers at scale are judged on how recipients react. Message only people who opted in, make it easy to stop messages, and avoid sending the same content to large lists. Numbers on the WhatsApp Business Platform (API) also have quality ratings and enforcement managed through Meta’s business tools — the review route there differs from the consumer app.
If your WhatsApp was hacked instead
If someone took over your number, register WhatsApp again with the SMS code to sign them out, then turn on two-step verification with a PIN. Never share the six-digit registration code with anyone — that request is how most WhatsApp takeovers start. For takeovers that you cannot reverse, see hacked account recovery.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a WhatsApp ban review take?
WhatsApp says most reviews are completed within 24 hours. You receive a notification in the app when a decision is made.
Can I appeal again if the review is rejected?
If you no longer see an option to request a review, WhatsApp treats the ban as final. Contacting WhatsApp through other channels does not change the decision.
Will I lose my chats?
Your chat backup is tied to your number. If the ban is lifted, you can restore it when you register again on the same number.
Can I just use WhatsApp with a new number?
Creating a new account to get around a ban can break WhatsApp’s terms. If the ban was a mistake, the review is the right route.
Sources: WhatsApp Help Center — account bans, WhatsApp Help Center