In short: Open WhatsApp and tap Request review. WhatsApp says most reviews finish within 24 hours and notifies you of the decision. If you see no request option, the ban is final. Only WhatsApp can ban or unban a number, so no outside service can remove a ban. Facts from WhatsApp’s Help Center, as of November 2026.
What a ban looks like
WhatsApp says you’ll see a message when you open the app: “This phone number can’t use WhatsApp”, with the option to request a review. A ban is different from a temporary restriction, covered in our guide on lowering the risk with bulk messages.
How to request a review
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap Request review.
- Wait for WhatsApp’s notification with the decision.
Check the status by opening WhatsApp. WhatsApp says contacting it outside this process, or through another person’s account, won’t speed things up or change the result. It reviews one number per appeal.
If there’s no review option
WhatsApp says the ban is then final and can’t be appealed. For the WhatsApp Business app, the same rule applies.
Beware of “unban” services
WhatsApp states that third parties can’t ban your account or remove a ban. Anyone charging to unban your number is promising something only WhatsApp can do.
Why numbers get banned
WhatsApp bans accounts when it believes activity breaks its Terms of Service, such as spam, scams or putting users at risk. Its responsible use guide lists practices to avoid, including bulk messaging, auto-messaging and auto-dialling through the app, and adding people to groups without permission.
If you’ve just got a new number, the previous owner’s behaviour may have caused the ban, and you can still request a review.
Your chats and backups
You can’t reach your chat history or backups while banned. Backups become available only once the number tied to them is unbanned. After that, verify the number again in the app.
If you message customers at volume
For bulk messaging, use the official WhatsApp Business API. You can keep your existing Business app number through coexistence, or use a separate number. It’s built for volume and uses Meta-approved templates, which lowers the risk compared with a regular WhatsApp number. WhatsApp still decides when to limit any number, and no tool can promise a number will never be restricted, so message people who expect to hear from you and grow volume gradually.
On the Business API, WhatsApp Support doesn’t handle bans. It points businesses to Meta’s Business Help Center, as our bulk messaging guide explains.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a WhatsApp review take? WhatsApp says most reviews are completed within 24 hours.
Can I get my chats back after a ban? Backups become accessible again only after the number is unbanned.
Can someone else unban my number for money? No. WhatsApp says only it can ban or unban an account.
Sending to customers at volume? See how Risponse works with the WhatsApp Business API.