An account verification or confirmation error ("Facebook account locked," "Facebook is asking for an account verification," "Confirmation required by Instagram") means the platform has flagged your account and is blocking your automation until you verify it. Two scenarios: if your Facebook account is locked due to an IP mismatch, set up a PhantomBuster proxy with a location matching where you normally connect from. If Facebook or Instagram is asking for a manual verification or confirmation, open the platform directly in your browser, complete the check (code, identity prompt, or security challenge), wait 15–30 minutes, then relaunch your Phantom.
If you're seeing rate limit messages or mid-run disconnections instead, see How to Fix "Rate Limited" and "Too Many Requests" Errors or How to Fix Account Disconnection Errors.
Why you're seeing this
Your automation may show one of these messages:
- "Facebook account locked" / "Facebook is asking for an account verification"
- "Facebook account verification" / "Cookies are correct but Facebook is asking for an account verification"
- "Confirmation required by Instagram" / "Instagram is asking for an account confirmation"
- Or a similar verification or confirmation message from another platform
These messages mean the platform has flagged your account and is blocking your automation from continuing. Use the sections below to find your situation and fix it.
How to fix it
If your Facebook account is locked (IP mismatch)
Facebook has detected that your Phantom is connecting from an unexpected location and is requesting a verification before allowing it to continue.
This is caused by an IP address mismatch: Phantoms run from the cloud and may connect from different locations, which Facebook detects and flags.
To fix it, set up a proxy with a location that matches where you normally connect from. This gives your Phantom a stable, consistent IP address that Facebook recognises.
- Go to your Phantom's setup and open Advanced settings.
- Navigate to the Proxies tab.
- Select PhantomBuster Proxy and enable Maintain the same fixed IP as long as it's available.
- Open the Proxy Location dropdown and choose a location that closely matches your actual geographic location.
- Save your setup and relaunch the Phantom.
Once the proxy is configured correctly, your Phantom should resume without needing to reconnect your account.
If you can't find a location close to yours using PhantomBuster's built-in proxy, consider using an external proxy service to choose a more specific location.
→ See Use a Proxy to Fix Login Issues or Get Location-based Results for detailed guidance.
If Facebook or Instagram is asking for verification or confirmation
Facebook or Instagram has detected automated activity on your account and is requesting a manual verification or confirmation before allowing it to continue.
- Open Facebook or Instagram directly in your browser or app.
- Complete the verification or confirmation step the platform is showing you: this may be a security check, a code sent to your phone or email, or an identity prompt.
- Wait 15–30 minutes after completing the check so the platform's security systems register it.
- Once completed, go back to your PhantomBuster Dashboard and relaunch your Phantom.
To reduce the risk of this happening again, make sure your automation activity stays within recommended limits.
→ See Automation Rate Limits by Platform and Popular Phantom for recommended limits and Best Practices for Social Media Platforms Automation.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Facebook asking me to verify my account?
Facebook flags automated activity and IP address mismatches. Because Phantoms run from the cloud, they may connect from a different location than you normally do, which looks suspicious to Facebook and triggers a verification request.
Why does a proxy fix the Facebook lock?
A proxy gives your Phantom a stable IP address in a location that matches where you usually connect from, so Facebook stops seeing the "unexpected location" signal.
Can PhantomBuster complete the verification for me?
No. The verification has to happen on the platform itself, usually a code, identity check, or security prompt that only you can complete. Once you've verified, your Phantom can resume.
What's the difference between verification and rate limiting?
Verification is a manual identity check triggered by the platform's security systems. Rate limiting is an automatic cap on actions that lifts on its own. See How to Fix "Rate Limited" and "Too Many Requests" Errors if you're hitting rate limits instead.
Will this happen again after I verify?
It can, especially if your automation volume stays high or if you keep connecting from mismatched IPs. Reduce activity, use a consistent proxy location, and stay within recommended rate limits.
Do LinkedIn and other platforms trigger verification requests too?
LinkedIn generally uses disconnection and rate limiting rather than verification prompts. This article focuses on Facebook and Instagram, which are the main platforms that trigger verification/confirmation flows.