Got banned in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, or want to make sure it never happens? This guide explains how the Ricochet anti-cheat works, which penalties Activision uses, which of them can be appealed and how to file an appeal. Everything comes from official Activision Support pages and is accurate as of 19 October 2026.
What Ricochet is and how it works
Black Ops 7 is protected by RICOCHET Anti-Cheat, which combines several layers:
- server-side tools that monitor what happens in matches,
- behavioural analysis of players,
- in-game mitigations,
- a kernel-level driver on PC.
The kernel driver starts with the game and shuts down when you quit, and you can’t play on PC without it. In-game mitigations only affect players who break the rules. Activision’s Ricochet overview names five of them: Damage Shield, Cloaking, Disarm, Hallucinations and Splat.
TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and Ranked attestation
Mandatory TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are part of the PC protection as well. Without them you can’t access some modes, Ranked Play among them, and you may be placed in separate matchmaking. Since Season 02, Ricochet has also added a stricter remote (cloud) attestation of your PC for Ranked Play, which Activision runs together with Microsoft. How to check your PC is covered in our PC requirements guide.
Cronus Zen and XIM
Since Season 02, Ricochet can detect Cronus Zen and XIM Matrix, devices that modify controller or mouse inputs. If you have one plugged in, expect that Ricochet may flag it.
Which penalties Activision uses
The Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy (official rules) lists these penalty types:
| Penalty | What it means | Can you appeal? |
|---|---|---|
| Warning | an in-game notice instead of a penalty | no |
| Temporary ban | the account can’t play for a period of time | no |
| Permanent ban | can apply across Call of Duty titles, including future ones; sometimes you can’t even buy another game | yes |
| Limited Matchmaking | you play in lobbies with similar accounts and earn no progression | no |
| Ranked Play restriction | a ban or limit on ranked matches | no |
| Hardware ban | a penalty for the device, not the account | no |
| Stat and inventory reset | stats or items on the account are wiped | no |
What can and can’t be appealed
Only permanent bans can be appealed. Temporary bans, Limited Matchmaking and hardware bans can’t. If you have a temporary ban or are in Limited Matchmaking, the appeal form won’t help you.
How to appeal a permanent ban
You file an appeal on the Appeal a Ban page at Activision Support. The process looks roughly like this:
- Log in to your Activision account.
- Confirm the notice that the account holder is responsible for the account and that temporary bans and Limited Matchmaking can’t be appealed.
- Go through the account security review: check for linked accounts you don’t recognise and for changes to your details you didn’t make, such as your email or Activision ID.
- Check the enforcement status of your account and, if the permanent ban is eligible, submit the appeal.
The appeal decision is final, and Activision won’t respond to repeat submissions or to appeals sent through other channels. We don’t estimate your chances, because official sources say nothing about them.
Hacked accounts
Activision only overturns a permanent ban if its investigation finds the account was hacked. If the security review turns up a linked account you don’t know or changes you didn’t make, file a Hacked Account Recovery Request instead of an appeal.
Hardware bans and second-hand devices
A hardware ban applies to the device, not the account. To check whether your PC or console has one, log in on that device with an account in good standing in any crossplay Call of Duty game. If the device is banned, the game shows a notice. That’s why Activision advises caution with second-hand, borrowed or shared devices: a ban from a previous owner can still be in effect.
Old bans and buying Black Ops 7
Players with a permanent ban from earlier Call of Duty games (since Modern Warfare 2019) may not be eligible to play Black Ops 7. Battle.net accounts permanently banned in Black Ops 6, MW3, MW2 or Warzone can’t buy the game in the Blizzard store and won’t be able to play online modes on other platforms. More on editions and buying is in our price and editions guide.
You are responsible for your account
Penalties apply no matter who was playing. If you let a friend use your account and they cheat, you get the ban. Activision also counts memory edits to unlock camos, items or loadouts as cheating. If the game shows an error other than a ban, check our troubleshooting guide, and if you’re just starting out, read the beginner’s guide.
Join our Discord to talk Black Ops 7 with other players on GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
No. Only permanent bans can be appealed. Activision doesn’t accept appeals for temporary bans, Limited Matchmaking or hardware bans.
On support.activision.com/ban-appeal after logging in to your Activision account. You’ll go through an account security review before submitting.
Only if the investigation finds the account was hacked. In that case, file a Hacked Account Recovery Request. The appeal decision is final.
Yes. The account holder is responsible for any infraction on the account, and penalties apply no matter who was playing.
Log in on it with an account in good standing in any crossplay Call of Duty game. If the device is banned, the game shows a notice.
Information verified on 19 October 2026. More guides are waiting in the BO7 guides hub.