Introduction
Your Seller Central account is your business lifeline. Losing access—or worse, having it compromised—can mean lost sales, a hit to visibility, or worse. This guide walks you through recovering access and locking down your infrastructure so you’re safe going forward.
1) Recovering Access When You’re Locked Out
A) Forgotten Email / Login / 2FA Device
- If you’ve lost access to your email or 2-step device: navigate to Help → Sign-in Issues → Two-Step Verification (2SV) Recovery. Amazon Seller Central+1
- You’ll be asked to submit a government-issued ID scan/photo for verification. Amazon Seller Central+1
- Allow 12-48 hours for processing; once verified, you can regain access and re-enable 2FA. Amazon Seller Central+1
B) Hacked / Email Changed
- If your account email or phone number was changed without your approval, open a case via Seller Support: Help → Contact Us → Account & Login Issues. Amazon Seller Central+1
- Provide business documents, original account details, proof of entitlement, and timeline of changes to support your claim.
- Once access is restored, proactively audit your users, roles, and permissions (remove unknown users).
2) Securing Your Account for the Long Term
- Enable Two-Step Verification (2FA) with backup methods (Authenticator + SMS). Confirm backup devices exist.
- Rotate passwords regularly and avoid shared logins.
- Review and remove unnecessary users from Settings → User Permissions (some accounts show unknown users added after hacks).
- Keep the primary email and owner contact updated; document recovery contacts internally.
- Monitor account health dashboards, unauthorized changes, and login alerts—set internal notifications.
3) Preventing Future Lock-outs & Losses
- Maintain a trusted backup admin user separate from your daily operator.
- Keep a secure list of login credentials, backup device recovery codes, and recovery flows stored offline (e.g., in vault).
- Log and archive changes to critical business details (bank, tax, legal entity) so you can provide proof if needed.
- Educate your team: phishing remains a major access risk; treat every login change request with caution.
Final Thoughts
Recovery isn’t just about getting back in—it’s about staying in control. By acting fast when you’re locked out, submitting the right docs, and locking down your account structure, you can prevent major disruptions. Treat your seller account like the business asset it truly is—and protect it accordingly.
