Restoring access to a MAX channel: a step-by-step guide

First, determine the cause of the lost access

Restoring a MAX channel depends on what exactly happened. You may have lost your phone or SIM card, forgotten your login details, deleted your profile, been hacked, or simply lost your channel administrator rights.

Check whether your account opens on another phone, tablet, or computer. If access is still available on at least one device, don't log out of the profile. First, open your account settings and check the list of active sessions, the linked number, and the channel management rights.

If subscribers can see the channel but you can't manage it, that doesn't mean it's been deleted. Most likely, access to the owner's profile has been lost or the list of administrators has been changed. In that case, it's important not to create a new channel in place of the old one: that won't bring back the previous posts, audience, or rights.

Recover access to your MAX account

Try logging in through the official MAX website or app. Use the same phone number that was linked to the profile. Enter the confirmation code only in the official login window and never forward it to anyone.

If the SIM card is lost, first contact your mobile operator to recover the number. Then try logging in to MAX again. A new number by itself won't restore your previous account or the channel rights associated with it.

If the code doesn't arrive, check that the number is correct, the signal quality, and whether you can receive messages. Don't request codes many times in a row: this may temporarily restrict your login. If the problem persists, use the support section available in the app or on the official MAX page.

Once you regain access to your account, check whether the channel you need is displayed and whether the owner or administrator rights are preserved. If the channel doesn't appear, don't change settings blindly — first document the problem and contact support.

What to do if the number is unavailable or the account was hacked

If you've been hacked, don't try to negotiate with the person who gained access to the profile. Don't send them codes, passwords, documents, or money. If the account is still open on your device, end the unknown sessions, change the password if it's used in MAX, and enable additional protection if such a feature is available.

If you can't log in, prepare a request to official support. Include the link or exact name of the channel, the previous number with some digits hidden, the profile name, the approximate date the channel was created, and a description of when access was lost. It helps to attach screenshots of old posts or settings if they show that you managed the channel.

Don't send unnecessary personal data. Provide only what the official support form requests. The response may depend on whether account information has been preserved and whether your connection to the channel can be confirmed. Recovery isn't guaranteed, especially if the profile has been deleted or the rights have already been transferred to another owner.

If another administrator has access to the channel

Ask a current administrator to check the team members list and assign you the role you need. Do this only after you've regained access to your profile and made sure it's protected.

If the channel had a single owner and that account is unavailable, an administrator can't always transfer the rights on their own. In that case, the request to support should come from an available administrator or another person who can confirm the channel's management history.

After recovery, remove unknown members, check the rights of editors and administrators, and review the list of devices that are logged in. You shouldn't assign multiple owners or hand over management to strangers: this will make it harder to confirm rights later on.

Quick summary: what to do, step by step

1. Determine whether you've lost the account, the phone number, or only the channel rights.
2. Try logging in to MAX with your previous number through the official app or website.
3. If the SIM card is unavailable, recover the number from your mobile operator.
4. If you've been hacked, end the unknown sessions and don't share codes with third parties.
5. If you can't regain access, send a request through the official support section.
6. After regaining access, check the administrators, active sessions, and the channel's protection settings.