Restricted versus disabled: what the state in Account Quality means and what to do about it
Read the exact word Account Quality uses. Advertisers use "banned", "suspended" and "disabled" interchangeably; Meta's screens do not. The state tells you how much is still usable and where the review option sits.
The states you will see
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Restricted from advertising | The asset cannot be used to advertise while the restriction stands. Other functions may still work. | Read the named policy, fix what is live, request a review. |
| Disabled | The ad account cannot run ads or spend. Often the same practical effect as restricted; the wording varies by asset type. | Same process. Check Billing first if payments were involved. |
| Under review | A request is being looked at. No further action helps. | Wait. Prepare evidence in case verification is requested. |
| Decision is final | The review route for that asset is closed. | See the permanently-disabled guide. |
| Verification required | Meta wants identity or business documents before continuing. | Upload documents that match the business name on the account. |
The level matters more than the word
Whether the ad account, the Page, the business portfolio or your personal profile is affected decides where the review option sits and what still works. Meta's standards say a restricted account or asset cannot be used to advertise across its technologies, and that policies affecting business assets are reviewed separately from individual ads. Check the level in Account Quality before anything else.
The one-paragraph review request
Factual and short. It uses the policy wording Account Quality shows you, which is the wording Meta's standards are written in.
"Ad account [ID] was restricted on [date]. Account Quality names [policy]. We have reviewed every active and recent ad and landing page against the Advertising Standards. [We found nothing that conflicts with that policy / We found X and removed it on date.] The account belongs to [legal business name], [website], [registration or tax ID if you have one]. We have completed verification where prompted. We request a review of this restriction. Attached: [business registration, ID, recent invoices, landing page screenshots]."
Free: the 10-minute triage checklist, plus reminders on day 3, 7 and 14
The printable checklist, the review-request paragraph as a copy-and-paste file, and three timed emails that tell you what to do on day 3, 7 and 14 if you have heard nothing. The part of this process people get wrong is the waiting.
Email me for it Sign-up form coming shortly. Until then, email [email protected] and it comes back by reply.
Frequently asked questions
My ads are rejected but the account is fine. Is that a restriction?
Account Quality shows nothing but my ads will not run.
Ad Account Recovery Kit · $49
The full process for each cause, the review-request wording built on the policy language Meta uses, an evidence checklist, a 14-day tracker, and the plan for keeping sales alive while you wait. Written for store owners and small agencies, not for people trying to game the system.
- Five review-request templates: policy violation, suspected compromise, payment failure, verification request, business-level restriction
- Evidence checklist per cause, with file naming reviewers can read
- The 14-day tracker: what to do on day 1, 3, 7 and 14 if you hear nothing, and when a second request is justified
- Keep-selling plan: email, SMS, Google Shopping, marketplaces and organic, ranked by how fast each restores revenue
- Hardening checklist for afterwards: admin roles, two-factor, payment hygiene, business and domain verification, pre-launch policy check
- When to stop: the signs an account is not coming back, and how to rebuild legitimately
Available shortly Checkout opens soon. Email [email protected] to be told when.