Why 60,000 BGMI Accounts Got 10-Year Bans — and How to Keep Yours Safe
On 21 September, KRAFTON handed out 10-year suspensions to about 60,000 BGMI accounts. Here is what it said, and how to make sure yours is never one of them.
What happened
In its September anti-cheat report (published 23 September 2026), KRAFTON said that after the 16 September version update it analysed data and checked accounts one by one. On 21 September it applied 10-year account suspensions to about 60,000 accounts where it confirmed:
- unauthorised PAK file modifications (edited game files), and
- virtual machine (VM) based cheating.
"I didn't cheat — was it the Theme Mode glitch?"
Many players connected the bans to a Theme Mode glitch reported around the same time. KRAFTON says that glitch was unrelated and was not used to decide any ban. It says each banned account had separate cheating records, that no action was based on a single abnormal signal, and that no false-positive cases had been found in its reviews so far.
What KRAFTON counts as cheating
The same report lists what KRAFTON's August enforcement targeted: "unauthorized game modifications, cheat software, auto-aim, wallhack, and attempts to bypass or interfere with our security systems". It adds that confirmed violations are punished whatever the account's level or rank.
BGMI's Rules of Conduct set the maximum penalty for each kind of misconduct. These are the ones most relevant here:
| What you do | Maximum penalty in the Rules of Conduct |
|---|---|
| Use, develop, advertise, trade or distribute unauthorised programs or hardware | Permanent ban |
| Modify the game client, servers or game data (for example packets or "ini" files) | Permanent ban |
| Exploit bugs and glitches to get currency or items | Permanent ban |
| Team up with other players or teams in ways the mode doesn't allow ("teaming") | Permanent ban |
| Use another player's account | Permanent ban |
| Trade or sell accounts | Permanent ban |
The Rules of Conduct also say that items and currency gained through misconduct can be removed. In serious cases, the whole account's data can be deleted.
One rule catches honest players out: if you gain an advantage by teaming with someone who keeps using cheats, KRAFTON may treat you as part of an "abnormal team" and act against your account too. If a squadmate is obviously hacking, leave and report them.
The August numbers
The same report covers enforcement for 1–31 August 2026:
| Action | Accounts / items |
|---|---|
| Cheating-related accounts penalised | 452,454 |
| Match-crashing / server-hacking offenders | 3,312 |
| Penalised through the Cheater Review Program | 1,664 |
| Inappropriate profiles or chat | 179 |
| Online cheating content removed | 301 |
KRAFTON also says it is going after Telegram channels and groups that sell or promote server-hacking tools. It reviews reported accounts one by one through replay analysis, and confirmed offenders may get permanent sanctions.
Think your ban is wrong?
BGMI's Rules of Conduct say that if you are treated unfairly, you have the right to appeal to KRAFTON "through legitimate methods and procedures". The channel the Rules of Conduct give for questions and requests is KRAFTON's Customer Support Center: help.battlegroundsmobileindia.com/a/support. KRAFTON says it usually replies promptly, but replies can be slower when there are many requests.
Before you write in, keep two things from KRAFTON's report in mind:
- KRAFTON says it checked every one of these accounts individually, and that its reviews had found no false positives as of 23 September 2026.
- It also says each banned account had separate cheating records, so pointing to the Theme Mode glitch alone is unlikely to change anything.
Don't pay anyone to "unban" you. We found no paid unban service in KRAFTON's announcements or Rules of Conduct. If someone asks for your login to "fix" a ban, remember that KRAFTON's own report says sharing your account credentials or account access with another person is prohibited under the Rules of Conduct. KRAFTON adds that it may be unable to help with losses or account issues caused by account sharing.
How to keep your BGMI account safe
- Never install modified game files or "PAK" mods, even "harmless" visual ones. KRAFTON's report treats unauthorised file changes as cheating.
- Don't run BGMI inside a virtual machine or cloning app. VM-based cheating was the other reason named for the 10-year bans.
- Don't share, buy or sell accounts. KRAFTON's Rules of Conduct prohibit it, and KRAFTON may not help with losses caused by account sharing.
- Link at least two login methods and keep your login details private. This is KRAFTON's own advice. The Rules of Conduct also say KRAFTON will not ask you for your password.
- Ignore "free UC generator" sites and Telegram hacks. They can't add UC, and they put your account at risk. Real codes are redeemed only on KRAFTON's official page. See our BGMI redeem guide.
- Report cheaters and suspicious activity in-game, using the in-game reporting feature. You can also apply to KRAFTON's Cheater Review Program through the #recruitment channel on the official BGMI Discord.
Waiting for the lighter version of the game? Here is what KRAFTON has confirmed about BGMI LITE. And for every BGMI event date in October 2026, see our October event calendar.
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