Even though Activision always tries to upgrade their anti-cheat system, it often targets high-skilled players instead of those gaining an unfair advantage. Receiving a shadowban in Call of Duty is frustrating, and we are here to help you resolve the issue.
In this guide, we’ve described how to appeal Call of Duty shadowban, how to find out you’re shadowbanned, and if regular players can get banned while enjoying fast-paced Call of Duty action in Season 2.
But before we dive in, check out the guide explaining Hordepoint mode in Modern Warfare 3 and all Modern Warfare 3 PC system requirements.
How to spot Call of Duty shadowban
When a player is shadowbanned, the best indicator to determine is high ping and long wait when attempting to find the match. Matchmaking tries to put shadowbanned players into special lobbies full of other suspected cheaters, significantly affecting your gaming experience. Waiting time in the lobby might reach even 20 minutes while being shadowbanned.
Another option to check if you’re shadowbanned is to visit the Activision ban appeal webpage. If it says that your account is under review, you're shadowbanned. But don't lose hope! If you haven’t been cheating, the shadowban will be revoked.
Can you appeal shadowban in Call of Duty?
Unfortunately, temporary bans and shadowbans cannot be appealed in Call of Duty.
When a suspected player gets shadowbanned, waiting is the only option. In most cases, shadowban will be removed in 5 to 14 days, while some rare cases take longer than two weeks. It depends on how long it takes Activision to investigate the issue and review your account.
Some players believe appealing shadowban can make the review quicker. It isn't confirmed by Activision, but you can try your luck with appealing a shadowban.
How to appeal shadowban on Call of Duty
To make the review process go fast, follow the instructions below to appeal a ban on Call of Duty:
- Head to the Activision ban appeal website
- Log into your Activision account
- Press the button Continue > Agree and Continue
- Follow onscreen instructions to appeal a shadowban
If it says “Not eligible for appeal,” it means Activision did not detect an active ban on your account.
Can you get shadowbanned in Call of Duty?
As a regular, non-cheating player, you can get shadowbanned in Call of Duty. Some of the best Modern Warfare players have been shadowbanned, proving it might happen with casual players.
New players with high KD are at the highest risk of being shadowbanned, while old accounts are less likely to get banned.
- Don’t annoy other players off
- Play on an account that’s at least three months old
- Don't argue with players in voice chat
That's all the info we have on appealing shadowban in Call of Duty. For more guides on the new season, you can go ahead and check out MW3 Season 2 game modes and MW3 Season 2 aftermarket parts list.