Banned on WhatsApp? Here's what you can do
Being the biggest messaging app, WhatsApp has a clear set of rules to enable seamless, end-to-end encrypted communication. The platform's terms of service define how people should use the app and lay a standard of sorts to ensure the best use of the service. But, in case these terms are violated, your account could also be banned. Here's what to do in such cases.
WhatsApp can ban your account for plenty of reasons
To note, WhatsApp can ban a user temporarily or permanently for violating its terms of service. This could happen for a plenty of reasons, but the most common ones revolve around using third-party knock-offs of WhatsApp or employing tools to bypass app restrictions and send messages in bulk. Both tricks are being widely used, creating a number of security issues, the company has said.
WhatsApp knock-offs are installed for added functionality
Further, people tend to install modded copies of WhatsApp - WhatsApp Plus, GBWhatsApp - in order to gain added functionalities/customizations in the messaging app. The feature proves useful, but the messaging giant says it's impossible to validate the security practices being employed for these third-party platforms. They could compromise encrypted messages, which is why the company bans accounts being used on them.
Tools for bulk messaging
Bulk messaging on WhatsApp also violates its terms of service. The company limits forwards to five chats, but as Reuters reported, people have been using cheap third-party tools to bypass these restrictions. The trick was widely used during elections and can easily get accounts banned.
How to get banned account back
If your account has been banned temporarily, the only way to get it back would be to ditch the malpractice and switch to a legitimate means of using WhatsApp. This means you will either have to stop using bulk messaging tools or uninstall WhatsApp's knock-off and get back to the official version of the messaging app - whatever your case may be.
Steps to migrate to original WhatsApp
In order to return to the official iteration of WhatsApp, back up chats in the knock-off version by heading over to More options > Chats > Back up chats. Then, locate the folder for that app in your phone's file manager and rename it to 'WhatsApp'. Next, uninstall the knock-off, install the official version from Play Store, and restore the backup when prompted.
You may even have to write to WhatsApp
If you think your account was banned without any violation, write to the company via email (android_web@support.whatsapp.com) and they will look into your case by investigating into the matter and restoring the account if necessary.
