Account Has Been Limited
PayPal Software
Severity: ModerateWhat Does This Error Mean?
PayPal 'Your account has been limited' (sometimes 'Account temporarily limited') means PayPal placed restrictions on what you can do — usually you can still receive money, but sending, withdrawing, or making payments is paused.
Limitations come from PayPal's risk system noticing something unusual: a sudden change in volume, a new login from another country, a chargeback, or paperwork they need.
The fix is to open the Resolution Center and complete whatever PayPal is asking for.
Affected Models
- PayPal personal accounts
- PayPal business accounts
- PayPal accounts used for marketplace selling (eBay, Etsy)
- Cross-border PayPal accounts
Common Causes
- Sudden spike in transaction volume that triggered fraud review
- Login from a new country PayPal hasn't seen on this account
- A buyer filed a chargeback that you haven't responded to
- PayPal wants identity documents (driver's licence, utility bill)
- Mismatch between the linked bank account and account name
- Selling restricted goods (firearms, alcohol, certain digital goods)
How to Fix It
-
Open the Resolution Center.
Sign in to paypal.com.
Click the bell icon top-right or scroll to Resolution Center on the dashboard.
You'll see a list of items PayPal needs from you, each with 'Resolve' button.
Don't ignore these — limitations don't lift on their own. -
Complete each requested step.
Common asks: upload a photo ID, confirm your address with a utility bill, provide a tracking number for a recent shipment, or respond to a buyer's claim.
Click Resolve on each item and follow the form.
Most uploads accept JPG and PDF; max 5 MB each. -
Wait for PayPal review.
After you submit documents, PayPal review takes 1-3 business days for routine asks.
Identity verification can take up to 7 days.
Don't keep sending the same documents — that resets the queue and slows things down.
You'll get an email when the limitation lifts. -
Read the limitation reason carefully.
Each limitation has a specific reason listed in the Resolution Center.
The fix depends on which reason — providing tracking for a sale is different from confirming your address.
If the reason is 'we noticed activity that's unusual', PayPal usually wants ID verification. -
Call PayPal if the case is urgent.
If you have funds locked in a limited account that you need, call PayPal directly — the number is in the Help section after sign-in.
Phone agents can sometimes accelerate identity review.
Be patient — wait times for the limitations team can be 30-60 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my money?
Almost never.
Limited accounts retain the funds — they just freeze withdrawals and outgoing payments.
Once the limitation lifts, full access returns.
The exception is permanent account closure, which only happens after serious policy violations (selling banned items, repeat fraud).
For routine limitations, your money is safe.