Accounts and assets · Business portfolio restricted
Why is my Meta business portfolio restricted?
A restricted business portfolio isn’t allowed to advertise, and because the portfolio owns your ad accounts, Pages and catalogs, the restriction reaches the assets inside it. Find the reason in Business Support Home, complete any verification or security steps Meta lists, and request a review if you believe it’s a mistake.
Why business portfolios get restricted
- Ad accounts in the portfolio severely or repeatedly ran ads that break the Advertising Standards.“Three client ad accounts in one agency portfolio, all collecting rejections for the same claims.”
- Attempts to evade enforcement, such as new ad accounts or assets created to repeat violations, or a network of accounts running the same violating ads.“New ad accounts added to the portfolio straight after others were disabled, running the same creative.”
- Close connection to accounts or entities that break or evade Meta’s policies, for example shared people or assets.“A partner added to the portfolio whose own accounts were removed for violations.”
- Meta suspects the portfolio or its assets have been hacked or compromised.“An admin nobody recognises appears, then new ad accounts are created.”
- Two-factor authentication not in place where Meta requires it, which applies to certain portfolios more than 90 days old.“Several people with access to an older portfolio have never turned on two-factor.”
- False or misleading information during business verification, or trying to verify a business you are not authorised to represent. Meta says this can lead to further action on the account.“Business details in the portfolio that don’t match the registered company.”
What to do first
- On a computer, go to Meta Business Support Home, select Account status overview and click the restricted business portfolio. Read the What you can do section; it lists the steps that apply to you.
- Secure the portfolio. In Meta Business Suite, go to Settings, then Business portfolio info, then Business options, and set Two-factor authentication for everyone. Each person sets it up on their own Facebook profile.
- Review people and partners in the portfolio. Remove anyone you don’t recognise or who no longer needs access, undo changes you didn’t make, and add a second trusted person with full control.
- If Meta asks for business verification, a person with full control starts it in Security Center. Enter the legal business name, address, phone and website exactly as registered, and make sure the website loads over https. Meta says a decision can take up to 14 business days.
- Clean up the ad accounts inside the portfolio: stop or fix rejected ads, check landing pages, and settle any failed payments.
- If you believe the restriction is wrong, an admin selects Request review and completes the on-screen steps. Meta says reviews typically take 48 hours, although they can take longer, and the number of reviews is limited.
Before and after a review
- Do not create a new business portfolio, or move ad accounts and Pages into another one, to keep advertising. Meta treats assets created or repurposed to evade a previous removal as evasion and can restrict them as well.
- If your business verification was rejected, check the reason in Security Center. Meta says you may be eligible to appeal, and common reasons include a website that fails to load or isn’t https.
- If the portfolio is reinstated, ads that were running before do not restart on their own. Turn them back on in Meta Ads Manager.
- Be wary of messages saying they are from Meta and offering to fix the restriction. Check your status in Business Support Home instead, and never share a password.
- Keep records: the notice, dates, the security and verification steps you completed, and when you requested review.
Check your next ad before you upload it
Paste the copy and add the image or video. The free checker scores the rejection risk, points to the exact words at fault and the Meta policy behind each one, and suggests a safer version. It estimates risk; it isn't a decision from Meta.
Likely to be rejected. Fix the flagged lines before you upload.
This supplement ad combines a personal-attribute callout, a specific weight-loss result, guaranteed results, clickbait and a URL shortener, so it is very likely to be rejected.
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
https://bit.ly/slim-offer
6 issues found · tap a highlight to jump to it
“Are you struggling with belly fat?” · primary text
The ad asserts a personal characteristic about the viewer by addressing them directly about a body condition.
Fix: Our gummies are designed to support a healthy metabolism.
“helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!!” · primary text
A specific weight-loss amount within a short timeframe is an exaggerated, unrealistic result, and supplement ads must target 18+.
Fix: Remove the specific result; use a general statement such as 'Part of a balanced routine for healthy weight management.'
“GUARANTEED RESULTS” · headline
Guaranteed results are a prohibited claim for health and weight-loss products.
Fix: Use 'Start your wellness routine today' or remove the claim entirely.
“Doctors hate this one trick.” · primary text
This is classic clickbait, and the triple exclamation marks add to the sensational tone.
Fix: Replace with 'Learn how our gummies fit into a healthy routine.'
“See the before and after pics.” · primary text
Before-and-after comparisons for weight loss are high risk and draw rejection.
Fix: Remove the before-and-after reference and focus on the product's ingredients.
“https://bit.ly/slim-offer” · landing page
URL shorteners hide the true destination and are high risk, and can lead to account-level enforcement.
Fix: Use the full, direct landing page URL on the brand's own domain.
Safer version
Are you struggling with belly fat? Our gummies helped Maria lose 12 kg in 3 weeks!!! See the before and after pics. Doctors hate this one trick.
GUARANTEED RESULTS
Meet our gummies, designed to support a healthy metabolism. Easy to add to your day and made to fit into a balanced routine for healthy weight management. Learn how they fit into a healthy routine.
Start your wellness routine today
Also change: Link: replace the bit.ly shortener with the full, direct URL on your own brand domain, and make sure the landing page has no before-and-after photos, guaranteed-result claims or specific weight-loss numbers. Creative: remove any before-and-after images and any overlay text about kilos lost. Show the product or lifestyle shots instead, with overlay text like "Support your healthy routine". Set ad targeting to 18+.
Questions
Does a portfolio restriction affect the ad accounts inside it?
Yes. Meta says the status of a business portfolio affects the ad accounts, shops and business assets it owns, and a restricted portfolio isn’t allowed to advertise.
Why can’t I add people or create ad accounts?
When Meta notices unusual activity it may temporarily remove the ability to add admins, partners or users and to create new ad accounts while it investigates. Check Business Support Home for the steps to resolve it.
Is business verification the same as Meta Verified?
No. Meta says verifying your business in Meta Business Suite is different from Meta Verified for businesses and does not give you a verified badge.
Can a client or partner get our agency portfolio restricted?
It can happen. Meta may restrict a business portfolio found in close connection with a network of accounts that break or evade its policies, so check who you add as people and partners.
Who can request the review?
You must be an admin on the account. Once the review is completed the decision is final, but Meta says requesting a review does not hurt your standing.
Meta's official pages
- About advertising restrictions (Meta Business Help Center)
- Common examples of Meta advertising policy violations (Meta Business Help Center)
- How to require two-factor authentication for people in your Meta business portfolio (Meta Business Help Center)
- How to verify your business in Meta Business Suite (Meta Business Help Center)
- Request a review for a restricted advertising account (Meta Business Help Center)
Ad Account Shield is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Meta.