Accounts can sometimes be placed on hold on Prolific, meaning you can't participate in studies. Here's why this happens, what it means for your money, and how to appeal.
How do I know if my account is on hold?
A banner will appear on your dashboard to notify you if your account has been placed on hold. You can also check this status on your Account page.
Why would my account be on hold?
Accounts are typically placed on hold when our automated systems flag inconsistencies in your account information, or when there's a violation of our Participant Terms & Conditions. Common examples include:
Being physically located in a different country from the one listed on your account
Using a VPN or similar tool while taking a study
Having a PayPal account that isn't from your country of residence
Using a PayPal account already linked to another Prolific account
Accidentally entering an incorrect date of birth that suggests you're under 18
Failing an identity check
Receiving a high number of rejected study submissions
Creating multiple accounts or sharing an account with someone else
Providing false information about your identity, location, or experience
Completing studies using LLMs or other automation, unless explicitly permitted
Selling or buying Prolific accounts
Manipulating the platform, tools, or instructions to gain an unfair advantage or inflate pay
Account activity that does not meet our platform terms
This list isn't exhaustive, and the specific reason your account was placed on hold may not appear here.
We do not provide specific details about why an account was placed on hold, but if you believe this action was made in error, you can appeal this decision.
Why can't you tell me the specific reason?
We know this is frustrating. We don't share the specific checks or criteria involved because doing so could help people find ways around the systems that protect data quality and prevent fraud on the platform, which would compromise things for everyone. This isn't personal, it's the same policy for every account.
What happens to my money if my account is on hold?
You can still cash out any money already in your account, even if the amount is below the usual £6/$6 minimum. If you have studies still awaiting review, you'll be able to cash out those rewards too, once the researcher approves them.
How can I avoid getting my account put on hold?
A few things that help:
Read the study description carefully, including the estimated completion time, and pace yourself accordingly
Engage fully with each question, rather than rushing through
Pay attention to attention checks, they're there to confirm you're reading instructions properly
If something goes wrong, like a technical issue or you realize you don't have time, return the study instead of abandoning it. Returning doesn't affect your Prolific score or your ability to take more studies
Know that researchers can't reject you solely for a missing or incorrect completion code (NOCODE), see Why has my submission been rejected? for more
How can I remove the hold status on my account?
To submit an appeal, click the link below:
This will open our support chatbot, select "I want to submit an appeal."
Please make sure everything in your appeal is accurate and honest. Incomplete or misleading information may delay the review or affect the outcome.
If you've already received an on-hold email, replying directly to that email is the most effective way to raise your case, since it's tied to your specific account history.
Please note: Submitting an appeal doesn't guarantee your account will be reinstated. It ensures your case is reviewed thoroughly and fairly.
How long will my appeal take?
Once submitted, your appeal and account history will be reviewed by a member of our team. Given the complexity of these reviews, it can take up to 4 weeks to get a decision, sometimes longer. We can't guarantee an exact timeframe.
How will I know the outcome of my appeal?
If we determine your account shouldn't be on hold, we'll remove the hold and reinstate your account.
If we determine the hold was correctly applied, this decision is final, and no further appeals will be considered.
Either way, we'll email you, and you'll also see updates via the chatbot icon in the bottom right of your screen.
You can also read more about data quality, trustworthiness, and account bans on our blog:
Note: For more on our on-hold process, including when an account may be placed on hold, steps to resolve it, and ways to prevent it, see our Participant Escalation Process.