PGSharp says its distance-based cooldown lasts up to two hours. That is PGSharp’s guidance for the cooldown state it calls a “soft ban,” not a Niantic guarantee that every restriction will end within two hours. Niantic’s formal account strikes are separate and can last about seven days, about 30 days, or permanently.
What PGSharp means by a “soft ban”
PGSharp uses “soft ban” for a cooldown-related gameplay restriction. Its cooldown rules define cooldown as the wait after an in-game action, calculated from the distance traveled between actions. Catching a wild Pokémon and spinning a PokéStop are examples of actions affected.
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PGSharp describes the symptoms as wild Pokémon fleeing when you try to catch them and PokéStops responding “Try Again Later.” It states a maximum cooldown of two hours. Treat that as PGSharp’s guidance for its distance-based cooldown rules, not as an official Niantic duration for every restriction.
How a cooldown differs from a Niantic strike
A cooldown state and a formal disciplinary strike are not the same thing. Niantic’s Gameplay Fairness Policy describes escalating account penalties:
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| Restriction | Meaning and symptoms | Stated duration | Account consequence |
|---|---|---|---|
| PGSharp cooldown “soft ban” | Cooldown-related gameplay restriction; catches may flee and PokéStops may return “Try Again Later.” | Up to two hours under PGSharp’s distance-based cooldown guidance (PGSharp). | PGSharp describes effects on catching and PokéStop spins; this figure is not a Niantic strike duration. |
| Niantic first strike | Formal disciplinary action under Niantic’s policy. | Approximately seven days (Niantic). | First stage in an escalating enforcement process. |
| Niantic second strike | Formal suspension. | Approximately 30 days (Niantic). | Second stage in the process. |
| Niantic third strike | Formal disciplinary action. | Permanent (Niantic). | Permanent termination. |
Niantic identifies falsifying location and accessing game clients or backends through unauthorized third-party software or add-ons as examples of cheating in its Gameplay Fairness Policy. It says violations may lead to escalating discipline. Following PGSharp’s cooldown timer does not make use of the software permitted or guarantee that an account is safe.
What to check if catches flee or stops fail
Use the timer as a guide, not proof
PGSharp says its cooldown timer starts after teleporting when a cooldown period is active. The company also warns that it cannot track actions taken outside PGSharp. As a result, the timer may not account for every action on the account and cannot confirm an account’s enforcement status. Niantic does not publish a guarantee that every restriction described by PGSharp will clear after two hours.
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- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
Look for Niantic’s account message
Niantic says a player is suspended or terminated if the corresponding Terms of Service message appears at login. Its strike-policy help page also notes that other login or loading errors may be temporary technical problems rather than a ban. A loading problem alone therefore does not establish that an account has received a strike.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the duration does—and does not—tell you
The two-hour figure comes from PGSharp’s documentation, not from a published Niantic duration for the cooldown state PGSharp calls a soft ban. Niantic’s appeal guidance says it does not disclose the specifics of individual incidents or its internal detection mechanisms (Niantic). Community posts also use “soft ban” and “shadow ban” inconsistently; anecdotes do not establish a reliable duration.
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- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
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- Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
- Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
- Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
- There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
- Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
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