When to Use This Guide
This guide is for situations where your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA), Facebook Business Portfolio, or phone number has been restricted or banned by Meta, and all other appeal or recovery options have been exhausted.
Signs you need to start fresh:
Your phone number is permanently restricted
Your Business Portfolio has been disabled with no successful appeal
We have appealed for you as well, and Meta still decided not to reinstate the account
Multiple accounts or numbers under the same portfolio have been flagged
Meta has indicated your restrictions are final
What "starting fresh" means:
You'll create a brand new Facebook account, a new Business Portfolio, verify it, and connect a new phone number that has never been associated with any restricted accounts. This is a clean slate approach that the Spur team recommends when no other options remain.
Important:
This process requires careful attention to detail. Using any email, phone number, or account that's been associated with a restricted portfolio can cause the new setup to inherit those restrictions.
What You'll Need Before Starting
Before you begin, gather these resources:
✅ A fresh email address
Never used to create a Facebook account before
Not listed in the "People" section of your disabled/restricted portfolio
Not associated with any banned WhatsApp numbers
✅ A fresh phone number
Never used for a WhatsApp Business Account before
If currently in use elsewhere, read the requirements below carefully
✅ Government-issued ID (for Facebook account verification)
✅ Business verification documents (for Portfolio verification)
Business registration certificate/incorporation document
Utility bill or bank statement showing business address
Tax ID or other official business documentation (like GST certificate in india)
Step 1: Prepare a Fresh Email Address
Why a Fresh Email Matters
Meta's systems track associations between accounts. If your new Facebook account uses an email that was previously:
Used to create another Facebook account
Added as an admin, employee, or partner in your restricted portfolio
Connected to any banned WhatsApp numbers
...then your new account may be flagged automatically.
How to Get a Fresh Email
Option 1: Create a new email from scratch
Use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or any email provider. Make sure it's a completely new address that's never touched Facebook or Meta services.
Option 2: Use a business domain email
If you have a company domain (e.g., [email protected]), create a new address there. This can look more professional for business verification later.
What to avoid:
❌ Reusing an email from your old Facebook account
❌ Using an email that was listed under "People" in your old portfolio
❌ Using an email that received notifications from Meta about restrictions
Step 2: Create a New Facebook Account
How to Create the Account
Go to facebook.com in a private/incognito browser window
Click "Create New Account"
Enter your details:
Name: Use your real name (required for verification)
Email: Use the fresh email you prepared
Password: Create a strong, unique password
Date of Birth: Your real date of birth
Gender: Select appropriately
Click "Sign Up"
Verify your email by clicking the confirmation link Meta sends
Important Account Setup Steps
Add a profile photo:
Use a clear photo of yourself (not a logo or brand image). Meta verifies personal accounts based on real people, not businesses.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA):
Go to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Security and Login > Two-Factor Authentication and turn it on. Use an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) rather than SMS if possible. Will save you trouble later.
Wait 24-48 hours before creating a Business Portfolio:
Brand new Facebook accounts that immediately try to create business assets can trigger automated flags. Let your account "age" a bit by using it normally for a day or two.
Step 3: Create a New Business Portfolio
What a Business Portfolio Is
A Business Portfolio (also called a Business Manager or BM) is where you manage your business assets: WhatsApp Business Accounts, ad accounts, Facebook Pages, Instagram accounts, etc.
How to Create a New Portfolio
Go to business.facebook.com
Click "Create Account"
Enter:
Business Name: Your official business name
Your Name: Your real name (must match your Facebook account)
Business Email: Use the same fresh email from your Facebook account
Click "Create"
You'll be taken to your new Business Portfolio dashboard
Immediately Enable Two-Factor Authentication on the Portfolio
Click "Two-Factor Authentication"
Turn it on for your account
Require 2FA for all admins (if you add team members later)
Why this matters:
Business Portfolios without 2FA are more likely to face restrictions. Meta views this as a security best practice.
Step 4: Verify Your Business Portfolio
Business verification is critical. Unverified portfolios have very limited functionality and are more likely to face restrictions.
How to Start Business Verification
In your Business Portfolio, go to Business Settings > Security Center
Click "Start Verification"
Choose "Setting up a WhatsApp business account" from the dropdown that wants to know why you want to verify your business
Submit the documents that they ask for and give them the details they would need for verification
Choose your verification method:
Phone verification (fastest)
Email verification (more thorough)
Domain verification (if you have a website)
Complete thorough guide for that is here.
What Documents You'll Need
Meta accepts:
Business registration certificate
Articles of incorporation
Business license
Tax registration document (GST certificate, EIN letter, etc.)
Utility bill or bank statement showing business address
Tips for successful verification:
Make sure documents are clear, legible, and recent (within the last 3-6 months for bills/statements)
Business name on documents must match the name you entered in the portfolio
If your business is registered under a different name than your brand name, submit both documents
How Long Verification Takes
Typically within 48 hours. You'll get an email when it's approved or if Meta needs more information.
What if verification is rejected?
Meta will tell you why. Common reasons:
Documents are unclear or expired
Business name doesn't match
Business address can't be verified
You can resubmit with corrected documents.
Step 5: Prepare a Fresh Phone Number
This is the most critical step. Your new WhatsApp Business Account needs a phone number that is completely clean, no previous associations with restricted accounts.
Requirements for the Phone Number
✅ It must be:
Never used for a WhatsApp Business Account before (via API or app)
Not listed in any restricted portfolio
Not associated with any banned WhatsApp numbers
✅ If the number is currently in use, you must:
Turn off Two-Factor Authentication on any other Business Service Provider (BSP) or platform where it's registered
Delete the WhatsApp account if it's being used on WhatsApp Business App
Delete the WhatsApp account if it's being used on the regular WhatsApp mobile app
Why this matters:
A phone number can only be active on one WhatsApp API provider at a time.
How to Delete WhatsApp from the Old Number (If Applicable)
If using WhatsApp Business App or regular WhatsApp:
Open WhatsApp on your phone
Go to Settings > Account > Delete My Account
Enter the phone number
Tap "Delete My Account"
Wait 24 hours before using this number for your new WABA (WhatsApp Business Account)
If using another API provider (AiSensy, Interakt, etc.):
What If You Don't Have a Fresh Number?
You'll need to get one. Options:
Purchase a new SIM card from your telecom provider
Use a virtual number service (some virtual numbers never are able to receive OTPs, but we have seen Twilio numbers receive OTPs and they work)
Use an old number you've never used for WhatsApp
Avoid:
❌ Using a number that was ever banned (even if it's been months)
Step 6: Connect Your Fresh Phone Number to Spur
Once your Business Portfolio is verified and your phone number is ready, you can connect it to Spur.
How to Connect
Watch this video or follow the steps listed below:
Log into Spur
Go to Settings > Channels > WhatsApp
Click "Add WhatsApp Number"
Enter your fresh phone number
Verify it via OTP (one-time password sent via SMS)
Follow the prompts to link it to your verified Business Portfolio
Important:
Make sure you're linking the number to your new, verified portfolio, not the old restricted one.
After Connecting
Add a display name
Add a business description (can be done from WhatsApp manager)
Add a WhatsApp bio (Go to Spur > Settings > Channels > WhatsApp > Update WhatsApp bio)
Step 7: Best Practices to Avoid Future Restrictions
Now that you've started fresh, follow these rules to keep your account in good standing.
Do:
✅ Only send messages to customers who have opted in
✅ Respond to customer inquiries within 24 hours
✅ Keep your quality rating high (green)
✅ Follow Meta's Commerce and Business Messaging policies
✅ Keep 2FA enabled on both your Facebook account and Business Portfolio
Don't:
❌ Send promotional messages without opt-in
❌ Use your number for spam or unsolicited outreach
❌ Share your account access with untrusted parties
❌ Violate Meta's policies on prohibited content (tobacco, adult content, etc.)
Troubleshooting Common Issues
"This email is already in use"
Your email was previously used for a Facebook account. You need a completely fresh one. Go back to Step 1.
"This phone number is already registered"
The number is still active on another WhatsApp account or API provider. Go back to Step 5 and delete the old account.
"Business verification failed"
Check the reason Meta provided. Common fixes:
Resubmit with clearer documents
Make sure business name matches exactly
Try a different verification method (domain verification instead of documents)
"Your new account was restricted immediately"
This can happen if:
You used an email or phone number associated with a banned account
You connected to the old restricted portfolio instead of the new one
Meta's automated systems flagged similarities between your new and old setup
What to do:
Appeal the restriction through Meta. If unsuccessful, you may need to start over with a completely different email, phone number, and even a different device/IP address.
Final Checklist
Before you consider your fresh start complete, make sure:
✅ New Facebook account is created with a fresh email
✅ New Business Portfolio is created and verified
✅ Two-Factor Authentication is enabled on both
✅ Fresh phone number is not in use anywhere else
✅ Phone number is connected to the new portfolio (not the old one)
✅ WhatsApp Business Profile is set up completely
✅ Display name is requested and approved
✅ You've reviewed Meta's messaging policies
When to Contact Support
If you run into issues at any step, especially around verification or account restrictions, reach out to Spur support. We can help guide you through appeals, troubleshoot connection issues, and review your setup to make sure everything is clean.
Need help? Hit us up on chat or email [email protected]