The White Screen of Death: Surviving the "Marketplace Isn't Available to You" Error

I will never forget the morning of October 14th. I sat down with my coffee, ready to list a stack of vintage patio furniture I had sourced over the weekend. I opened the Facebook app, tapped the little house icon at the bottom, and... nothing. The icon was gone.

I searched "Marketplace" in the search bar. I clicked a link. And there it was—the message that strikes fear into the heart of every flipper: "Marketplace isn't available to you."

I stared at the screen. I hadn't argued with anyone in the comments. I hadn't tried to sell weapons or animals. I was just selling wicker chairs. Yet, in the blink of an AI's eye, my access to 3 billion potential customers had vanished. It took me three weeks, twelve "Shake to Report" tickets, and a lot of anxiety to get it back.

If you are staring at that grey icon or a blank screen, you aren't just dealing with a glitch; you are dealing with a gatekeeper. Whether you are a casual declutterer or running a full-time reseller business, losing access to Facebook Marketplace is a crisis. But before you create a new account (don't do that yet), you need to diagnose why the algorithm locked the door.

Why Is Marketplace Gone? (The AI vs. Reality)

When you ask why is marketplace gone, the answer is rarely a human decision. It is almost always an automated flag. Facebook's AI scans billions of interactions daily. It looks for patterns that resemble scams, bots, or prohibited sales.

Here’s where it gets interesting... the AI is incredibly literal and often wrong.

The "Keyword" Trap

I once listed a dress as "Ivory color." Within ten minutes, I lost access to Marketplace. Why? The AI saw the word "Ivory" and assumed I was selling illegal elephant tusks. It didn't look at the photo of the dress; it just saw the restricted keyword.

The "Speed" Trap

If you list 50 items in one hour, the AI assumes you are a bot. Real humans take breaks. If you cross-list too fast without tools that mimic human behavior, you trigger a spam filter.

The "Travel" Glitch

I went to Mexico for a vacation and opened Marketplace to look at local crafts. When I flew back to New Jersey, my Marketplace wouldn't load. The app was confused by the rapid location shift and locked me out for security.

Opinion Statement: Facebook's reliance on AI moderation without human oversight is its biggest flaw. It puts the burden of proof on the innocent user to prove they aren't a criminal, often with zero feedback on what "crime" was committed.

How to Fix Marketplace Isn't Available to You (Step-by-Step)

If you are locked out, don't panic. Follow this hierarchy of fixes.

1. The "Shake" Method

This sounds fake, but it is an actual feature.

Open the Facebook app.
Navigate to the page where Marketplace should be (or the error screen).
Physically shake your phone back and forth.
A menu will pop up: "Report a Problem."
Click it and explain: "I believe my access was revoked in error. I have not violated any policies."

2. Check the Support Inbox

You need to know if you were banned or if it's a glitch.

Go to Menu > Help & Support > Support Inbox.
Look for "Your Violations."
If you see a flagged listing there, delete it and click "Request Review."

3. Clear Cache and Reinstall

Sometimes, why does fb marketplace keep crashing is purely technical.

Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Facebook > Storage > Clear Cache.
iOS: Delete the app entirely and reinstall it. This forces the app to re-fetch your account permissions from the server.

My Honest Failure: I once created a second Facebook account when my main one was restricted. I thought I was being clever. Facebook linked the two accounts via my device ID and banned both of them permanently.

Lesson: Never try to evade a ban with a new account. It digs the hole deeper.

The "Prohibited Items" Minefield

To maintain a healthy reseller business, you must understand what you can't sell. Facebook is stricter than you think.

Unlike poshmark prohibited items (which are mostly focused on liquids, fakes, and used underwear), Facebook has a broader list of "Unsafe" goods.

The "Medical" Trap

You cannot sell medical devices. This includes:

CPAP machines.
Prescription glasses.
Even simple things like braces or crutches are often flagged.

The "Recall" Trap

Facebook links with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). If you list a vintage Ikea dresser that was recalled in 2014 for tipping over, the AI will catch it.

Result: The listing is removed, and you get a "Strike." Too many strikes, and facebook marketplace isn't available to you anymore.

Why Can't I Access Facebook Marketplace? (New Accounts)

If you just made an account to sell furniture, you might be blocked immediately. Why? Facebook Marketplace is not available to:

New Users: You usually need an account that is at least several months old.
Under 18s: You must be 18+.
Inactive Users: If you haven't posted or commented on Facebook in years, they may view your account as "dormant" and restrict marketplace access to prevent hacked account usage.

The Fix: Interact with the platform. Join a group (like a local "Buy Nothing" group). Comment on a friend's photo. Prove you are a human, not a burner account.

How to Turn On Marketplace on Facebook (The Shortcut)

Sometimes, the icon just disappears from your shortcut bar, and you aren't actually banned. If you are wondering how to turn on marketplace on facebook, it’s a navigation setting.

Open App: Go to the Menu (three horizontal lines).
Settings & Privacy: Click Settings.
Navigation Bar: Look for "Customize the bar."
Pin It: Find "Marketplace" in the list. It might be set to "Auto" or "Hidden." Change it to "Pin." This forces the icon to stay at the bottom of your screen, so the algorithm doesn't hide it based on your usage.

The Reseller Business Risk: Don't Build on Rented Land

This experience taught me that relying on one reseller marketplace is suicide for your income. If Facebook bans you tomorrow, do you lose 100% of your sales?

Diversification is Key:

Online Resellers who survive are those who cross-list.
If you sell vintage clothes, you need to be on Depop and Poshmark.
If you sell hard goods, you need to be on eBay and Mercari.

I use Closo to automate cross-listing my inventory to eBay and Mercari – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because when Facebook locked me out that week in October, I didn't lose my income. My items were still purchasable on eBay. Closo kept my business alive while I fought with the Facebook chatbots.

Why Does FB Marketplace Keep Crashing?

If you aren't banned, but the app just closes every time you click a listing, you are dealing with "App Rot." Facebook is a massive, bloated app.

Fixes for Crashing:

Update: Check the App Store. Facebook updates almost weekly.
Browser Test: Try accessing facebook.com/marketplace on your phone's browser (Chrome/Safari). If it works there, your account is fine, but your app is broken.
Facebook Lite: If you are on Android, download "Facebook Lite." It’s a stripped-down version that often bypasses the glitches of the main app.

People Always Ask Me...

"How long does a Marketplace ban last?"

Common question I see. It varies.

Temporary Limit: 24-48 hours (usually for posting too fast).
Review Period: 7 days (while they check your ID).
Permanent Ban: If you don't appeal within 30 days, it often becomes permanent. You must act fast.

"Can I use a VPN to access Marketplace?"

People always ask me this. No. Using a VPN is actually a huge red flag for Facebook. If your IP address bounces from Chicago to London in five minutes, their security bot assumes you are a hacker and locks the account. Always turn off your VPN when selling.

"Why can I buy but not sell?"

This is a "Seller Restriction."

It happens when you fulfill orders poorly (e.g., never uploading tracking on shipped orders) or have high cancellation rates.
You can still browse and buy, but your "List Item" button is grayed out. You are in "Timeout."

Conclusion

Seeing marketplace isn't available to you is a wake-up call. It reminds us that we don't own our profiles; Zuckerberg does.

To fix it, be persistent. Shake the phone. Appeal the violation. Check for the word "Ivory" or "Amber" in your listings. But more importantly, use this as a sign to diversify. A reseller business built on a single app is a house of cards.

So, check your Support Inbox today. Clear out any old warnings. And maybe go list that vintage lamp on eBay just in case.

If you are ready to secure your inventory against platform bans, check out our guide on How to Backup Your Reseller Inventory. And if you are looking for safer places to sell high-risk items, read our breakdown of The Best Marketplaces for Prohibited Items.

FAQ

Here's something everyone wants to know: Why did my Facebook Marketplace icon disappear?

The Marketplace icon often disappears due to dynamic menu settings. Facebook changes your shortcut bar based on what you use most. If you haven't visited Marketplace in a while, the app might hide the icon. You can restore it by going to Settings > Navigation Bar > Customize the bar and setting Marketplace to "Pin."

Common question I see: How do I appeal a Facebook Marketplace ban?

To appeal, go to the Menu > Help & Support > Support Inbox. Look for a message regarding your restriction. Click on it and select "Request Review." You may be asked to upload a photo of your ID or provide context. Reviews typically take anywhere from 24 hours to one week.

People always ask me: Can I make a new Facebook account if I get banned?

It is highly recommended that you do not create a new account immediately. Facebook tracks "device fingerprints" and IP addresses. If you create a new account from the same phone that was banned, the new account will likely be banned within hours for "circumventing enforcement." Focus on appealing the ban on your main account first.