If you are having issues using or accessing Facebook Marketplace in the Facebook mobile app, there are a few common reasons why it may not be working properly and some troubleshooting steps you can try to get Marketplace working again.
Check for App Updates
One of the first things to check is if your Facebook app is fully up-to-date. The developers at Facebook are frequently making tweaks and fixes to the app, including to features like Marketplace. So an outdated version of the app could be the reason Marketplace is not functioning properly.
Open the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) on your mobile device and search for Facebook. If an Update option appears instead of Open, tap to update the app. Once updated, try accessing Marketplace again in the app.
Reinstall the Facebook App
If your Facebook app is already up-to-date, another option is to uninstall and reinstall the app. This can clear out any cached data or glitches that may be causing issues with Marketplace or other parts of the app.
To uninstall the app:
- On an iPhone or iPad, hold your finger down on the Facebook icon until the icons start wiggling. Tap the X icon on the Facebook app to uninstall.
- On an Android, go to Settings > Apps. Tap Facebook and choose Uninstall.
Once uninstalled, go back to the App Store or Google Play Store to reinstall the Facebook app again. Try accessing Marketplace again after reinstalling.
Check Your Internet Connection
Issues with your internet connectivity can also disrupt features like Marketplace in the Facebook app. Check that your mobile device has a stable WiFi or cellular data connection. Some troubleshooting steps include:
- Turn your device’s airplane mode on and off to reset the network connection.
- Restart your wireless router if you’re connected to WiFi.
- Try switching from WiFi to cellular data or vice versa.
Browse the internet or load other apps that require an internet connection to test if the issue is isolated to just the Facebook app. A consistent, strong internet signal is key for Marketplace functionality.
Force Stop the Facebook App
A more advanced troubleshooting technique on Android devices is to force stop the Facebook app. This fully quits out of the app and clears any memory being used. When reopened, the app starts fresh, which can resolve any conflicts.
To force stop an app on Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap Facebook.
- Tap Force Stop.
Open the Facebook app again and check if Marketplace loads properly after force stopping.
Clear App Cache and Data
Clearing the app cache and app data for Facebook is another troubleshooting step if you’re still having Marketplace issues after trying the other solutions. The app cache stores temporary files and the app data contains login settings and other preferences.
On an iPhone or iPad:
- Go to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage.
- Tap Facebook.
- Tap Offload App to clear the cache. Tap again to reinstall the app.
On Android:
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap Facebook.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache and Clear Data.
This forces the Facebook app to start fresh again, which may resolve any conflicts with Marketplace.
Update Your Facebook App Preferences
Another possible cause of Marketplace issues is having the feature disabled in your Facebook app settings or preferences. Double check that you have Marketplace enabled:
- Open the Facebook app and tap the three-line Menu icon.
- Scroll down and tap Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Tap Account Settings > Apps and Websites.
- Make sure Marketplace is toggled on.
While in your App Settings, you can also tap Marketplace and make sure you have Notifications enabled if you want to receive alerts about marketplace activity.
Confirm Your Facebook Account is in Good Standing
If your Facebook account has been restricted due to violations of Facebook’s terms of service, access to certain features may be limited or disabled – potentially including Marketplace. You will need to resolve any account restrictions or blocks before regaining full use of Marketplace.
Check that your account status is in good standing by:
- Tap the Menu icon > Settings & Privacy > Settings.
- Tap General > Account Status.
- If your account has been disabled or restricted, follow the on-screen instructions to submit an appeal.
Once your account is restored, Marketplace should be available again if there are no other technical issues occurring.
Log Out and Log Back Into Facebook
If you’ve verified that your Facebook account is active and in good standing, try fully logging out of the Facebook app and then logging back in. This will clear any user data that could be causing conflicts and require Marketplace to reload properly on your next login.
To log out on iPhone/iPad:
- Tap the Menu icon.
- Scroll down and tap Log Out.
To log out on Android:
- Tap the Menu icon.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Log Out.
After logging out, close the Facebook app fully. Then reopen it and log back into your account. Test if Marketplace works again after the fresh login.
Update Your Facebook Marketplace Preferences
Rather than a technical issue, it’s also possible your Facebook Marketplace preferences are configured to hide or limit Marketplace. Double check your marketplace settings:
- Open the Facebook app menu and tap Marketplace.
- Tap the ≡ icon > Settings.
- Make sure Show in Feed, Show in Menu and Notifications are enabled.
- Tap Location to choose your preferred location settings.
Tweaking these marketplace settings may help surface Marketplace properly within the app again.
Change Your Facebook App Language
Facebook Marketplace availability can vary by country and language. If your Facebook app is set to a language where Marketplace has limited access, switching your app language to one with full Marketplace support may resolve the issue.
To change the language in the Facebook app:
- Tap the Menu icon.
- Tap Settings & Privacy > Settings > Language.
- Choose a language that has Marketplace enabled, such as English (US).
After changing the language, check if Marketplace now appears and functions as expected.
Update Your Facebook App Permissions
The Facebook app requires certain permissions to be allowed in order to use features like Marketplace. If you have previously disabled permissions such as location or storage access, Marketplace may fail to load or operate correctly.
To update app permissions on iPhone/iPad:
- Go to Settings > Facebook.
- Make sure Location, Photos, Camera, Storage etc. are enabled.
On Android:
- Open the Facebook app.
- Tap the Menu icon > Settings & Privacy.
- Tap Permissions.
- Enable permissions for Location, Storage, Camera, etc.
Granting the necessary app permissions gets Marketplace the access it needs to function properly again.
Disable and Re-Enable Marketplace
If Marketplace is simply not showing up at all in your Facebook app, a workaround is to fully disable Marketplace and then re-enable it. This forces the app to reload the feature from scratch.
To disable and re-enable Marketplace:
- Go to the Facebook app menu > Marketplace.
- Tap ≡ > Settings.
- Toggle off Show in Menu.
- Wait a few seconds, then toggle Show in Menu back on.
After disabling and re-enabling, check if Marketplace now appears in the app as expected.
Update the Facebook App via a Different Store
In very rare cases, there may be issues with the version of the Facebook app downloaded from your device’s default app store. Try downloading the Facebook app from an alternate app store or source to get a fresh install.
On iPhone/iPad, you can create an Apple ID registered in another country and download the Facebook app from that country’s App Store. On Android, download the app directly from https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/facebook-2/facebook/ rather than the Play Store.
Installing the Facebook app via a different store can sometimes resolve version issues that may be affecting Marketplace.
Contact Facebook Support
If you still cannot access or use Facebook Marketplace after trying all the above troubleshooting steps, your last resort is to contact Facebook support for additional help.
To get support from Facebook for Marketplace issues:
- Open the Facebook app and tap Menu > Help & Support.
- Tap Help Center > Marketplace.
- Follow the prompts to select your issue and contact options.
Facebook’s support team may be able to provide specialized troubleshooting tips or identify any bugs preventing you from properly using Marketplace.
Consider Switching to Facebook on Desktop
In some cases, Facebook Marketplace may simply not be fully supported or functional in the mobile app on your particular device. As a workaround, you can access Facebook and Marketplace from a desktop computer browser where the feature is more reliably available.
To use Facebook Marketplace on a desktop:
- Go to www.facebook.com in any internet browser.
- Log into your Facebook account if not already logged in.
- Click Marketplace in the left menu.
The desktop website version of Marketplace may work better compared to the mobile app if you’re running into persistent technical issues.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace not working properly in the mobile app can be frustrating, but in most cases the problem can be resolved with some simple troubleshooting. Updating the app, checking permissions, reinstalling, and adjusting marketplace settings are some easy fixes to try first. For ongoing issues, contacting Facebook support provides an avenue to get personalized help correcting any glitches or bugs affecting access to Marketplace.