Setting up Facebook Pay can sometimes be tricky for users. There are a few common reasons why you may be having trouble setting up Facebook Pay:
You don’t have a valid payment method added
In order to use Facebook Pay, you need to have a valid credit card, debit card, or PayPal account added to your Facebook account. This is what Facebook uses to process payments when you use Facebook Pay. If you haven’t added a payment method yet, you’ll need to add one before you can complete the setup process.
To add a payment method:
- Go to your Facebook Settings
- Click on “Facebook Pay”
- Click “Manage Payment Methods”
- Enter your card details or log in to PayPal to link your account
Once you’ve successfully added a payment method, try setting up Facebook Pay again.
Your payment method was declined
If the card or payment method you entered was declined when you tried to set up Facebook Pay, this will prevent you from completing the setup. There are a few reasons your payment method may be declined:
- The card is expired or has invalid information entered
- There are insufficient funds on the card or account
- The card issuer has flagged the transaction as suspicious or fraudulent
To resolve this:
- Remove the declined payment method
- Enter new card details or link a different PayPal account
- Contact your bank or card issuer if you think the transaction was incorrectly flagged
- Verify the payment method has sufficient funds and is not expired
Once the payment method issue has been resolved, try setting up Facebook Pay again.
Your account is not eligible to use Facebook Pay
Facebook Pay is not available in every country or region, and there are certain account eligibility requirements needed to use Facebook Pay. Here are some reasons your account may not be eligible:
- You do not meet the minimum age requirement – you must be at least 18 years old
- Your account is not completely set up – you must have a confirmed email address and phone number added to your account
- Your account is restricted for violations of Facebook’s terms of service
- Facebook Pay is not available in your country
Unfortunately if your account is ineligible for any of these reasons, you will not be able to set up and use Facebook Pay. You can check the Facebook Pay eligibility requirements to see if any apply to your account.
There was an error during the setup process
Sometimes there may be a glitch or technical error that occurs when you are trying to complete the Facebook Pay setup. This could prevent the setup from finishing properly. Some things to try:
- Force close and restart the Facebook app
- Log out of Facebook and log back in again
- Clear the cache and data for the Facebook app
- Update the Facebook app to the latest version
- Try setting up Facebook Pay on desktop instead of mobile
If a temporary glitch or bug occurred, one of those steps should resolve the issue. Make sure to try going through the setup again afterwards.
Your Facebook account is locked or temporarily disabled
If your Facebook account has been locked or temporarily disabled due to suspicious activity, it will block you from setting up Facebook Pay.
To regain access to your account:
- Complete any requested security checks or upload ID confirmation
- Reset your password if prompted
- Resolve any alerts about suspicious posts or sharing activity
- Wait out the temporary 24 hour disabling period
Once you’ve regained full access to your Facebook account, you should be able to complete the Facebook Pay set up.
You haven’t enabled Facebook Pay
In order to use Facebook Pay on Facebook, Messenger or Instagram, you have to first enable Facebook Pay as a feature. If you haven’t done this initial step, the Facebook Pay setup will not complete successfully.
To enable Facebook Pay:
- Go to your Facebook Settings
- Click on “Facebook Pay”
- Toggle “Enable Facebook Pay” to the on position
Once Facebook Pay has been enabled, you can proceed to link a payment method and complete the setup.
You need to verify your identity
For security and compliance reasons, Facebook may require you to complete an identity verification process before allowing you to set up Facebook Pay on your account. This involves submitting some form of ID to confirm your identity.
If prompted for ID verification during Facebook Pay setup, you will need to:
- Provide a copy of a valid government ID (driver’s license, passport, etc)
- Take a selfie photo to match your ID photo
- Enter your full name and date of birth as listed on your ID
Once Facebook has successfully reviewed your ID verification, you’ll be cleared to complete the Facebook Pay activation. This added security helps prevent fraudulent or abusive use of Facebook Pay.
You have limited account access due to age
If you are between the ages of 13-17 and have a valid Facebook account through parental consent, there are some usage restrictions. Underage users may not be able to fully setup and use Facebook Pay.
Those under 18 have limited transaction capability. This is to prevent minors from overspending without parental oversight. If you are below 18, you would need a parent or guardian’s involvement to use Facebook Pay.
If you believe you should have access to Facebook Pay based on your age and location, you can submit an appeal to Facebook. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until you turn 18 to use Facebook Pay.
You’re not using an approved device or browser
Facebook Pay is only available when using approved platforms – namely Android and iOS mobile apps. You also need to be using a supported web browser on desktop.
Here are the compatible options:
| Mobile | Desktop Browsers |
|---|---|
| Android app | Chrome |
| iOS app | Safari |
| Firefox | |
| Microsoft Edge |
If you are trying to setup or use Facebook Pay on a device, platform or web browser not on that list, it will not work properly. Make sure you are on a supported mobile OS or desktop browser.
You’re accessing Facebook from a restricted location
There are certain countries and regions where Facebook Pay is not available due to local financial regulations. If you are trying to access Facebook from an unsupported area, you’ll be blocked from enabling and setting up Facebook Pay.
Some examples where Facebook Pay is not available include:
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- South Korea
Unfortunately Facebook does not allow users to bypass geographic restrictions. If you are located in a country where Facebook Pay is not enabled, you will not be able to use it until you travel to a supported area.
You need to update your Facebook app
In order for Facebook Pay setup to complete properly, you need to make sure you have installed the latest version of the Facebook app on your device.
If you are trying to setup Facebook Pay but your Facebook app is outdated, you may encounter errors or be unable to proceed.
To update the Facebook app:
- On Android – Open the Play Store, go to “My Apps & Games” and check for Facebook app updates
- On iOS – Open the App Store, go to your account icon in the top right and select “Updates” to check for Facebook updates
Install the latest Facebook app version and then try setting up Facebook Pay again.
Conclusion
Setting up Facebook Pay involves linking a valid payment method, having an eligible account not subject to restrictions, using a supported device and platform, and having the latest app version installed. If you encounter issues getting Facebook Pay activated, double check the eligibility requirements, troubleshoot any errors or declines, and ensure your Facebook account and app is up to date. With a few simple fixes, you should be able to successfully set up Facebook Pay as a payment option.