Getting banned from Call of Duty can be frustrating, especially if you believe it was a mistake. Be it a permanent ban, a shadow ban, or a temporary suspension, it’s awful for sure.
Fortunately, the developers allow banned players to request a reversal. If you just got hit by the ban hammer, here’s how you can make an Activision ban appeal.
Step-by-step guide on how to submit an Activision ban appeal
Activision implements a zero-tolerance policy against cheating, using unauthorized software, offensive behavior, and other forms of misconduct in CoD, but they also offer a process for players to appeal bans. If you feel you were unreasonably banned, here’s how you can appeal:
- Go to Activision Support’s ban appeal web page and log in to your account.
- Select Continue at the bottom of the page to submit a support ticket.
- When drafting your appeal, be sure to include details like when the ban happened, why you think it’s a mistake, and anything else that might help back up your case, like screenshots, videos, or any other proof you’ve got, while maintaining a polite tone.
- Click Submit at the bottom of the form once you’re done writing your appeal.
After submitting your appeal, all you can really do is wait. If your ban happened because of a technical issue or even a false report, there’s a decent chance you could get it overturned, especially if you can clearly explain what went wrong.
How to know if you’re shadow-banned in CoD
While you may not be explicitly banned, there’s a stealth punishment called a shadow ban that limits your gaming experience either in Black Ops 6 or Warzone. Shadow bans usually kick in when Activision flags your account for suspicious activity, whether it’s from a genuine mistake, technical glitch, or behavior that might’ve pushed the limits of their Code of Conduct—even if you didn’t mean to.
You’ll know you’ve been hit with a shadow ban when you experience much longer wait times and struggle to find games. Another indication is being placed on servers outside your region, resulting in higher ping and lag.
Activision makes it clear that shadow bans and temporary bans cannot be appealed, so the best you can do is just wait it out. These bans typically last anywhere from one to two weeks, and if no further sketchy behavior is detected, your account should return to normal automatically.
To prevent getting shadow-banned again in the future, just avoid using any unauthorized third-party software and keep a respectful and clean behavior in the game. It’s not that hard, right?