Pokémon Go It's one of the most popular mobile games and has one of the most active player communities in the world. Its innovative augmented reality system brought Pokémon catching to the streets and parks, but at the same time, it's forced Niantic, the developer, to establish strict rules to ensure a fair and balanced gaming experience.
If you have ever felt the frustration of find yourself banned in Pokémon Go When you are most hooked on the game, you are not the only one. bans They are a reality that thousands of players face, whether due to lack of knowledge of the rules, technical errors, or unauthorized behavior. In this comprehensive guide, we teach you All the reasons why you can be banned in Pokémon Go, how the penalty system works, the different types of bans, and how to avoid being permanently banned from the game. We'll also cover what to do if you think your ban was unfair or accidental. If you want to protect your account and continue enjoying Pokémon Go, here's all the updated and detailed information.
Why does Niantic ban accounts in Pokémon Go?
The main reason why Niantic bans accounts in Pokémon Go is the protection of the integrity of the game. Its goal is to maintain a safe, balanced, and fun community where all players compete on a level playing field. To achieve this, Niantic closely monitors any type of cheating, manipulation, or abuse of features within the app, and penalizes those who violate its Terms of Service y fair play policy.
Cheating is considered any behavior that gives you an unfair advantage: from Third-party apps, bots, hacks, modifying GPS location, or using multiple accounts, to account selling and exploiting bugs or system glitches. Let's take a detailed look at all the recognized reasons you can get banned.
Reasons why you can be banned in Pokémon Go
- Modify GPS location (Spoofing)
- Spoofing involves falsifying your device's location to trick the game and appear in different locations than where you actually are. It is one of the main reasons for sanctions and It can lead to anything from temporary softbans to permanent bans. from account.
- This can be done through apps, third-party software, or emulators. Niantic has both automatic and manual tools to detect anomalous movement patterns, sudden jumps in location, and the use of impossible coordinates.
- Consequences: : Losing access to capture functions and PokéStops temporarily, exclusion from events, shadowbans that prevent you from seeing rare Pokémon or permanent shadowbans.
- Using modified applications, bots or unofficial software
- Any app that alters the original behavior of Pokémon Go—whether to automate Pokémon capture, manage accounts, scan IVs internally, or add features not officially available—is strictly prohibited.
- The use of bots (programs that play automatically for you) allows you to obtain resources, experience and Pokémon effortlessly and generates an unfair advantage.
- Niantic detects most of these apps for unauthorized server access and data manipulation..
- allowed apps: Only third-party apps that don't require direct account access and operate via overlay or screen reading are generally tolerated, but there is a risk of penalty if their functionality changes.
- Multi-accounts or playing with more than one account
- In Pokémon Go, Only one account per player is allowedCreating, using, or switching between multiple accounts to catch the same Pokémon, multiply rewards, or participate in raids multiple times is a direct violation.
- The system can detect regular use of multiple accounts from the same device or suspicious gaming patterns.
- Sharing or exchanging accounts
- Logging into other players' devices with your account, lending your account to friends, or exchanging entire accounts with other users is prohibited. This type of behavior can be detected by sudden changes in geographic location or atypical login patterns.
- Selling accounts
- Trading, selling, or buying accounts with advanced progress or rare Pokémon is a serious violation. These transactions often leave traces on forums, websites, and social media, making them easy for Niantic to detect.
- Exceeding the limits of game activity
- Pokémon Go limits the number of Pokémon you can catch and PokéStops you can spin daily (e.g., catching more than 1200 Pokémon in 24 hours and more than 7000 in a week). Exceeding these limits, which is common with bots or shared accounts, results in a automatic softban which prevents new captures or spins for several hours.
- Access or manipulation of the game backend
- Unauthorized access to Niantic's infrastructure, data manipulation, or exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities is also grounds for immediate sanction.
- Perform impossible or non-human movements
- Traveling at speeds incompatible with walking (for example, moving from one country to another in minutes, or traveling long distances at 200 km/h) can be considered cheating. This is detected by the movement bubble system and can result in immediate softbans.
- Using unauthorized “spoofing” devices or fly methods
- Opting for fake GPS or fly-by-night tools, while popular, carries increasing risks of detection and penalties, as Niantic constantly improves its security systems.
Types of bans and penalties in Pokémon Go
The system Niantic's sanctions are progressive and seeks to provide opportunities to correct behavior before applying a permanent ban. The most common types of bans are:
- soft ban
- Prevents catching Pokémon and spinning PokéStops for a limited time (can range from a few seconds to 4 hours), usually due to suspicious movement, location hopping, or exceeding daily limits.
- Pokémon always run away and PokéStops don't offer rewards.
- How to solve it: Just wait the appropriate amount of time and don't reoffend. Switching accounts, reinstalling the app, or using tricks to circumvent the ban is often ineffective and can make the situation worse.
- shadow ban
- The player is prevented from seeing rare Pokémon on the map and only common Pokémon appear, although they can still spin PokéStops and hatch Eggs.
- It is usually applied by using third-party software (internal IV checkers, bots, etc.) or less serious cheating.
- Three-Strike Policy
- First warning: Warning
- The player receives a warning in the app for cheating detection.
- Special features may be limited: no longer seeing rare Pokémon, no longer receiving EX Raid Passes, no trading or gift sending, exclusion from routes and PokéStop displays.
- Approximate duration: 7 days.
- Second warning: Temporary suspension
- Complete inability to access the Pokémon Go account for about 30 days.
- When the suspension ends, the account is reinstated but is under additional monitoring.
- Third warning: Permanent ban
- After repeated violations, the account is permanently blocked and all progress and content (Pokémon, items, achievements, etc.) is lost.
- This decision is almost irreversible, although Niantic offers the possibility of appealing through a web form.
- First warning: Warning
- There are cases where honest players are penalized for technical reasons: rooted phones, synchronization issues, software errors, or detection of unintentional suspicious patterns.
- In these cases, it is recommended from the official Niantic Help Center.
What should I do if I've been banned in Pokémon Go?
- For softban and shadowban: Wait the sanction period without reoffending. If the ban persists after several hours, restart the app or device, but do not create new accounts or use non-permitted methods to bypass it.
- Temporary or permanent ban: If you have seriously violated the rules and receive a blocking message, follow the app's instructionsYou can attempt to appeal by accessing and selecting the "Annulment Appeal" category. Only cases where the sanction was clearly a mistake are reconsidered.
- Request review If you have reasonable grounds to believe that your penalty is unfair (technical errors, misdetected cheating, second-hand phones, problematic updates, etc.).
How long do bans last in Pokémon Go?
- Softban: From seconds to 4 hours, generally associated with rapid movement, location jumps or exceeding daily limits.
- Shadowban: It usually lasts 7 days, during which time no rare Pokémon appear.
- First warning: Approximately 7 days, with restrictions on gameplay experience.
- Second notice: 30-day suspension of account access.
- Permanent ban: It is indefinite; it is only lifted in exceptional cases after review by Niantic.
How to avoid being banned in Pokémon Go?
- Always download the official version of Pokémon Go from legal app stores (Google Play Store, App Store).
- Do not use modified applications, scripts, bots or spoofers.
- Maintain a sporting and honest conduct: Do not share your account, do not sell or buy progress, and do not attempt to exploit bugs or glitches in the game.
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- Avoid suspicious movements (traveling at impossible speeds, switching between countries in minutes, etc.).
- Don't exceed the daily PokéStop capture and spin limits.
Frequently asked questions and common questions about bans in Pokémon Go
- Does deleting and reinstalling the app lift the ban? No. The ban is associated with the account, not the app or device.
- Can I appeal any type of ban? Only permanent bans deemed erroneous are subject to appeal.
- How does Niantic detect cheating? It uses detection algorithms, analysis of unusual game patterns, IP and location changes, and reports from other players.
- Can I play with rooted phones? This is not recommended, as some modified devices may be detected as unsafe or suspicious.
What to do if you want to unban your account?
