Change your location in the Marketplace app or website

Facebook Marketplace uses your account location to show you items for sale near you and to let other buyers find your listings. You can change this location in your account settings without moving your home — the location you set is what appears to other users and determines which items show up in your feed.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use the mobile app or a web browser, but both take about two minutes. Your new location takes effect when ready, though it may take a few hours for the Marketplace feed to fully refresh with items from your new area.

Key Takeaways

  • On mobile, go to the menu icon, tap Settings and Privacy, then Settings, scroll to Location, and choose Edit next to your current city.
  • On a web browser, click the menu icon in the top left, select Settings, then Location, and click Edit to change your city.
  • You can set your location to any city in your country, even if you do not live there — Marketplace does not verify your actual address.
  • Changing your Marketplace location does not change your account location for other Facebook features like ads or friend recommendations.
  • If you list items for sale, your new location will appear on all future listings, but existing listings keep their original location until you edit them individually.

Steps to change location on the Facebook mobile app

Open the Facebook app and tap the three horizontal lines (the menu icon) in the bottom right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy, then tap Settings. The Settings page will open.

Scroll down until you see Location listed under the Personal Information section. Tap it. You will see your current city displayed. Tap the Edit button next to your city name. A search box will appear where you can type a new city name. Type the city you want, select it from the dropdown list that appears, and tap Save. The app will return to your Settings page, and your location is now changed.

If you do not see a Location option in Settings, make sure you are using the latest version of the Facebook app. Go to your phone's app store (Google Play for Android, App Store for iPhone), search for Facebook, and update if an update is available.

Steps to change location on Facebook.com in a web browser

Go to Facebook.com and log in. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner of the page. Scroll down the menu and click Settings and Privacy, then click Settings. The Settings page will load.

On the left side of the Settings page, you will see a list of categories. Click Location. On the right side, you will see your current city listed. Click the Edit button next to it. A text box will appear. Clear the current city name and type the new city you want. Select the correct city from the dropdown suggestions and click Save. Your location is now updated.

What happens to your listings when you change location

If you have active listings on Marketplace, changing your location affects only new listings you create after the change. Your existing listings will keep showing the city where you originally posted them. If you want your old listings to show your new location, you must edit each one individually.

To edit an existing listing, go to your Marketplace profile, find the item, and click or tap the three dots next to it. Select Edit, and the location field will be editable. Change it to your new city and save. This is useful if you have moved and want buyers to know your current location, or if you want to sell items from a different area.

Location changes do not affect other Facebook features

Changing your Marketplace location is separate from your main Facebook account location. Your account location is used for things like targeted ads, friend recommendations, and event suggestions. Changing only your Marketplace location will not change where Facebook thinks you live for those other purposes.

If you want to change your main account location as well, that is a different setting. Go to Settings, click Personal Information, find Hometown or Current City, and edit those separately. Most people do not need to do this — changing your Marketplace location alone is usually enough.

Troubleshooting location change problems

If the Edit button does not appear next to your location, or if your location will not save, try logging out and logging back in. Close the app completely (not just minimize it) and reopen it, or close your browser tab and return to Facebook.com. Sometimes the page needs to reload to show the edit option.

If you see an error message when you try to save, make sure you typed a real city name that Facebook recognizes. Marketplace only accepts actual cities, not neighborhood names or street addresses. If the city name is correct and it still will not save, wait a few minutes and try again — this can happen if Facebook's servers are temporarily slow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set my Marketplace location to a city where I do not live?

Yes. Facebook Marketplace does not verify that you actually live in the city you select. You can set your location to any city in your country. Some people do this to sell items to a wider audience or to browse items in a different area, though local buyers may expect to pick up items in person.

Will changing my Marketplace location affect my privacy?

Your Marketplace location is visible to other users when they view your listings or profile. Changing it does not make your account more or less private — whatever location you set will be shown to anyone browsing Marketplace. If privacy is a concern, consider whether you want buyers to know your general area.

How often can I change my Marketplace location?

You can change your location as often as you want. There is no limit on how many times you switch it or how frequently you do so. If you move or want to sell in a different area, you can update it when ready.

What if my city does not appear in the dropdown list?

Try typing a larger nearby city instead. Marketplace may not recognize very small towns, so selecting the nearest major city usually works. You can also try typing the city name with the state abbreviation, like "Austin, TX" instead of just "Austin".

Do I need to change my location if I am selling items online only?

No. If you ship items instead of meeting buyers in person, your Marketplace location matters less. However, some buyers filter by location, so setting it to a real city helps your listings show up in searches. You can set it to any city — it does not have to be where you actually live.