How Do I Restore My PayPal Account?

There may be a number of reasons you might need to restore your account, from resetting your email or password to resolving account limitations, there are a few steps to take to get your account back. PayPal makes such a task easier with its help section, chat, online community and resolution center but be wary of emails claiming to be from PayPal when there aren't any issues located in the Resolution Center.

PayPal is an online payment processer that was established in 1998. They not only serve to process payments for vendors and merchants, but they also support online money transfers. But with most online services, you have to have an account complete with a good contact email address and a secure password. Plus, there'll be times that your account access is limited, so there are multiple reasons you'll need to restore your account. What do you do if you forget your password or email address you used? Don't panic, there are a few steps to take and you'll be back in your PayPal account. Just view and follow the ones that apply to your situation to get back to your business.

You Forgot the Email Address You Used

  1. Go to PayPal.com and click on the log in button on the top right-hand corner.
  2. Enter either your mobile number or the email address you use the most.
  3. Below the password field, there's a link that states Having Trouble Logging on? Click on it.
  4. You should see a page asking you if you need help with your password, along with the email address you entered already in the email field. Below this is a link that states Forgot Your Email?
  5. Clicking on this will prompt you to enter up to three of the email addresses you use the most. PayPal will do a search to try to find a match. There's also a link in case you remembered your email.
  6. Follow the prompts when you find a match. If you don't find one, you may need to call PayPal customer service here, or you can also chat with them or use the community forums for assistance.

You Need to Reset Your Password

  1. Go to PayPal.com and click on the log in button, or go here https://www.paypal.com/authflow/password-recovery/
  2. Enter your email address and then follow the prompts to receive a code so PayPal can confirm your identity and then you can reset your password. Please note that you have more than one method to receive the code, email, call, text message or even Facebook Messenger.
  3. PayPal suggests that when creating your new password, to use between 8 and 20 characters and at least one symbol.

Account Limitations

PayPal states that there may be many reasons an account must be limited which are not limited to inactivity, a need for identity verification, or unauthorized use of your account. These limitations naturally impact your ability to send and withdraw funds. Luckily, PayPal makes it easier to handle and resolve account limitations.

  1. Go to the Resolution Center at https://www.paypal.com/disputes/, please note you may be promoted to log in to your account.
  2. Look for the section labeled Go to Account Limitations and then follow the steps to remove the limitations to your account.
  3. Please note that there are phishing schemes pretending to be PayPal, so if you receive an email your account is limited but there is nothing when you log in, forward the email to spoof@paypal.com and they will investigate it for you.

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Christian has been writing about long hold times and customer service call center experiences since 2010. He's been featured in Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal and the Boston Globe.
How Do I Restore My PayPal Account?

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PayPal

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