Facebook Marketplace is a convenient feature that allows users to buy and sell items locally. However, you may encounter an issue where your Facebook Marketplace says “unavailable” when trying to view listings. There are a few potential reasons why this occurs.
You’ve Hit the Daily View Limit
Facebook limits the number of listings each user can view per day as an anti-spam measure. The exact view limit seems to vary, but is somewhere around 100-200 listings.
If you browse Marketplace extensively in a single day, you may hit this view cap. When this happens, many listings will start to show as “unavailable.” The fix is to simply wait until the next day when your viewing limit resets.
The Seller Blocked You
Sellers have the option to block specific users from viewing their Marketplace listings. If you have interacted with a seller in the past in a negative manner, they may choose to block you.
When a seller blocks you, their listings will appear as “unavailable” to you. The seller has taken action on their end to prevent you from seeing or purchasing their items.
The Item is Pending or Sold
Listings will show as “unavailable” if the item is no longer actively for sale. Common reasons for this include:
- The item is pending pickup or delivery
- The item has already been sold
- The seller took the listing down
Sellers are supposed to mark listings as sold when they are no longer available. However, some sellers fail to update the listing status. When you try to view these listings, they will display as “unavailable.”
The Listing Ended or Expired
By default, Facebook Marketplace listings expire after 30 days unless the seller renews them. If you try to view an expired listing, you will see the “unavailable” notice.
Listings also automatically expire once the item is marked sold. So if you come across a listing that says “unavailable” after it previously showed active, it may be because the listing duration ended.
Facebook Marketplace is Glitching
Like any website or app, Facebook Marketplace can have temporary glitches or bugs. Sometimes certain listings will show as “unavailable” due to a technical error on Facebook’s end.
It’s not common, but once in a while Marketplace seems to glitch out and prevents viewing of certain listings. The issue usually resolves itself within a few hours.
You Do Not Meet Requirements
In rare cases, viewing a Facebook Marketplace listing may be limited to users who meet certain requirements.
For example, a seller may only allow local pickup and restrict viewing to users within a certain distance. If you are outside the allowed area, you’ll see the listing as “unavailable.”
Other requirements that may limit visibility include age, location, schools attended, workplace, etc. Sellers can selectively restrict who can view listings based on user profiles.
Your Account Lacks Marketplace Access
In order to browse and purchase items on Facebook Marketplace, your account must have access enabled. Facebook may restrict Marketplace for various reasons, such as:
- Age – Marketplace use requires you to be 18+
- New User – Access may be limited for new accounts
- Account Flags – Suspicious activity may trigger Marketplace restriction
If your account does not have Marketplace enabled, most listings will appear completely unavailable to you.
You’re Temporarily Banned From Marketplace
Facebook will impose temporary bans from Marketplace if you violate their commerce policies. Reasons for marketplace bans include:
- Attempting to buy/sell prohibited items
- Posting inappropriate content
- Coordinating sales outside of Marketplace
- Failure to ship purchased items
Bans range from just a few days to a couple weeks depending on the severity of the violation. All listings will show as “unavailable” until the ban is lifted.
How to Fix Facebook Marketplace Unavailable Listings
Here are some tips to troubleshoot and resolve unavailable listings on Facebook Marketplace:
- Check if the item is sold or pending – Look for indications the listing is no longer active.
- Wait 24 hours – Daily viewing limits typically reset after a day.
- Use a different account – Switch to an alt account and see if listings are viewable.
- Contact the seller – Ask if they blocked you or expired the listing.
- Update your location – Marketplace visibility depends on your set location.
- Review commerce policies – Make sure you haven’t violated any rules.
- Confirm Marketplace access – Ensure your account has permission to browse.
In most cases, unavailable listings are due to sold items, expired listings, daily view limits, or platform glitches. However, take time to rule out other potential causes as well. With a mix of patience and troubleshooting, you can get Facebook Marketplace working again.
Why Facebook Marketplace Says “Something Went Wrong”
Another common Facebook Marketplace error message you may encounter is “Something went wrong.” This vague error can be frustratingly ambiguous when you’re trying to buy or sell on Marketplace.
Some potential reasons for the “Something went wrong” error include:
- Temporary site glitch or bug
- Poor internet connection
- Prohibited or banned item
- Blocked user interaction
- Unavailable listing
- Expired listing
- Age or location restrictions
The error tends to be catch-all for any issues that prevent proper loading of the Marketplace listing. As the message suggests, something generic failed to function properly.
How to Fix “Something Went Wrong” Error
Here are some tips for troubleshooting the “Something went wrong” message:
- Refresh the page – This clears any temporary glitches.
- Check your internet – Switch networks or restart your router.
- Try again later – Wait a while and give Facebook time to resolve bugs.
- Use a different account – Attempt to access the listing from another account.
- Clear cookies/cache – This resets local data that may be corrupted.
- Contact support – Report persistent issues to Facebook for investigation.
With a mix of patience, common troubleshooting steps, and direct assistance from Facebook, the “something went wrong” message should eventually disappear. But in some cases, it may require the seller to take action on their end to resolve listing errors.
Why Facebook Marketplace is Showing No Listings
One of the most troubling Facebook Marketplace errors is when no listings show up at all. A blank Marketplace feed means you cannot buy or sell anything.
Some of the potential reasons Marketplace has no listings include:
- You have no internet connection
- Your location services are disabled
- You are outside the allowed area
- Your account is shadowbanned
- All listings are marked sold
- Marketplace is down temporarily
Without any listings, Marketplace is essentially useless. So this problem usually requires immediate troubleshooting to determine the cause.
How to Fix Facebook Marketplace With No Listings
Here is a systematic approach to resolving the no listings problem:
- Check internet connection and refresh
- Enable location services
- Update your set location in Facebook
- Try another account to isolate issues
- Contact Facebook support if the problem persists
- Wait for temporary outages to resolve
In most cases, Marketplace returns to normal relatively quickly. But a shadowban or location restriction may require more persistent troubleshooting. Contact Facebook so they can review your account and permissions if listings do not reappear.
Why Facebook Marketplace Keeps Crashing
Intermittent crashing of the Facebook Marketplace app or website points to technical problems on Facebook’s end. Possible causes include:
- Server outages or downtime
- Platform bugs or glitches
- Excessive traffic overloads capacity
- Software updates and changes
- Resource allocation issues
Marketplace runs on Facebook’s servers and network infrastructure. So any backend malfunctions can prevent proper loading and operation of Marketplace. Crashing tends to resolve once developers address the technical complications.
How to Troubleshoot Facebook Marketplace Crashing
Steps to troubleshoot and resolve Marketplace crashing issues include:
- Check Facebook’s developer page for reported issues
- Retry later during periods of lower traffic
- Update the app to eliminate software bugs
- Clear cache and local data to remove glitches
- Use a stable internet connection free of disruptions
- Report problems directly to Facebook’s support team
Essentially, you either need to wait for Facebook’s engineers to fix things on their end, or eliminate any problems originating from your device or network. With crashing issues, patience is generally required until system resources free up.
Why Facebook Marketplace is Not Working
Marketplace failures like showing no listings, crashing frequently, or displaying “unavailable” on many listings can make Marketplace completely unusable. Here are some common reasons why Facebook Marketplace may stop working properly:
- Technical problems on Facebook’s end
- Errors with your Facebook account
- Your account lacks Marketplace access
- Listings expired or sold
- Connectivity issues on your end
- Banned goods or prohibited actions
Issues can originate from your account settings, your device, sellers’ listings, or Facebook’s servers. A systematic troubleshooting approach is required to pinpoint where responsibility lies.
How to Fix Facebook Marketplace Not Working
Here are some steps to troubleshoot and resolve Facebook Marketplace not working:
- Check for Facebook server status messages
- Review your account standing and Marketplace access
- Clear your Facebook cookies and cache
- Try another device and internet connection
- Look for expired, sold, or unavailable listings
- Avoid banned items and suspicious activities
With patience and a process of elimination, you can identify the specific reason for Marketplace failure. Contact Facebook support if issues persist without explanation to help regain access.
Mistakes to Avoid on Facebook Marketplace
Certain actions on Facebook Marketplace may trigger restrictions, bans, or other problems. Here are some key mistakes to avoid:
- Attempting to sell prohibited or illegal items
- Coordinating transactions outside of Marketplace
- Failing to deliver purchased items
- Providing fake or misleading information
- Abusing buyer/seller feedback and reviews
- Accidentally exceeding viewing limits
Stay within Facebook commerce policies, conduct all communications on the platform, complete transactions, and be truthful in all listing details and feedback. This keeps your account in good standing.
Facebook Marketplace Alternatives
If you are still having issues with Facebook Marketplace, there are a few alternative platforms to consider:
Craigslist
Craigslist is the longtime classified ads leader, especially for local buyers and sellers. The stripped-down text-based ads are familiar to millions of users.
OfferUp
OfferUp focuses on local buyers and sellers with a modern mobile app. You can list, sell, and browse easily from your smartphone.
Letgo
Letgo provides a fast and convenient mobile classifieds experience. You can find great deals on used goods locally.
eBay
For wider reach beyond just local sales, eBay connects buyers and sellers across the country and world.
Nextdoor
Nextdoor is a neighborhood-centric platform that allows hyperlocal connections between nearby buyers and sellers.
While not identical to Facebook Marketplace, these alternatives allow you to buy and sell used goods. Evaluating multiple options helps ensure you can find the platform that best meets your needs.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace provides an easy way to buy and sell locally from your mobile device or desktop. However, you may occasionally encounter issues like unavailable listings, crashing, or restricted access. Troubleshooting problems requires patience, persistence, and methodical steps to isolate the cause.
Check for technical issues on Facebook’s end, seller actions like expired listings, and restrictions or problems with your account. Avoiding policy violations and prohibited items can also prevent problems. With diligent diagnosis and help from Facebook support, most Marketplace problems can be resolved successfully.