Facebook Pay is a payment service integrated into Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp that allows users to easily send and receive money. It provides a convenient way for people to split bills, pay each other back, make donations, shop and more. However, Facebook Pay is not yet available to all users on Messenger. There are a few key reasons why you may not see the Facebook Pay option in your Messenger app:
Limited Country Availability
One of the main reasons is that Facebook Pay has only rolled out to select countries so far. As of October 2022, Facebook Pay is available in:
- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Germany
- Thailand
- Australia
If you live outside one of these countries, you will not be able to use Facebook Pay in Messenger yet. Facebook has plans to expand the feature to more regions globally, but the timeline is not confirmed. Make sure to check for updates to see when Facebook Pay becomes usable in your country.
Account Eligibility Requirements
In order to use Facebook Pay, your Facebook account must meet certain eligibility requirements set by Facebook:
- You must have a personal Facebook account (business accounts are not eligible).
- Your account must be in good standing and not violate Facebook’s Community Standards.
- You must have a confirmed mobile phone number added to your Facebook account.
- Your account must have a confirmed home address.
- You must meet any age restrictions for financial services in your country.
If your Facebook account does not satisfy these requirements, you will not see the Facebook Pay option appear in Messenger. Make sure your mobile number and home address are properly added and confirmed in your Facebook account settings.
Updated Messenger App
In order to use Facebook Pay, you need to make sure you have the latest version of the Messenger app installed on your device. Facebook rolls out new features like Facebook Pay gradually over updates to the app.
Here are steps to check you have the updated Messenger app:
- Open the App Store if you use an iPhone or the Google Play Store if you use an Android phone.
- Search for the Messenger app.
- Check if there are any available updates for the app. If so, click ‘Update’ to install the latest version.
- Open Messenger and check if you now have the Facebook Pay feature.
If the app indicates there are no updates available, you should already have the newest version installed. Make sure automatic updates are enabled on your device so you always get the latest Messenger features as they roll out.
Enabled by Facebook
Facebook controls the activation of Facebook Pay on a per user basis, even if the above requirements are met. It is possible your account specifically has not been enabled by Facebook to use the feature yet.
This may be due to a few reasons:
- Staged roll out – Facebook gradually enables the feature for more users over time to monitor performance and catch any issues early.
- Account history – If your account has a history of violations or suspicious activity, Facebook may restrict access to payments.
- Risk factors – Accounts deemed as higher fraud or credit risk may not be provided access to financial services.
Unfortunately there is no way to request access if Facebook has not already enabled the feature for your account. The only option is to keep checking the Messenger app periodically to see if Facebook Pay becomes activated.
Troubleshooting Steps
If you believe your account meets all the eligibility criteria for Facebook Pay, but you still don’t see the payment option in Messenger, here are some troubleshooting steps:
Force Stop and Re-Open the Messenger App
Sometimes new features do not appear immediately even after updating the app. Try force stopping the Messenger app and clearing it from your device memory. Then re-launch Messenger to check if Facebook Pay shows up.
On iPhone:
– Double tap the Home button to view open apps
– Swipe up on the Messenger preview to force stop it
– Open Messenger again
On Android:
– Open Settings > Apps > Messenger
– Tap Force Stop
– Re-open Messenger
Re-Install the Messenger App
If force stopping Messenger does not work, try fully uninstalling and re-installing the app:
On iPhone:
- Hold down on the Messenger icon until the icons start to shake
- Tap the X icon on the Messenger preview to uninstall the app
- Go to the App Store and re-install Messenger
- Open Messenger and check for Facebook Pay
On Android:
- Open Settings > Apps > Messenger
- Tap Uninstall
- Go to the Google Play Store and re-install Messenger
- Open Messenger and check for Facebook Pay
Re-installing the app forces it to fully re-register with Facebook’s servers which may trigger the enablement of the Facebook Pay feature.
Log Out and Back In to Facebook
Try fully logging out of your Facebook account everywhere and then logging back in:
- Open Facebook and go to Settings
- Scroll down and select Log Out
- Close Messenger and log out
- Log back into Facebook and Messenger
- See if Facebook Pay appears
This forces your account to re-authenticate across Facebook’s services which may flip the switch for Facebook Pay to show up.
Contact Facebook Support
If you still cannot get Facebook Pay to appear in Messenger after the above troubleshooting, reach out directly to Facebook support:
- Open the Messenger app and tap your profile picture
- Scroll down and tap Help & Support
- Tap Something Else > Provide Feedback
- Explain you meet all requirements but cannot see Facebook Pay
Facebook support can investigate your specific account and provide assistance if there is an error preventing Facebook Pay from being enabled.
Using Facebook Pay
Once you gain access to Facebook Pay in Messenger, it’s easy to start sending money and making payments right in your conversations. Here is an overview of how to use Facebook Pay:
Set Up Your Payment Method
The first time you go to use Facebook Pay you’ll need to add a payment method:
- Tap the Facebook Pay icon in an eligible Messenger conversation
- Tap Add Payment Method
- Select a payment card or PayPal account to link
- Follow the prompts to add and confirm your payment details
You can add multiple payment methods over time like debit cards, credit cards or PayPal.
Sending Money
Once set up, you can send money in a few taps:
- Open an eligible conversation in Messenger
- Tap the Facebook Pay button
- Enter the amount you want to send
- Confirm your payment details and send
The recipient will get a notification they received money and it will appear in their Facebook Pay activity.
Requesting Money
You can also request money from someone:
- Tap the Facebook Pay icon in Messenger
- Enter the amount you want to request
- Send the request and the person can tap to pay you
This provides an easy way to request payments for shared bills, expenses, debts and IOUs.
Shopping and Donations
Many businesses allow you to pay through Facebook Pay in Messenger too. You can pay for purchases, make donations to nonprofits, and more.
- Browse eligible shops or causes in Messenger
- Tap the Facebook Pay button when you’re ready to check out
- Review and confirm your payment details
- Get a receipt right in Messenger
Facebook Pay makes the checkout process fast from right within the app.
Transaction History & Support
To manage your payments and view past transactions:
- Open Messenger and tap your profile picture
- Tap Facebook Pay
- Here you can view your payment history, linked accounts and get support
You have access to your full payment history, statements, receipts and can manage payment methods.
The Future of Facebook Pay
Facebook Pay is still rolling out globally and expanding the supported services:
- Instagram – Facebook Pay is now available on Instagram as well for seamless payments across apps.
- WhatsApp – Facebook plans to launch payments within WhatsApp for all eligible accounts.
- Messenger API – Businesses will be able to integrate Facebook Pay as a payment option through the Messenger API.
- Expansion to new countries – Facebook continues working to launch Facebook Pay in more countries globally.
The goal is to make Facebook Pay a universal payment system across the family of Facebook apps. More functionality is also planned like point-of-sale payments in brick and mortar stores through Facebook Pay.
As adoption grows, expect Facebook Pay to play a bigger role in daily digital payments and financial services. It aims to be a serious alternative to other payment services like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
With Facebook’s massive user base over its apps, Facebook Pay has the potential for huge disruption in the payments industry if it reaches mainstream adoption. The convenience and simplicity of payments within messaging apps provides unique advantages over traditional payment methods.
Conclusion
Facebook Pay brings easy, integrated payments to Messenger and Facebook’s apps. While not universally available yet, roll out continues globally. Make sure your account and Messenger app meet the requirements for accessing Facebook Pay. Enable notifications to receive updates on new countries and functionality as Facebook Pay expands. Integrated payments have huge potential to transform messaging apps into financial services hubs of the future. Facebook Pay aims to make money transfers as easy as sending a message.