Solving Account Restrictions to Start Your Campaigns

If you try to launch a new campaign and get an error message that says:

"Solve account restrictions prior to launch campaigns"

Here's what it means & how to fix it:

This message means Meta has flagged the ad account (not the personal profile) with one or more restrictions that must be resolved before any campaigns can run. Here are the most common causes and their fixes:

1. Payment Method Issue (Most Common)

Cause: The billing method on file is declined, expired, or not verified.

Fix:

Go to Meta Business Suite → Settings → Billing & Payments
Remove the old card and add a new, valid payment method
Make sure the billing address matches the card exactly

2. Ad Account Identity Verification Required

Cause: Meta is requiring the account owner to verify their identity (government ID).

Fix:

Go to Meta Business Suite → Settings → Security Center
Look for a banner that says "Verify Your Identity"
Upload a government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport)
This can take 24–48 hours to process

3. Ad Account Was Flagged or Restricted for Policy Violations

Cause: A previous ad was disapproved and triggered an account-level flag (common with real estate ads — Meta's Special Ad Category rules apply).

Fix:

Go to Ads Manager → Account Quality
Review any flagged ads or policy violations
Submit a Request Review for the account restriction
Critical for Real Estate: When creating any new campaign, you MUST select "Special Ad Category: Housing". Failure to do so is the #1 reason real estate ad accounts get restricted

4. Business Verification Not Completed

Cause: Meta requires the Business Manager to be verified before scaling ad spend.

Fix:

Go to Meta Business Suite → Settings → Business Info
Click "Start Verification"
Submit business documents (EIN letter, utility bill, or business license)

5. Two-Factor Authentication Not Enabled

Cause: Meta now requires 2FA on accounts running ads.

Fix:

Go to Facebook Personal Profile → Settings → Security and Login
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Then return to the ad account and try again

Quick Checklist for Your Facebook Account

Step	Action	Where
1	Check Account Quality for flags	Ads Manager → Account Quality
2	Verify payment method is valid	Business Suite → Billing
3	Enable 2FA on the personal profile	FB Profile → Security Settings
4	Complete Business Verification	Business Suite → Business Info
5	Verify identity if prompted	Business Suite → Security Center
6	Always select "Special Ad Category: Housing"	When creating the campaign

The #1 tip for real estate investors specifically: Always set the campaign's Special Ad Category to "Housing" from the very first step. This unlocks the correct targeting options and keeps the account compliant with Meta's Fair Housing policies. Skipping this is what gets most REI ad accounts restricted or shut down.