We understand that having your account deactivated can be frustrating. At OpenAI, we prioritize the safety, integrity, and responsible use of our services. Account bans occur when there are violations of our Usage Policies or Terms of Service. This article explains the possible reasons for account deactivations and how you can address them.
Why Was My Account Deactivated?
Your account may have been deactivated for one or more of the following reasons:
1. Violation of Usage Policies
We prohibit certain uses of our services to promote responsible AI usage. Common violations include:
Nudity and sexual content
Child exploitation
Violence and self-harm
Deceptive behavior and scams
Hate, harassment, and spam
Other inappropriate or illegal content
Other intellectual property
For more details, please refer to our Usage Policies.
2. Breach of Terms of Service
Account deactivations can result from activities that violate our Terms of Service, such as:
Circumventing security or access restrictions.
Sharing your account or API keys inappropriately.
Using our services in ways that could cause harm to others or disrupt service integrity.
3. Security Concerns or Unauthorized Access
If we detect suspicious activity suggesting that your account was compromised, we may temporarily suspend it to protect you and prevent misuse. In this case, we recommend you:
4. Repeated Violations Despite Warnings
We provide warnings for certain policy violations to allow users the opportunity to correct their usage. Failure to address these warnings within the specified time may result in a deactivation.
Can I Appeal the Deactivation?
If you believe your account was deactivated in error, please reply back to the original notification email you received. This will direct your appeal to trustandsafety@openai.com, which is a dedicated channel monitored by the team best equipped to assist you. If you did not receive an email notification but have lost access to your account, you can also reach out to trustandsafety@openai.com to get support.
Please include the following details:
User ID and Org ID that you’re filing an appeal for
Any relevant context or details regarding your usage.
Date range of suspected compromise, if relevant
Card details if you noticed any unauthorized charges due to unrecognized usage
Date(s) of the charge(s)
Amount(s) of the charge(s)
Last 4 Digits of the card charged
Brand of the Card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
Name of the issuing bank
Billing Zip Code
Information about steps you’ve taken to resolve any issues.
Our team will review your request and respond as promptly as possible.
How to Prevent Future Deactivations
To avoid future deactivations, we recommend:
Reviewing and adhering to our Usage Policies and Terms of Service.
Using our Moderation endpoint to filter potentially violating content.
Keeping your account credentials and API keys secure.
Need More Help?
If you still have questions, visit our Help Center to explore resources or connect with our support team. We appreciate your commitment to using OpenAI’s services responsibly.