Let’s face it—Facebook Dating not showing up when you're ready to find your match can be seriously frustrating. You’ve heard about it, your friends are using it, and maybe you’re just now ready to dive in... but poof, it’s nowhere to be found.
Before you throw your phone across the room or start second-guessing your relationship fate, take a deep breath. You’re definitely not the only one dealing with this issue, and luckily, it’s something that can be fixed.
In this guide, we’re going to break down 8 simple solutions to help you get Facebook Dating to show up on your app. We’ll also sprinkle in some helpful tips, troubleshooting advice, and even a few dos and don’ts to make sure you’re ready to swipe once it's up and running.
Let’s get right into it.
What Is Facebook Dating, and Why Isn’t It Showing Up?
First things first—Facebook Dating is a feature within the Facebook app that helps users find romantic connections through things they already have in common, like interests, groups, and events. It’s free, easy to use, and doesn’t require a separate app.
But here’s the catch: not everyone sees it right away, even when they should. Sometimes, the feature just doesn't appear on your profile or in your menu, which leads to a ton of confusion.
If you’re wondering why, it’s usually due to
App version issues
Regional availability
Age restrictions
Incomplete profiles
Account settings
Facebook glitches
But don’t worry—we’ve got fixes for all of those below.
1. Update Your Facebook App
Let’s start with the most common (and honestly, most overlooked) solution: update the app.
If you're using an outdated version of Facebook, there's a good chance you're missing out on newer features—including Dating. Developers roll out new features through updates, and not having the latest one might be why Facebook Dating isn’t showing up.
How to update:
Android: Open the Google Play Store > Search “Facebook” > Tap "Update."
iPhone: Go to the App Store > Search “Facebook” > Tap "Update."
After updating, restart the app. Then check your menu (☰) and scroll to see if Dating is there.
Pro Tip: Always keep auto-updates turned on so you never miss new features again.
2. Check If Facebook Dating Is Available in Your Country
This one stings a little, but it’s important: Facebook Dating isn’t available everywhere yet.
Even though it’s been rolling out globally, some countries still don’t have access. If you’re in a location where it hasn't launched, no amount of troubleshooting will bring it up until Facebook enables it there.
Here's what you can do:
Do a quick web search: “Is Facebook Dating available in [Your Country]?”
Visit the official Facebook Help Center for updates on supported countries.
If it’s not yet available in your country, you might consider using a VPN—but proceed with caution. Facebook’s terms of service might not support this workaround.
3. Make Sure You Meet the Age Requirement
Another reason Facebook Dating might be MIA? You’re under the age limit.
Facebook requires users to be 18 years or older to use the Dating feature. Even if you just turned 18, Facebook might still be verifying your profile details before granting access.
Check your date of birth in your profile settings. If it’s wrong or missing, correct it. Sometimes a typo (like putting your birth year as 2008 instead of 1998) can keep you from accessing age-restricted features.
4. Complete Your Facebook Profile
Facebook Dating wants to match you with people who share your interests—but if your profile is basically a ghost town, it won’t work.
Incomplete profiles often result in features like Dating not showing up.
What should you check?
Add a profile photo.
Update your bio and basic info.
Include your relationship status (important for algorithm accuracy).
Join a few groups or like some pages to help Facebook learn about your interests.
Once you’ve added more life to your profile, close and reopen the app to see if Dating appears.
5. Use the official Facebook app (not Lite or Browser).
If you're using Facebook Lite or just browsing Facebook on a mobile browser, that might be why you can't find the Dating feature.
Facebook Dating is only available on the full version of the mobile Facebook app—not the Lite version and not the desktop site.
Here’s what you need:
The official Facebook app from Google Play or the App Store
A smartphone (iOS or Android) with a decent amount of storage and functionality
If you're already using the full app and still can't see it, try deleting and reinstalling the app. This can refresh hidden features and clear old cache data.
6. Check the Menu (and Scroll All the Way Down!)
It sounds obvious, but it happens all the time—people don’t scroll far enough down the menu to find Dating.
Facebook organizes your shortcuts in the Menu (the three-line ☰ icon on the bottom-right or top-right of the screen, depending on your device), and sometimes Dating is buried under a long list of other features.
So take a minute, open the menu, and scroll all the way down. You might find Facebook Dating quietly waiting for you there.
If you still don’t see it:
Tap on “See More."
Use the search bar at the top of the menu and type "dating."
7. Clear Facebook App Cache (Android Users)
Sometimes, the app builds up so much cache that it starts to glitch or hide certain features—like Dating.
If you're on Android, try clearing the Facebook app cache:
How to do it:
Go to Settings > Apps.
Find and tap on Facebook.
Tap Storage
Tap Clear Cache.
Then relaunch the app and check for the dating feature.
Note: iPhone users don’t have a direct way to clear cache, but deleting and reinstalling the app has the same effect.
8. Log Out and Back In (or Reinstall the App)
If you’ve tried everything and Dating is still hiding from you, it’s time to try the old IT classic: log out and back in.
This simple move can reset your session, sync your profile info, and pull in any features that are missing.
Steps:
Log out of Facebook.
Close the app completely.
Reopen and log back in.
Still nothing? Then go ahead and uninstall the app entirely, reinstall it, and log in fresh.
Bonus Fixes and Tips
Just in case those 8 solutions didn’t do the trick, here are a few extra tips:
✔️ Make Sure Your Location Services Are On
Facebook Dating uses your location to match you with people nearby. If your GPS or location services are off, the feature may not show up or may not work properly.
Go to your phone’s settings > Apps > Facebook > Permissions > Enable Location.
✔️ Check Facebook’s Server Status
It’s rare, but sometimes Facebook’s services go down temporarily. Check sites like Downdetector to see if others are reporting the same issue.
✔️ Avoid Violating Community Standards
If your account has been flagged or restricted for any reason (like spam, inappropriate posts, or fake info), features like Dating may be temporarily disabled. Make sure your account is in good standing.
What If Facebook Dating Still Isn’t Showing Up?
If you've gone through all 8 steps (and the bonus tips) and you're still not seeing Dating, it might be time to reach out to Facebook Support directly.
You can do that by
Going to the Facebook app
Tapping the Menu (☰)
Scrolling to Help & Support
Choosing Report a Problem
Be specific when explaining the issue and list what you’ve already tried.
Conclution:
Facebook Dating not showing up doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when it comes to online romance. It’s usually a small technical hiccup or a setting that needs tweaking. With these 8 simple solutions, you're well on your way to fixing the issue and getting back to what really matters—meeting someone new.
Let’s do a quick recap:
Keep your app updated.
Make sure Dating is available in your region.
Double-check your age and profile info.
Use the full Facebook app—not Lite or web.
Scroll down in the menu.
Clear the app cache.
Reinstall the app if necessary.
Don’t be afraid to contact support if all else fails.
So go ahead—get your Facebook Dating working and start swiping toward your next big connection.
Good luck out there!