Facebook Dating Not Showing Up or Not Working? Reasons and Fixes

Does this match what you see?

• You can’t find Dating anywhere in the Facebook app menu or shortcuts.
• Dating used to be there and has disappeared after an update.
• You see a message that Dating is not available in your area or a location mismatch notice.
• Dating asks you to confirm your age with a video selfie or ID.
• Your Dating profile won’t create, or you see Limit reached or a message that you’ve created too many profiles and should try later.
• Dating opens but matches, likes or messages don’t load.

iPhone & iPadAndroid

Meta describes Dating as a space within the Facebook app. Menu names and where Dating appears change between app versions and countries, so look for the closest match if a label differs.

How to turn on Facebook Dating (step by step)

Dating is opt-in: you set up a separate Dating profile in the Facebook app for iPhone or Android. These are Meta’s steps:

1. Before you start, turn on Location Services for Facebook. Meta says Dating uses Location Services to suggest matches based on your distance preferences (see Fix 4 if you’re not sure how).
2. Open the Facebook app, tap Menu, then Dating (under See more if needed). Meta’s steps put Menu at the top left; on the Android phone we checked, it was at the top right.
3. Tap Get started and go through the questions. Make your choices and tap Next, or tap Skip to move on.
4. Below Ready to review the details?, tap Confirm.
5. Tap Next to finish.

Part of setup is choosing your gender identity: Woman, Man, Nonbinary, or Let me be more specific (Cis woman, Trans woman, Cis man, Trans man). Meta says the list doesn’t reflect the full spectrum of identity, and asks you to pick the closest so it can suggest relevant matches. If you’re cis and want to match with trans or non-binary people, Meta says to choose Let me be more specific, then Cis woman or Cis man. If you identify as trans, you choose who can see your profile: Everyone, All [gender] or Trans [gender].

Edit or remove photos and prompts on your Dating profile

Meta says you can have up to 12 photos and prompts on your Dating profile. At least one photo must be of you, with your face visible. Your Dating profile is separate from your Facebook profile, so removing a Dating photo doesn’t affect photos you’ve shared on Facebook or Instagram.

1. In the Facebook app, tap Menu, then Dating.
2. Tap Profile in the top right, then Dating profile.
3. In the top right of the photo or prompt, tap Remove, then tap Remove again to confirm.

You must keep at least one photo. If you only have one, tap Add a photo to choose a new picture first, then remove the old one.

Meta’s photo tips: use a photo of just you as your main photo, with your face clearly shown; choose clear, well-lit photos; add a few of you doing things you love; and include photos someone else took, not only selfies. Post a photo of yourself before photos of other people. Meta says never to post a photo of an unaccompanied minor or an unclothed minor.

No matches, or your Dating profile was removed?

• No matches showing: Meta says Dating uses Location Services to suggest matches based on your distance preferences, so check location is on. Then widen your preferences: in Dating, tap the icon at the top right > Dating preferences, tap a section (such as age, gender identity or distance), change it and tap Save. As general advice, very narrow settings leave fewer people to suggest.
• How suggestions are chosen: Meta says suggested matches come from your Dating preferences (such as height, age and education) and Dating profile, plus things on Facebook like your hometown, schools, and Groups and Events you have in common. Turning on This is a strong preference for an option narrows your suggestions further, so fewer people show up.
• Can’t send another message, or can’t find your Dating chats? Meta says you can send a like or a message (tap a photo, write a message and send it), but you can only message a suggested match again once they reply or send a like back; that’s when the conversation starts. Dating chats are in the Matches tab inside Dating, not in Messenger. You get a Facebook notification when someone likes or messages you.
• Like someone you already know? Meta’s Crush feature lets you send a crush to a Facebook friend, or a friend of a friend. In Dating, tap Crush at the bottom, tap Search (or browse Explore your friend network), then tap Send crush. Meta says they’ll see that you liked them: your profile appears in their Liked You tab.
• Seeing friends of friends, or don’t want to? Meta says Suggest friends of friends is on unless you turn it off, so you may see friends of your Facebook friends. To turn it off: in Dating, tap the icon at the top right > Settings > scroll down to Privacy Settings > turn off Suggest friends of friends. Your suggestions then won’t include them.
• Want matches somewhere else? Meta’s Match Anywhere lets you browse suggested matches outside your primary Dating location, and add up to 2 more Dating locations to show you’re looking there. You can also control whether people who added your area as an extra location can see and match with you. Meta says it’s only available to some people right now, and not to new Dating profiles. To add a location: in Dating, tap Profile (top right) > Dating preferences > Dating location > Add locations, then search for and tap the place. To remove one, tap Delete next to it, then Delete this location. You can change each extra location once a week.
• Dating profile removed or restricted: look for a notice in the app and follow any review option it offers. Check Meta’s rules for Dating profiles, such as not misrepresenting your name, age or location and not selling anything. Don’t create a new Dating profile to get around it.
• Dating notifications missing: check that notifications are allowed for Facebook on your phone — see Facebook notifications not working.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Start by matching what you see to the right cause. Generic fixes like restarting won’t help if Dating simply isn’t available to your account yet.

• You’re using an older Facebook appCheck this first

  When Meta launched Dating in 2019 it said users needed the most recent version of the Facebook app. Older versions may not show the option.

• Dating isn’t offered in your countryCheck this first

  Meta lists the countries where Dating is available (see the list below). It includes the US, UK, Canada and most of the EU, but not Australia. Third-party lists are often years out of date.

• Your account is new, inactive or not in good standingCheck this first

  Meta says you need a Facebook account in good standing that is at least 30 days old, and that it may restrict Dating for new or inactive accounts. If your account is younger than 30 days, wait; if you rarely use Facebook, normal use may matter.

• You don’t meet the age requirement — or Meta needs to confirm itPossible

  Meta requires people to be at least 18 to use Dating. If Meta thinks someone may be under 18, it can ask them to verify their age before they can continue.

• Location settings or a mismatchPossible

  Dating uses your location to show matches. If location permission is off, or your location appears to be somewhere Dating isn’t offered, it may not work. Meta also says that if your Dating location doesn’t match your Primary Location on Facebook, you can’t make new matches until they match, and that using a VPN may cause a mismatch.

• You’re looking on a computerCheck this first

  Meta says Dating is available from the Facebook app for Android or iPhone. If you’re on facebook.com in a browser, switch to the app.

• Meta has restricted Dating for your accountPossible

  Meta says it may restrict which accounts can access Dating, and that losing access can happen if you went against its Terms of Service, Community Standards or other policies. Look for any notice in the app.

Who can use Facebook Dating, and where it’s available

According to Meta’s help page Who can use Facebook Dating (checked 20 October 2026), you must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have a Facebook account in good standing that is at least 30 days old.
• Live in a country where Dating is available.

Meta also says Dating is available from the Facebook app for Android or iPhone, that it may restrict which accounts can access Dating (for example new or inactive accounts, or accounts that went against its Terms of Service, Community Standards or other policies), and that if you delete your Dating profile you can’t make a new one for 7 days.

Meta’s Supplemental Facebook Dating Terms (external site, opens in a new tab) also apply. Meta says they make Dating available only to people over 18 who are legally permitted to use it where they live.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Dating assistant: how to use it, and view or delete its memory

Meta says the dating assistant helps you find matches with recommendations and AI-generated dating advice. It’s being introduced gradually, so you may not have it yet; if you don’t see it, update the Facebook app and check again later.

Start using the dating assistant

You need a Dating profile first. Meta says the assistant appears as a chat in the Matches tab:

1. In the Facebook app, tap Menu, then Dating.
2. Tap Matches, then under Conversations, tap dating assistant.
3. Read the welcome message and tap Continue. Meta says using it means you agree to Meta’s AI Terms.

• You can ask it to show you Dating profiles that match a request, and Meta says others may be shown your profile when they use it.
• Meta says only some profile fields are used for suggestions, such as job, education level, height, stated age, location, interests, languages and zodiac sign.
• Meta says the assistant uses your interactions with it to generate responses, and your messages with other daters stay private.

What the assistant remembers

Meta says the Meta AI dating assistant saves memories from your conversations with it to improve recommendations.

See your Dating assistant memory

1. In the Facebook app, go to Dating and tap Settings.
2. Tap Dating assistant memory.
3. Review what it has learned about you and about what you’re looking for.

Delete a memory

1. In Dating assistant memory, tap the memory you want to remove.
2. Tap Delete memory, then confirm.

• Meta says you can only delete individual memories for now.
• Deleting a memory doesn’t stop the assistant saving new ones, and it may save the same information again later.
• Meta’s examples of what may be saved: preferring partners who live nearby or are outdoorsy, or liking hiking. Meta says it won’t save sensitive information such as your religion, a disability or health condition, or your race or ethnicity.

Thinking of deleting your Dating profile to start again? Read this first

Deleting and recreating a Dating profile is a common “fix”, but Meta says you can’t create a new profile for 7 days after deleting one, and deleting removes your profile, answers, likes, matches and conversations. Meta says this information can’t be recovered, and your matches can still see the conversations they had with you.

Want a copy of your Dating information first? Meta says to open the Facebook app on your phone and go to Your information and permissions in your Meta Account (some people see Accounts Center instead while Meta updates accounts). On a computer the same section is under your profile picture > Settings & privacy > Settings > Meta Account > Your information and permissions, where you can export your information. If you added Instagram posts or stories to Dating, those are part of your Instagram data, which you download from Instagram.

If you still want to delete it, these are Meta’s steps:

1. In the Facebook app, tap Menu, then Dating.
2. Tap the icon at the top right (in Meta’s unblock steps this is Profile), then Settings.
3. Below Account, tap Delete Profile, then confirm with Delete Profile.

Meta says you can delete your Dating profile without deleting your Facebook account. Deleting your Facebook account also deletes your Dating profile (see deactivate or delete your account).

Notices you might see (reported wording)

These are the messages as people report seeing them. The exact wording on your screen can differ by app version, language and region, so match the meaning, not every word.

Stay safe on Facebook Dating

Once Dating works, know the warning signs Meta lists: a match who wants to leave Dating straight away, says they’re in love very quickly, cancels a visit after “something bad happened”, or asks for money, gifts or gift cards. Meta says any online love interest who asks for money is likely a scammer.

For Meta’s full warning signs, how to report and block in Dating, what to do if you sent money, and tips for meeting safely, see Facebook Dating scams and safety.

How to know it worked

• Dating appears in the Facebook app’s menu (or your shortcuts) and opens.
• Your Dating profile is visible to you and editable.
• Profiles near you load, and you can like or message without an error.
• No location or age notice appears when you reopen Dating.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Re-check Meta’s Who can use Facebook Dating page — if Dating isn’t offered in your country, the only option is to wait.
2. If you’ve completed an age check and it failed, look for another verification option in the app.
3. Reinstall the Facebook app as a last resort (make sure you know your password and can receive login codes first).
4. Report the problem: on a computer, click your profile picture > Help and support > Report a problem (Meta’s steps), or in the Android app tap ☰ Menu > Help and support > Report a problem (or shake your phone on the screen with the problem) and pick it on Select product, with a screenshot and description.
5. If your whole account is restricted, see Facebook account disabled or suspended.

Frequently asked questions