A cautionary tale – While doing a simple cleanup, I accidentally removed myself as the only admin from my own Facebook Business Page. It was an easy mistake—one that could happen to anyone. I’m sharing my experience hoping it doesn’t happen to you.

How I Lost Access to My Facebook Page—and Got It Back

While removing old accounts I no longer manage from my Business Suite, I accidentally deleted myself as the sole admin on my own Facebook Page. That meant I couldn’t post, comment, reply, or run ads. I was completely locked out.

I submitted multiple help requests through Meta’s Help Centre but didn’t hear back.

Then I got an email from someone claiming to be a Meta rep. At first, I was relieved. But then came the red flags:

• He used gmail rather than facebook.com email
• He called on Spike rather than Meta’s WhatsApp
• He wanted payment via crypto, then PayPal

I didn’t trust it, and called him on it, but he was convincing, and I was stressed and desperate. The perfect combination for a scam.

How Instagram Saved Me

Thankfully, I discovered I could still access Meta Business Suite through the desktop version of Instagram.

Here’s the detail that saved me: my Instagram and Facebook Page were linked under the same name in Business Suite.

Even though I couldn’t post directly to Facebook, I could still cross-post from Instagram. That small window gave me just enough access to act.

I reached out to a trusted friend (and social media manager). I got lucky. She figured out how to add herself as an admin through Business Suite. Then, she submitted an Admin Dispute Request on my behalf.

That’s how we got my page back.

How to Protect Your Facebook Page

If you’re a solopreneur or the only person managing your Page, you’re vulnerable. Here’s how to avoid what I went through:

✅ Set Yourself Up Safely:

• Add a second trusted Admin—a friend, partner, or VA
  Go to: Settings → Page Setup → Page Access → Add New
• Link your Facebook and Instagram accounts in Business Suite
• Use the same name for both to keep things easy to manage
• Turn on two-factor authentication for all Meta accounts
• Save important info like your:
  • Meta Business ID
  • Page creation date
  • Recent ad receipts

🚩 Watch for Red Flags:

• Anyone contacting you from a Gmail or Yahoo email
• Requests for payment
• Requests for your password or verification codes

🛠 If You Lose Access:

• Try posting from Instagram—check if your Page is still linked
• Ask anyone with access to add you back as an admin
• Submit a Facebook Page Admin Dispute

Once my Admin Dispute was submitted, Facebook didn’t ask for any payment. They did ask for documents to prove I owned both the Page and the business. I submitted a PDF with:

• A signed attestation letter
• Screenshots showing my Facebook was still listed in the backend of my Instagram Business Suite
• Personal Facebook URL and email
• Page URL and Page ID
• Ads Manager number and last 4 digits of the credit card on file
• Copy of my Business licence
• Copy of my driver’s licence

Final Thoughts

We work hard to build our online presence. Losing access to your Facebook Page can cost you visibility, clients, and credibility.

Take the time to protect your business accounts. Add a second admin, check your links, and back up your info—you’ll thank yourself later.

I created this free downloadable checklist to help you.