Facebook Marketplace is blocked or hidden because of your account settings, browser problems, your location, or your age
Facebook Marketplace doesn't work the same way for everyone. The most common reasons you can't see it are: you turned off access in your privacy settings, you're using an unsupported browser or app version, you're under 18, you live in a country where Marketplace isn't available, or your account has a restriction on it. Most of these are fixable in a few minutes.
Start by checking whether Marketplace is actually turned on for your account. Then move through the browser and device checks. If those don't work, the problem is usually something on Facebook's end that you can't fix yourself — but knowing which category your problem falls into will tell you what to try next.
Key Takeaways
- Marketplace access is turned off by default for accounts under 18, and Facebook won't show it to you even if you change your birth date later.
- If Marketplace worked before and stopped, check your privacy settings under Apps and Websites — you may have accidentally blocked it.
- Clearing your browser cache and cookies, or switching to a different browser, fixes most "Marketplace won't load" problems.
- Marketplace is not available in every country, and using a VPN to access it from an unsupported location can get your account restricted.
- If your account has a violation or restriction, Facebook will not show Marketplace to you until the restriction is lifted.
Check your age and account status first
Facebook requires you to be at least 18 years old to use Marketplace. If your account shows you as under 18, Marketplace will not appear anywhere on your account — not in the menu, not on the mobile app, nowhere. This is a hard block, and you cannot work around it.
If you recently turned 18 and Marketplace still doesn't show up, the problem is that Facebook locked your birth date when you first set it. You cannot change your birth date yourself once it's set. You'll need to contact Facebook through their Help Center and ask them to review your account age. This can take several days.
If your account has a restriction or violation on it — for example, you were warned about a post or temporarily blocked from posting — Facebook may hide Marketplace until the restriction expires. Check your Account Center (on mobile, tap the menu icon, then Settings & Privacy, then Settings, then Account Center) to see if there are any active restrictions listed.
Turn Marketplace back on in your privacy settings
Marketplace access is a separate permission you can turn off. If you did this by accident, or if someone else with access to your account turned it off, Marketplace will disappear. Here's how to turn it back on:
- On a computer, click the down arrow in the top right corner of Facebook and select Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
- On mobile, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), then Settings & Privacy, then Settings.
- Look for the section called Apps and Websites (on mobile, scroll down to find it).
- Click or tap Apps and Websites.
- Look for "Marketplace" in the list. If you see it, click on it and make sure the toggle is turned on (it should be blue or green, not gray).
- If you don't see Marketplace in the list at all, scroll down to the bottom and look for a section called "Inactive apps" or "Removed apps". If Marketplace is there, click on it and select "Turn on" or "Restore".
After you turn Marketplace back on, refresh your Facebook page or close and reopen the app. Marketplace should appear in your menu within a few minutes.
Clear your browser cache and try a different browser
If Marketplace loads partway and then stops, or if you see a blank screen where Marketplace should be, the problem is usually your browser's stored data. Cached files and cookies can get corrupted and break specific features while the rest of Facebook works fine.
The fastest fix is to open Facebook in a different browser. If you normally use Chrome, try Firefox or Safari. If Marketplace works in the other browser, you know the problem is your original browser, not your account.
To clear your cache in Chrome: click the three dots in the top right, select Settings, click Privacy and Security on the left, then click Clear Browsing Data. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files" are both checked. Set the time range to "All time" and click Clear Data. Then go back to Facebook and refresh the page.
In Firefox: click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select Settings, click Privacy & Security on the left, scroll to Cookies and Site Data, and click Clear Data. Make sure both boxes are checked and click Clear. Then refresh Facebook.
Check if Marketplace is available in your country
Facebook Marketplace is not available everywhere. It works in most of North America, Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia and Latin America, but not in every country. If you're traveling or living outside a supported region, Marketplace won't show up on your account.
There is no official list of which countries support Marketplace, but you can check by trying to access it. If it doesn't appear after you've checked your settings and cleared your browser, it's likely not available where you are.
Do not use a VPN to access Marketplace from an unsupported country. Facebook's terms of service prohibit this, and doing so can result in a restriction on your account or even permanent suspension. If you need to buy or sell items, use a local marketplace app or website instead.
Update your Facebook app or try the mobile website
If you're using the Facebook mobile app and Marketplace won't load, the app version you have may be outdated. Open your phone's app store (Google Play on Android, App Store on iPhone), search for Facebook, and check whether an update is available. If there is, install it and try Marketplace again.
If updating doesn't work, try accessing Marketplace through the mobile website instead. Open a web browser on your phone, go to facebook.com, and look for Marketplace in the menu. The mobile website sometimes works when the app doesn't, and this can help you figure out whether the problem is the app itself or your account.
If Marketplace works on the mobile website but not in the app, uninstall the Facebook app completely and reinstall it fresh from the app store. This removes any corrupted files that an update might not fix.
What to do if nothing works
If you've checked your age and settings, cleared your cache, tried a different browser, and confirmed Marketplace is available in your country, the problem is likely on Facebook's end. This can happen when Facebook is doing maintenance, when there's a bug affecting some accounts, or when your account has a flag that you can't see.
Wait 24 hours and try again. If Marketplace still doesn't appear, go to the Facebook Help Center, click the question mark icon in the top right of any Facebook page, and select Help Center. Search for "Marketplace not showing" and look for the option to report a problem. Describe what you've already tried, and Facebook will investigate your account.
You can also try accessing Marketplace through a different device — a tablet, a different computer, or a friend's phone while logged into your account. If it works on another device, the problem is specific to the device you were using, and you may need to restart it or check for software updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Marketplace if I'm 17 but turning 18 soon?
No. Marketplace is blocked for all accounts under 18, regardless of how close you are to your birthday. Once you turn 18 and your account updates, Marketplace should appear within a few hours. If it doesn't, contact Facebook's Help Center and ask them to manually review your account age.
Why does Marketplace work on my computer but not my phone?
This usually means your phone's Facebook app is outdated or has corrupted files. Update the app from your phone's app store, or uninstall it completely and reinstall it fresh. If it still doesn't work on the app, use the mobile website (facebook.com) instead.
I got a warning on a post — does that block Marketplace?
It depends on the warning. A simple warning about a single post usually doesn't block Marketplace. But if your account has an active restriction — meaning you're temporarily blocked from posting or messaging — Marketplace will be hidden until the restriction expires. Check your Account Center to see if you have any active restrictions.
Does using a VPN to access Marketplace from another country work?
It may work temporarily, but Facebook's terms prohibit it, and your account can be restricted or suspended if they detect it. Use a local marketplace app or website instead if Marketplace isn't available where you are.
What if I see Marketplace in my menu but it won't load when I click it?
Clear your browser cache and cookies, or try accessing Marketplace in a different browser. If it works in another browser, the problem is your original browser's stored data. If it doesn't work in any browser, wait a few hours — Facebook may be experiencing an outage affecting some accounts.