Understanding & Preventing Pokémon GO Soft Bans - Comprehensive Guide

Penny Warren Published on July 25, 2024GPS Location3-min reading

What do Soft Bans in Pokémon GO Entail, and how can you prevent them? It is essential to understand the causes, reasons, and implications of a soft ban to have a good gaming experience. This write-up touches on various aspects, such as what results in soft banning and how to avoid and remove it.

Part 1. Everything about Pokemon Go Soft Ban

A soft ban in Pokémon GO happens when Niantic temporarily penalizes people for using fake GPS, sharing accounts and playing while driving. This implies that you can't catch any Pokemon at such times as they would run away from you; it is impossible to win gym battles and receive items from PokéStops. The severity of a soft ban ranges from a few minutes to a maximum of two hours, based on the nature of the offense. Such penalties are best avoided through strict adherence to the game rules. Below are actions liable to lead to soft bans:

Actions Leading to a Pokémon GO Soft Ban:

1. GPS Spoofing: Faking one's location using third-party applications.

2. Playing While Driving: When gamers get involved in play while moving at high speeds, especially as passengers in vehicles.

3. Account Sharing: Logging into different devices on separate locations with the same account on Pokémon GO.

4. Excessive Speed: Moving above the specified speed limit for catching Pokémon or interacting with Pokéstops.

5. PokeStop Map Abusing: Spinning Pokéstops repeatedly in different physical locations.

6. Using Gotcha Devices: Making use of automated devices for grabbing and spinning Pokéstops.

Effects of a Soft Ban:

Soft bans lead to these effects:

• It does not matter what type of ball you use or even berries; it will simply escape.

• You are prompted to spin a Pokéstop, but no useful items, such as potions, balls or revive, are given.

• You may fight in the gym, but winning is out of the question, meaning there are no rewards or being on top of other gyms.

• There is no way you can place your Pokemon at gyms as well as give berries to defenders.

Soft Ban Duration:

Ban Length and Offense Categories:

• Minor Infractions: Such acts include playing while riding in a car. These are often just small errors that can be temporarily banned for short durations between minutes to hours. These bans are made to be temporary, not to ruin the game experience but just enough to discourage unsafe or idle play.

• Major Offenses: Players using GPS spoofing or Pokemon Go cheats may receive more severe soft bans with stricter restrictions. The game cannot be played effectively during this period, which lasts up to 120 minutes.

Determining When a Soft Ban is Over:

• Spin a Pokéstop: Another simple way you can learn whether your ban has been lifted is by spinning any nearby Pokéstop. This means that the ban has ended, and you can resume playing usually if items come out of the stop, and you get rewards for it.

• Try to catch a Pokémon: Also known as an attempted catch, trying to catch another Pokémon will help you find out if your soft ban is gone. Suppose the Pokémon does not run away immediately after being caught in a ball. That indicates that the soft ban has been lifted, and there are no limitations on catching other Pokémon again like before.

Part 2. How to Remove 7 Day Ban in Pokemon Go

A 7-day ban is usually a more serious punishment by repeating an offense or when there has been a significant breach of Niantic's rules. Unlike a soft ban, this type gives an all-round restriction to the game access.

Ways to Remove a 7-Day Ban:

1. Wait It Out: The primary way to lift the 7-day ban is to wait out the period itself. Ensure you follow all gaming rules during this time so as not to incur any additional penalties.

2. Talk to Niantic Helpdesk: If you feel like being banned was actually an error in judgment on their part, you can approach Niantic's Help Center for further details on how to appeal your decision. Offer any necessary information you have at hand as evidence.

3. Creating a New Account:

How to Prevent Future Bans:

To avoid future bans, consider these:

• Play Fairly: Avoid using third-party apps or violating Niantic's terms of service.

• Be Careful with Location Spoofers: If you opt for a location spoofer, it must come with some security features, such as Tenorshare iAnyGo and LocaChange, which have cooldown periods against soft bans, respectively.

• Be Watchful of Your Speed: Never play while driving or moving fast.

Part 3. How to Spoof in Pokemon Go Without Getting Banned

Spoofing your location in Pokémon Go can be risky, but using the right tools and techniques can help you avoid getting banned. One such tool is the imyPass iLocaGo. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to use this tool effectively and safely. This tool is designed to protect your privacy and enhance your experience in location-based games like Pokémon Go by enabling you to virtually travel anywhere without physically moving.

Detailed Procedure:

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pokémon GO bans can greatly affect your game. You can stay away from soft bans by studying why they are soft bans. Use imyPass iLocaGo cautiously for safe location spoofing and fair play to keep your account safe.