How Long is a Soft Ban in Pokémon GO?
A soft ban in Pokémon GO typically lasts for 12 hours. During this period, your gameplay is significantly restricted. Any wild Pokémon you encounter will flee when you try to catch them, and you won’t be able to collect items from PokéStops. It’s a frustrating experience, designed to discourage behaviors that violate the game’s Terms of Service.
Understanding Soft Bans in Pokémon GO
A soft ban isn’t a formal strike against your account, but it’s a warning sign that Niantic’s systems have detected unusual activity. It is a temporary measure intended to deter cheating and maintain the integrity of the game. Let’s delve deeper into what causes these soft bans and how to deal with them.
Causes of Soft Bans
The most common reasons for receiving a soft ban include:
- GPS Spoofing: This involves using third-party apps or methods to alter your device’s GPS location, allowing you to “travel” to different locations without physically moving.
- Traveling Too Fast: If the game detects that you’re moving at speeds exceeding normal walking or driving, such as flying or teleporting, you may get a soft ban.
- Account Sharing: Logging into the same account from vastly different geographical locations within a short period can trigger a soft ban.
Effects of a Soft Ban
During a soft ban, you will experience the following:
- Pokémon Fleeing: Any wild Pokémon you encounter will instantly flee when you attempt to catch them, regardless of the CP or rarity.
- PokéStop Restrictions: You won’t be able to collect items from PokéStops. Spinning the PokéStop will yield no rewards.
How to Remove a Soft Ban
While waiting out the 12-hour duration is the most reliable method, some workarounds may help:
- Spinning a PokéStop Repeatedly: Visit a PokéStop and spin it around 40 times, even though you won’t receive any items. This might help to reset your account’s status.
- Uninstalling and Reinstalling the App: Deleting and reinstalling Pokémon GO on your smartphone and then logging back into your account can sometimes remove the soft ban.
Avoiding Soft Bans
Prevention is always better than cure. Here’s how to avoid soft bans in Pokémon GO:
- Do Not Spoof: Refrain from using GPS spoofing apps or any other methods to manipulate your location.
- Realistic Travel Speeds: When playing while traveling, ensure that your speed is within reasonable limits (e.g., walking, biking, or driving).
- Avoid Account Sharing: Keep your account details secure and avoid sharing them with others.
- Cool Down Periods: If you travel long distances (even legitimately), allow a reasonable “cool down” period before interacting with PokéStops or catching Pokémon in the new location. The further the distance, the longer the cool down period should be.
Long-Term Bans and Account Penalties
While soft bans are temporary inconveniences, repeated violations of Niantic’s Terms of Service can lead to more severe penalties.
Warning Strikes
Niantic employs a three-strike policy:
- First Strike (Warning): You receive a warning message indicating that cheating has been detected on your account. You may not encounter rare Pokémon in the wild, and they won’t appear on the nearby tracker.
- Second Strike (7-Day Suspension): Your account is suspended for approximately 7 days. After this period, your gameplay experience will be restored.
- Third Strike (Permanent Ban): Your account is permanently banned. You will lose access to all your progress, items, and Pokémon.
Appealing a Ban
If you believe your account was unfairly banned, you can appeal the decision through Niantic’s support portal. You’ll need to fill out a form explaining your situation and providing any relevant evidence that supports your case. However, Niantic has stated they have a “high level of confidence in their decisions and very few terminations are ever overturned.”
Why Niantic Implements Bans
Niantic’s efforts to combat cheating are crucial for maintaining fair gameplay and a positive experience for all players. Spoofing and other forms of cheating can disrupt the game’s economy, undermine the competitive aspect of gyms and raids, and create an uneven playing field.
By implementing soft bans and stricter penalties, Niantic aims to deter these activities and preserve the integrity of Pokémon GO. It aligns with the principles promoted by organizations like the Games Learning Society, which focuses on ethical and responsible gaming practices. Learn more about the responsible gaming at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many soft bans can you get on Pokémon GO?
On average, it takes about 3 soft bans to permanently ban your account; however, multiple soft bans themselves do not lead to a 1st strike. The real risk is the activity that causes the soft bans eventually leading to detection of more serious violations like GPS spoofing.
2. How do you get rid of a 30-day ban in Pokémon GO?
There is no 30-day ban. If you’ve been suspended for breaking the Niantic Terms of Service (ToS), contact their support team using the ban appeal form. Select “Ban Appeal” from the issue type dropdown.
3. Why do people get soft banned in Pokémon GO?
GPS Spoofing, traveling too fast, or sharing accounts are the primary reasons for getting soft banned.
4. Does Niantic ban spoofers?
Yes, due to the extensive use of spoofing apps, users can be banned from the game.
5. Can Pokémon GO detect spoofers?
Yes, Pokémon Go can detect spoofing apps, and has a “blacklisted app” system, which leads to a red warning until you uninstall the spoofing app.
6. How do I get rid of a soft ban?
Try spinning a PokéStop repeatedly (around 40 times) or uninstall and reinstall Pokémon GO on your smartphone, and sign back into your banned account.
7. How do you spoof without getting soft banned?
Using a VPN, proxy server, or Tor Browser, you can bypass the IP ban and regain access to the website. However, it is important to use these tools responsibly and to be aware of the potential risks involved.
8. Can I still play Pokémon GO if I’m banned for 7 days?
No, a 7-day ban means your account is suspended, and you cannot access the game during that period.
9. Does Niantic respond to ban appeals?
Yes, Niantic will respond to your appeal after a complete investigation of your account.
10. How do you know if you are permanently banned on Pokémon GO?
You will not be able to authenticate your login, and even if you are logged in, Pokémon, PokéStops, and gyms will not appear. You will also get an email from Niantic.
11. Can you get banned for having 2 Pokémon GO accounts?
Niantic’s Terms of Service state one account per person, but enforcement is difficult. Having multiple accounts technically violates the ToS.
12. Can you trade on a soft ban in Pokémon GO?
Yes, there is no soft-ban cooldown for trading.
13. How illegal is spoofing?
Under the Truth in Caller ID Act, FCC rules prohibit anyone from transmitting misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongly obtain anything of value. Illegal spoofing can face penalties of up to $10,000 for each violation.
14. How does Niantic detect spoofing in 2023?
Niantic can compare the distances between your recent reported positions and flag up impossible jumps. Altitude is another factor they can consider.
15. How do you teleport in Pokémon GO without getting banned?
Toggle off Airplane Mode before teleporting. Close the Pokémon Go app, turn on/off Airplane mode on your device.