Activision is among the largest gaming companies in the world, responsible for titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft. But no great game is without the Strict control of the rules, many players are banned or suspended for their Mistakes. When you’re locked out of your account, whether it’s a short suspension or a permanent ban, it’s frustrating.
In this guide, we cover the reasons for Activision bans, the appeals process, and how to maximise the chances of getting your ban reversed. We’ll also explore case studies and answer some common questions.
Typical Reasons for Activision Bans
Activision has strict rules in place to maintain the fairness of the game. If you’re banned, it’s typically for one of these reasons:
Cheating or Using Hacks
The bans are predominantly due to cheating violations. Ricochet, Activision’s anti-cheat system, constantly scans for hacks such as:
Aimbots (auto-aim assistance)
Go to any game with a wallhack (seeing through walls).
ESP (seeing enemy locations)
Illegal advantages gained through modded controllers
Even if you’ve never used cheats, you can face a shadowban (restricted matchmaking) if you find yourself in a lobby where some of your teammates are using hacks.
Using Third-Party Software
Certain external programs conflict with Activision’s security system. Even when they’re not true cheats, they can cause a ban. These include:
VPNs (if you’re using them to bypass region locks)
Overlays (such as performance monitors)
Unofficial game modifications
Boosting and Account Sharing
Sharing your account or paying someone else to boost your rank violates Activision’s terms. If they banged a high-skilled player to log into your account to boost you segmentally or unlock items then your account can get permanently banned.
Using game Bugs and Glitches
Using glitches in the game (such as infinite money or invincibility exploits) can also get you banned. Activision routinely patches these exploits, but it also periodically issues waves of bans.
Toxic Behavior and Harassment
What Activision has a heavy hand against:
Hate speech
Threats
Excessive harassment
Spamming
Infraction reports from other players will result in chat bans, temporary suspensions or permanent bans if violations are not properly addressed.
Chargebacks and Payment Fraud
THEFT — buying from an in-game store, then requesting a chargeback. Filing a dispute against your bank without contacting Activision support can lock your account.
Types of Activision Bans
Not all bans are the same. Here’s a rundown of the various types:
Shadowban
You can still play, but now only suspected cheaters.
Matchmaking takes longer
· Usually lasts 7-14 days
· Is posted when your account is flagged for suspicious activity
Temporary Suspension
· Several days to several weeks
· Awarded for trivial minor violations
· No appeal – just need to outlast it
Permanent Ban
· You have no new messages in your inbox
· Generally for hacking, repeated rule violation, or payment fraud
· Appeals possible, but highest failure rate
Hardware Ban
· Gets your whole device (PC or console) banned
· Occurs when a player gets caught cheating multiple times
· Way to get around it is to play it on a new device
Activision BanAppeal Process: How Does it Work?
You can appeal if you feel you were banned unfairly. Here’s how the process works:
Step 1: Go to the Activision Support Page
Head to Activision’s Ban Appeal Page and sign in to your account.
Step 2: Check Your Ban Status
When you get banned, Activision will inform you if the ban is temporary or permanent. If it’s not, you’ll need to wait. If it’s permanent, you can file an appeal.
Step 3: SUBMIT A TICKET APPEAL
Write a long appeal describing why you think the ban was a mistake. Keep these tips in mind:
Be polite and professional
Stay factual (don’t write long emotional messages)
Justify any potential false positives (e.g. if you were using a VPN)
If you didn’t cheat, don’t confess.
Step 4: Wait for a Response
Activision tends to respond within a few days, yet certain cases can take weeks. If your appeal is rejected, you cannot appeal again.
What You Need to Know Before Trying to Get Unbanned
While Activision has a heavy hand, players have been able to temporarily recover some accounts. Here are some key strategies:
Be Honest but Strategic
If you really did nothing wrong, state this clearly. If you did use minor cheats but wish you hadn’t, some players have had success by coming clean and pledging to play fair.
Provide Supporting Evidence
· If you think you got a false positive, provide evidence. For example:
· Images of in-game activity/screenshots
· VPN Logs (if you are banned due to a VPN)
· Proof of payment (if you are banned due to a chargeback)
· Reach Out to Activision
If your appeal isn’t being answered, try:
· Tweet at Activision Support
· Posting on Activision forums
· Contacting them via their live chat (if they have one)
· Avoid Spamming Appeals
Submitting multiple tickets to Activision will only compound the problem. Write one appeal and be patient.
If You Used Cheats, Play on a New Account
However, if you were caught cheating, your chance of an unban is next to none. In this scenario, you might be better off creating a new account from scratch.
Case Studies: Players Who Were Unbanned
Case 1: The VPN false positive
What happened? One player utilized a VPN with privacy in mind, but was permanently blocked.
How he used this to appeal: He told them he wasn’t using it to cheat, submitted IP logs and asked for a review.
Result: Ban was overturned.
Case Study 2: Charged Back by Mistake
What happened? A $10 microtransaction was accidentally disputed by a player that subsequently led to an account ban.
How to appeal: He reached out to Activision and his bank, repaid the money, and showed proof.
Result: Account restored.
Case Study 3: Unjust Shadowban
What happened? A high-skilled player shadowbanned, falsely reported as a cheater.
Appeal strategy: A ticket was submitted explaining his playstyle and after 14 days, the ban was automatically removed.
Results: No permanent action.