If Facebook says waiting for approval from another device, it means Facebook wants you to confirm the login from a phone, tablet, or browser it already recognizes. This usually happens when you log in from a new phone, a new browser, a new location, or after clearing cookies.
Most of the time, this is a security check, not a normal app error. Facebook can ask for a security code through SMS, an authentication app, a security key, recovery codes, or approval from a device it already recognizes.
But yes, it gets frustrating when the approval notification never shows up. Maybe your old phone is logged out. Maybe Facebook notifications are off. Maybe your browser is using incognito mode and Facebook cannot remember it. If you’re facing this issue, try the fixes below one by one.
What Does “Waiting for Approval From Another Device” Mean on Facebook?
When Facebook shows this message, it is asking you to approve the login from a device or browser it trusts. That trusted device could be your old phone, your tablet, your laptop, or a browser where your Facebook account is still logged in.
This can happen when Facebook sees the login as new or unusual. A different browser, VPN, private browsing window, new IP address, or new device can all trigger the check. It does not always mean your account is hacked, but you should still be careful. If the login request is not yours, do not approve it.
Why Is Facebook Waiting for Approval From Another Device Not Working?
Here are some main causes why Facebook approval from another device may not work. The problem can be on your phone, browser, account security settings, or even the device Facebook is trying to send the request to. Sometimes the approval is there, but it does not appear as a push notification on your lock screen.
Common reasons include:
- The other device is no longer logged in to Facebook.
- The approval notification did not arrive.
- Facebook notifications are turned off.
- Focus mode, Do Not Disturb, or battery saver blocked the alert.
- You are using incognito mode or private browsing.
- Browser cookies are blocked or deleted.
- VPN or proxy makes your login look unusual.
- SMS code is delayed or not arriving.
- Authenticator app code is not working.
- Recovery codes were never saved.
- Too many failed tries caused a temporary security wait.
- The Facebook app is outdated or stuck.
- Your account may need extra security review.
The main thing to understand is this. Facebook is trying to prove the login is really yours. So if the normal approval method does not work, you need to use another trusted method like SMS, authenticator app, recovery code, or account recovery.
Quick Check: Which Situation Are You In?
Before trying every fix, find your exact situation first. It makes the process easier.
| Your Situation | What It Usually Means | What to Try First |
|---|---|---|
| You have an old logged-in phone | Approval may be waiting there | Open Facebook notifications inside the app |
| You have the old phone but no prompt | Notification may be blocked | Check app notifications and restart phone |
| You lost the old phone | Approval may not be possible | Use SMS, authenticator app, recovery codes, or recovery |
| SMS code is not arriving | Carrier or number issue | Wait, resend carefully, check signal |
| Same device keeps asking again | Browser is not being remembered | Allow cookies, avoid incognito, turn off VPN |
If you still have a logged-in device, start there. If you do not have any device already logged in, skip to the recovery methods instead of waiting on a notification that may never come.
How to Fix Facebook Waiting for Approval From Another Device?
Start with the device where Facebook is already logged in. Then check notifications, backup login methods, browser settings, VPN and recovery options. Do not keep trying random passwords again and again because too many failed attempts can make the security check harder.
1. Check the Device Already Logged Into Facebook
The approval request usually appears on a device where your Facebook account is already active. This could be your old phone, your tablet, or a desktop browser you used before. Keep that device connected to the internet and open the Facebook app or Facebook website there.
Do not only wait for a lock screen notification. Open Facebook itself and look inside the app. Sometimes the login request appears in the notification tab, security area, or as an in-app alert. If you see a request and the location or device looks like yours, approve it. Then go back to the new device and refresh the login page.
2. Open Facebook Notifications Inside the App
A push notification can fail, but the login request may still be inside Facebook. This is why checking only your phone’s notification bar is not enough. Open the logged-in Facebook app and look inside the notifications area.
Try this:
- Open Facebook on the device that is already logged in.
- Tap the notifications tab.
- Look for a login request or security alert.
- Open the alert and approve it if the login is yours.
- Go back to the new device and try again.
Facebook may also ask you to review recent logins when two-factor authentication is on. In some cases, it shows the location and lets you mark the login as yours or not yours.
3. Restart the Facebook App and Your Phone
Sometimes the Facebook app is logged in but not refreshing security alerts properly. Close the app fully, then restart your phone. After the phone starts again, open Facebook and check the notification tab before trying the login again.
This is a small fix, but it can help when the app is frozen in the background. It is more useful if your phone has not been restarted in days, or if Facebook was recently updated. Keep both devices online while testing.
4. Enable Facebook Notifications on iPhone or Android
If Facebook notifications are blocked, the approval alert may never show on your screen. The approval may still exist, but you miss it because the phone is hiding it. This is common on both iPhone and Android.
Check these settings:
- Allow Facebook notifications in your phone settings.
- Check notification settings inside the Facebook app.
- Turn off Focus mode or Do Not Disturb for testing.
- On Android, check notification categories if your phone shows them.
- Turn off battery saver for a short test.
- Allow Facebook to run in the background.
- Reopen Facebook and try the login again.
On Android, battery saver can stop apps from working properly in the background. On iPhone, Focus mode can hide alerts even when notifications are technically enabled. So check both places, not just one.
5. Use SMS Code, Authenticator App, or Recovery Codes Instead
If approval from another device is not working, look for an option like “try another way” or “use another method.” The exact text can change, but Facebook may let you use another two-factor authentication method. Facebook says security codes can come from SMS, an authentication app, a security key, a recognized device approval, or printed recovery codes.
If you saved recovery codes before, one of those codes may help you log in when your phone is not available. Facebook says users with two-factor authentication can get 10 recovery login codes and use one when they cannot use their phone.
Do not guess codes. If you use an authenticator app, open the correct app and make sure you are using the code for Facebook, not another account. If you use SMS, make sure the number shown on Facebook is still your number.
6. If SMS Code Is Not Arriving, Wait and Resend Carefully
SMS codes can be slow. Sometimes the issue is not Facebook, it is your mobile signal or carrier delay. If you keep pressing resend too quickly, you may end up with several old codes and none of them work.
Try this:
- Check signal and turn off airplane mode.
- Make sure your phone number is still active.
- Wait a few minutes before requesting another code.
- Check blocked or spam messages if your phone has that feature.
- Restart the phone if messages are delayed.
- Try another login method if Facebook offers one.
Use the newest code only. If older codes arrive later, ignore them. They may already be expired or replaced by the latest request.
7. Stop Using Incognito Mode or Private Browsing
Incognito mode can cause Facebook to keep asking for approval because the browser does not save normal login data. Facebook says private browsing or incognito mode may stop Facebook from recognizing your device the next time you log in.
Use a normal browser window instead. Then log in again and allow Facebook to remember the browser if it gives that option. This is not about making your account less safe. It just helps Facebook know that the same device is being used again.
8. Allow Cookies and Clear Bad Browser Cache
Cookies help Facebook remember your browser. If cookies are blocked or deleted every time, Facebook may treat the same laptop as a new device again and again. That can create the approval loop where you keep seeing the same message.
Try this order:
- Open Facebook in a normal browser window.
- Allow cookies for Facebook.
- Clear Facebook-related cache if the page keeps looping.
- Restart the browser.
- Try logging in again.
- Save the browser as trusted if Facebook offers it.
You can also try another browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge. If Facebook works in one browser but not another, the issue is probably browser data, extensions, privacy settings, or cookies.
9. Turn Off VPN or Proxy Temporarily
A VPN or proxy can make your login look like it is coming from a new city, country, or IP address. Facebook may then ask for approval again because it sees the login as unusual. This does not mean VPNs are bad, but they can trigger extra checks.
Turn off the VPN only for testing. Then try logging in from a familiar Wi-Fi network or mobile data. If approval works after turning off the VPN, keep that in mind for next time. You can turn your VPN back on after the account is secure, but avoid switching locations too much while logging in.
10. Try a Trusted Browser or Device You Used Before
If Facebook does not trust your new phone or browser, try an older device you used before. This could be your old laptop, home desktop, tablet, or phone. The device should be safe and under your control.
A trusted device is useful because Facebook may recognize its browser, cookies, IP address, or past login session. That does not guarantee success, but it gives you a better chance than using a new browser on a new network. If you recently cleared all browser data, the device may not be recognized like before.
11. Update the Facebook App
An outdated Facebook app can miss login prompts or show security screens badly. Open the App Store on iPhone or Google Play on Android and update the Facebook app. After updating, close the app, reopen it and check the notifications tab again.
This fix is simple, but do not skip it. If your old logged-in device has an outdated app, the approval request may not show correctly. Updating the app can refresh the login and notification system.
12. Reset Your Password If You Suspect Suspicious Login
Do not approve a login request that you do not recognize. If the device, location, or time looks wrong, treat it as suspicious. Someone else may be trying to get into your account.
Reset your Facebook password if you think the login was not yours. After you get back in, review your login activity and remove unknown devices. Facebook also has account security features like login alerts and two-factor authentication to help protect accounts.
Keep the new password strong and unique. Do not reuse the same password from your email, Instagram, TikTok, or other accounts. If one account gets leaked, reused passwords can make the problem bigger.
13. Use Facebook Account Recovery If You Don’t Have the Other Device
If you do not have the other device anymore, approval from that device may not work. Maybe the phone was lost, sold, reset, broken, or logged out. In that case, use the backup methods Facebook gives you.
Try this path:
- Choose “try another way” if it appears.
- Try SMS, email, authenticator app, or recovery code.
- Use the Facebook account recovery flow if no method works.
- Follow any identity confirmation steps Facebook shows.
- Wait if Facebook places a temporary security hold.
Recovery may take time. That is normal with account security checks. Do not trust random websites or people who claim they can unlock your Facebook account quickly. They may be trying to steal your account.
14. Wait if Facebook Shows a Security Hold
Sometimes Facebook may place a temporary hold after too many login attempts or a security check. If Facebook shows a waiting time, follow that message. Repeating the same failed login again and again usually does not help.
During the wait, do not keep changing your password from multiple devices. That can make the account look even more risky. Use one trusted device and one normal network when you try again later.
15. Review Login Activity After You Get Back In
Once you get back into Facebook, do a quick security cleanup. This helps stop the same problem from coming back, and it also protects you if someone else tried to access your account.
Check these things:
- Review where you’re logged in.
- Remove unknown devices.
- Change your password if needed.
- Update your email and phone number.
- Check two-factor authentication methods.
- Save recovery codes.
- Turn on login alerts.
- Remove old devices you no longer use.
Facebook login alerts can notify you when someone tries to log in from an unrecognized device or browser. Facebook says these alerts can be sent through email, and users can also choose SMS alerts.
What If the Approval Notification Never Shows Up?
If the approval notification never appears, open Facebook on the trusted device and check inside the app first. Then check phone notifications, Focus mode, battery saver, app update and internet connection. The alert may be blocked by your phone, not missing from Facebook.
If there is still no prompt, use another method. Try SMS code, authenticator app, recovery code, or account recovery. Waiting on one missing notification for hours usually wastes time.
What If You Don’t Have the Other Device Anymore?
If the old device is gone, approval from it may not be possible. You need to use a backup method instead. Try “try another way,” SMS, authenticator app, saved recovery codes, email verification, or Facebook account recovery.
This can take longer than normal login. Stay patient and keep your details consistent. Use the same email, phone number and device when possible. If Facebook asks for identity confirmation, follow the steps shown on screen.
How to Avoid Facebook Approval Problems Again?
Once you get back in, set up your account so you do not get locked out easily next time. Facebook login approval is easier when your recovery methods are updated and at least one trusted device is still available.
Good habits help:
- Keep your email and phone number updated.
- Save your Facebook recovery codes.
- Add more than one two-factor method if available.
- Keep at least one trusted device logged in.
- Avoid using incognito mode every time.
- Do not switch VPN locations while logging in.
- Turn on login alerts.
- Review logged-in devices sometimes.
- Remove old phones you no longer own.
Also, do not ignore recovery codes. They feel unimportant until the day your phone is lost or the approval prompt does not show. Save them somewhere safe.
Final Thoughts
Facebook waiting for approval from another device not working can happen for many simple reasons. The old device may not be logged in, the notification may be blocked, your browser may not be recognized, or your VPN may be making the login look suspicious.
Start with the device that is already logged in. Then check in-app notifications, phone notification settings, backup login methods, cookies, browser mode and VPN. If you no longer have the old device, use SMS, authenticator app, recovery codes, or Facebook account recovery.
Are you stuck because the approval notification is not showing, or because you don’t have the old device anymore? Comment with that detail so the right fix is easier to find.
