Facebook Marketplace locks your location to your account settings, and changing it requires you to update your Facebook profile location first

Facebook Marketplace pulls your location directly from your Facebook profile. If you try to change where you're buying or selling on Marketplace itself, nothing happens — the app ignores the change because it only reads from one source. To move your location on Marketplace, you have to go into your main Facebook settings and change your profile location there. Once you do that, Marketplace updates automatically within a few minutes.

The reason Facebook built it this way is to prevent fraud. Scammers used to list items in one location to seem local, then ask buyers to wire money or use payment methods that can't be reversed. By tying Marketplace location to your verified profile location, Facebook made it harder to fake where you actually are.

Key Takeaways

  • Marketplace location comes from your Facebook profile location, not from a separate Marketplace setting, so you cannot change it within the Marketplace app alone.
  • You must go to your Facebook profile settings, find the location field, and update it there for Marketplace to reflect the change.
  • The change takes a few minutes to show up on Marketplace listings and your profile.
  • If you recently moved and your profile still shows your old address, that is why Marketplace is stuck on the old location.

How to change your location on Facebook first

Open Facebook on a web browser or the Facebook app. Tap or click your profile picture in the top right corner, then select "Settings & privacy" and then "Settings." On mobile, scroll down to find "Personal information" and tap "Location." On desktop, look for "Personal information" in the left menu and click "Location."

You will see your current location listed. Tap or click the pencil icon next to it to edit. Type in your new city and state, or your new address if you want to be more specific. Facebook will show you suggestions as you type. Select the one that matches where you actually live now. Tap "Save" or press Enter. The change takes effect when ready on your profile, and Marketplace will update within a few minutes.

Why Marketplace still shows your old location after you change it

If you changed your profile location but Marketplace still shows the old one, wait five to ten minutes and refresh the app. Close it completely and open it again. On mobile, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or tap the back button repeatedly (Android) to force the app to close, then reopen it. On desktop, refresh the page by pressing Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac).

If it still has not updated after that, sign out of Facebook entirely and sign back in. This clears the app's cache and forces it to pull your location fresh from your profile. Go to Settings & privacy, then Settings, scroll to the bottom, and tap "Log out." Then log back in with your username and password.

What to do if you cannot edit your location

Some accounts have location locked because of a security flag or a recent password change. Facebook does this to prevent someone who hacked your account from changing your location to hide their activity. If you see a message saying you cannot change your location right now, wait 24 hours and try again. This is a temporary block that lifts on its own.

If the block does not lift after a day, go to Settings & privacy, then Settings, then "Security and login." Look for "Where you're logged in" and check if there are any logins from places you do not recognize. If there are, tap "Log out of all sessions" to sign out everywhere, then sign back in on your device only. This resets your security status and usually removes the location lock.

Listing items from a different city than your profile location

Marketplace will not let you list items from a city that is not your profile location. If you moved recently but have not updated your profile yet, or if you are trying to sell something from a second home or a family member's address, you have to change your profile location first. There is no workaround — Marketplace checks your profile location every time you create a listing.

If you need to list items from multiple locations regularly, you have two options. You can update your profile location each time you list (slow but works), or you can create a separate Facebook account for the other location and use that account's Marketplace. The second account must have a real name and a real location — Facebook will disable accounts that look fake or that list from locations that do not match the profile.

Marketplace location versus shipping location

Your Marketplace location (where you are) is different from where you ship items. When you list something for sale, Marketplace shows your location to buyers so they know roughly where you are. But you can ship to anywhere in the country if you choose "Ships" instead of "Local pickup" as your delivery method. Your profile location does not limit where you can ship.

If you are buying, your location shows sellers where you are, but you can still bid on or message sellers in other cities. Marketplace does not prevent you from buying from far away — it just shows your location so sellers can decide if they want to ship or meet locally.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for Marketplace to update after I change my profile location?

Usually a few minutes. If it has been more than ten minutes, close the app completely and reopen it, or refresh the page on desktop. Signing out and back in will force an update if the app is being slow.

Can I list items in a city where I do not live?

No. Marketplace requires your listing location to match your profile location. If you need to list in a different city, you have to change your profile location first. If you list from multiple locations regularly, a separate account for each location is the only option.

Will changing my profile location affect anything else on Facebook?

Yes. Your location appears on your profile, in search results, and in ads you see. Changing it will update all of those. Your friends will see your new location on your profile. If you do not want people to see your location, you can set it to private in your profile privacy settings.

What if I see a message that says I cannot change my location right now?

Facebook locks location changes temporarily after a security event like a password reset or an unrecognized login. Wait 24 hours and try again. If it still will not work, check "Where you're logged in" in your security settings and log out of any sessions you do not recognize.

Can I change my Marketplace location without changing my Facebook profile location?

No. Marketplace pulls location from your profile only. There is no separate Marketplace location setting. You have to update your profile location for Marketplace to change.