Facebook Dating is a new feature introduced by Facebook to help people find meaningful relationships. It allows users to create a separate dating profile within Facebook and match with other users who have opted into Facebook Dating. However, some users have reported issues accessing Facebook Dating or getting it to work properly. Here are some common reasons why you may be unable to access or use Facebook Dating and potential solutions.
You Don’t Meet the Eligibility Requirements
Facebook has set certain eligibility requirements for accessing Facebook Dating:
- You must be at least 18 years old to use Facebook Dating.
- Your Facebook account must be set to single, divorced, widowed, or “it’s complicated.” You cannot access Facebook Dating if your relationship status is set to “In a Relationship” or “Married.”
- Your Facebook account must have been active for at least 2 days and have at least 50 friends.
- You must have the latest version of Facebook installed on your mobile device or be accessing Facebook through the desktop website.
If you do not meet these requirements, you will be unable to access the Facebook Dating feature. Double check that your account meets the criteria outlined above.
Facebook Dating Isn’t Available In Your Region
Facebook has rolled out Facebook Dating in phases, beginning with Colombia in 2018. It is now available in the following countries and territories:
| Argentina | Canada | Chile |
| Mexico | Peru | Uruguay |
| Brazil | Bolivia | Ecuador |
| Paraguay | Guyana | Laos |
| Malaysia | Philippines | Singapore |
| Vietnam | Thailand | Indonesia |
| Australia | Fiji |
If your country or region is not listed above, Facebook Dating will not be available to you yet. Facebook plans to eventually roll out the dating feature globally but has not provided specific timelines. You will have to wait until Facebook Dating is officially launched in your country.
You Have Restricted App Platform Settings
In order to use Facebook Dating, you need to have the App Platform enabled in your Facebook settings. The App Platform allows you to use third-party apps, games, and services connected to your Facebook account.
To check your App Platform settings:
- Click on the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook.
- Select “Settings.”
- Click “Apps and Websites” in the left sidebar.
- Make sure “Apps, Websites and Games” is set to “Enabled.”
If this is disabled, Facebook Dating will not work properly. Make sure to enable the App Platform in order to access Dating.
The Facebook Dating Feature Is Turned Off
Even if you meet all the eligibility requirements and Facebook Dating is available in your region, the feature may still be turned off for your specific account.
To check if Facebook Dating is enabled:
- Tap the menu icon in the top right of the Facebook app.
- Scroll down and tap “Dating.”
- If the Dating option is grayed out, that means the feature is turned off for you.
To turn Facebook Dating on:
- Go to the Facebook Dating section in your shortcuts menu or settings.
- Tap “Get Started.”
- Complete the steps to set up your Dating profile.
Once you complete the Dating profile setup, the feature will be enabled for your account (as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements).
You Have an Active Facebook Dating Profile
You can only have one Facebook Dating profile active at a time. If you already have an existing dating profile set up, you won’t be able to create a new one or access the feature again unless you delete your current profile.
To delete your Facebook Dating profile:
- Go to your Dating profile.
- Tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- Select “Delete Profile.”
- Confirm that you want to delete your profile.
Once your Dating profile is deleted, you will be able to access and set up a new one.
You’re Temporarily Banned From Facebook Dating
If you violated Facebook’s Terms of Service or Community Standards while using Facebook Dating, your access to the feature may be temporarily suspended. Some reasons your Dating access could be revoked include:
- Harassing or bullying other users
- Spamming other users
- Soliciting commercial services or transactions
- Posting inappropriate or sexually explicit content
- Creating a fake or misleading dating profile
The length of your Facebook Dating ban will depend on the severity of the violation. You will need to wait out the ban period before you can access Dating again.
Your Account Was Disabled
If your entire Facebook account is temporarily disabled due to suspicious activity or violations of Facebook’s policies, you will lose access to Facebook Dating as well as all other Facebook services. You will need to go through the account recovery process before regaining access to any Facebook features, including Dating.
You’re Logged Into an Unsupported Browser
Facebook Dating is only fully supported on the official Facebook mobile app for iOS or Android. The Dating feature may not work properly or be accessible if you are logged into Facebook through:
- The mobile website
- Third-party Facebook apps
- The desktop website (it is only partially supported on desktop)
Make sure you are logged into the official Facebook app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device to properly access Dating.
Issues With Your Internet Connection or Mobile Data
Since Facebook Dating relies on being able to connect to Facebook’s servers, any issues with your internet connection or mobile data can prevent you from accessing the feature properly. Some things to check:
- Make sure you have an active internet connection on your mobile device or computer.
- If using mobile data, check that you have a strong 4G, LTE, or 5G signal.
- Connect to a different WiFi network if your current one is spotty.
- Temporarily disable VPNs, ad blockers, or firewalls that could interfere with Facebook connectivity.
Troubleshoot your internet connection and try force closing and reopening the Facebook app to refresh the data connection.
App Needs to Be Updated
Facebook is continually rolling out updates to the main Facebook app, some of which may include enhancements and fixes for Facebook Dating. If it’s been a while since you updated your Facebook app, there could be a new version you need to install for Dating to work properly.
Updating the app may also help resolve any bugs or glitches preventing you from accessing Facebook’s dating feature. Make sure automatic app updates are enabled on your device or manually update the app via your device’s app store.
Error During Facebook Dating Setup
When you first try to enable Facebook Dating, you have to complete a profile setup flow before being able to use the feature. Sometimes errors may occur during this setup process that prevent Dating from being enabled. Some potential errors include:
- Issues connecting your Instagram account
- Errors adding Dating profile photos
- Crash or freeze during profile setup
- Dating preferences failed to save
Troubleshoot by force closing the Facebook app, updating the app, making sure you have a stable internet connection, and trying the Dating profile setup again. You may need to restart the setup process from the beginning if it crashed partway through.
You Opted Out of Facebook Dating
When Facebook Dating first launched, users had the option to opt out if they did not want to participate. Even if you meet the eligibility criteria, you will not be able to access Dating if you opted out when it first rolled out.
To change this setting:
- Go to the Menu icon > Settings & Privacy > Settings > Dating.
- Toggle “Use Dating” to the On position.
This will override your previous choice and make Facebook Dating available to you.
Conclusion
Facebook Dating provides a convenient way to meet potential partners right within the Facebook app. However, issues accessing the feature can be frustrating. Most common problems involve eligibility restrictions, regional availability, settings toggles, profile issues, technical errors, or connection problems. Going through the troubleshooting tips above should help you resolve most errors accessing Facebook Dating. Make sure to check all requirements are met, update the app, retry setup, and confirm your internet connection is stable.