Skip to main content
  Home > Help >Using eBay's mobile apps on your smartphone
Help
Search Help pages
(Does not search for items or products)
 Searchtips
Using eBay's mobile apps on your smartphone


With eBay's mobile applications, you can snag that hard-to-find item, check the status of your eBay activities, get alerts when you're outbid, and list items for sale with select apps. On-the-go shopping and selling is convenient and fun.

Buying items from your mobile device

You can buy items on eBay straight from your mobile device simply by downloading one of our mobile apps. They're free and available for:

If you have a different phone, you can still access eBay using the phone's web browser. Just enter eBay.co.uk in the browser's web address field and you'll see the mobile version of our website, tailored to fit your phone's screen.

On an iPhone, iPad or Android device, you can use the barcode scanner to compare in-store versus eBay prices for items that are in our catalogue. You can pay for items quickly and securely using PayPal. If the seller doesn't accept PayPal, you'll need to complete the purchase on eBay.co.uk using a computer.

Searching for items on eBay works just like it does on a computer. Enter the name or keywords of the item you're looking for and you'll get a list of items that match. The eBay app for Android also comes with voice-enabled search: Tap the microphone button on your Android phone, say what you're looking for, and the app will search for that item.

Selling items on eBay from your mobile device

The eBay apps for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry let you create a listing with a simple form.

You can also do things like:

  • Research sales trends and completed listings for similar items to set a competitive price for your item

  • Take pictures with your camera-equipped device and add them to your listing

  • Scan your item's barcode to automatically add product details that are in our catalogue (Requires a camera-equipped device, and for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, you need to have Apple's iOS 4 or newer installed. This feature isn't available yet on our BlackBerry app.)

  • Predefine and save your listing preferences like handling time and return policy

  • Use the Sell one like this feature to auto-fill some of your item details (This feature isn't available yet on our BlackBerry app.)

  • Accept PayPal as a payment method

  • Keep track of your active listings

  • Relist items

  • Provide tracking information to buyers (not yet available on our BlackBerry app) and respond to questions straight away

The fees for selling on eBay are the same when using eBay's mobile apps, and the same rules and policies apply.

Comparing mobile app features 

We offer buying and selling features in our iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad, and Android apps, and we're working on expanding the selling feature to the other mobile platforms.

Here's an overview of what's available from each app:

Features

iPhone/
iPod Touch

(Apple iOS)

iPad


(Apple iOS)

Android

Windows Phone

BlackBerry

Mobile Web

Buying

 

 

 

 

 

 

Search / Refine search

x

x

x

x

x

x

Voice-enabled search

 

 

x

 

 

 

Saved searches

x

x

x

x

 

x

Favourite sellers

 x

x

 x

 

 

 

Daily Deals

x

x

x

x

 

x

Deal Finder

 

 

 

x

x

 

Parts compatibility for your vehicle

x

x

Share listings via email, Facebook or Twitter

x

x

x

x

x

 

Barcode scanner

x*

 x*

x

x

 

 

Buyer alerts/Notifications

x

x

x

x

x

 

Ask seller a question

x

x

x

x

x

Make a Best Offer

x

x

x

PayPal

x

x

x

x

x

x

Change the delivery method
(if the seller offers various options)

x

x

x

x

Change or add a delivery address

x

x

x

x

View tracking number

x

x

x

x

 

 

Selling

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research similar items

x

x

x

x

x

x

Sell one like this

x

x

x

x

 

 

Barcode scanner

x*

x*

x

x

 

 

Create listings

x

x

x

x

x

 

Photo upload

x

x

x

x

x

 

Set quantity

x

x

x

x

x

 

Schedule listings

x

x

x

x

x

 

Best Offer (add, accept,
decline, or counter-offer)

x

x

x

Add tracking number

x

x

x

 

 

 

Preview/Review listings

x

x

x

x

x

Revise listings

 x

x

x

x

 

 

Relist

x

x

x

x

x

x

Account

 

 

 

 

 

 

Register

x

x

x

x

My eBay

x

x

x

x

x

x

Leave Feedback

x

x

x

x

x

x

Messaging

x

x

x

x

x

 

Contact eBay

x

x

x

x

x

*To use barcode scanning, your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch must have the iOS 4 operating system (or newer) installed. Your iPad or iPod Touch also has to come with a built-in camera.

Getting the eBay Mobile apps

Our mobile apps are free, and downloading one should only take a few minutes. It's often faster over Wi-Fi than on a cellular connection so make sure your device is connected to a wireless network.

To start using the eBay Mobile app, here's how to get it for your device:

To get the eBay app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch:
  1. Tap the App Store icon.

  2. Tap the Search icon at the bottom of the screen, and then search for 'eBay Mobile ' or 'eBay for iPad '.

  3. Tap eBay Mobile from the list of apps, tap Free, and then install the app.

To get the eBay app on your Android phone:
  1. Tap the Android Market icon on your smartphone.

  2. Search for 'Official eBay for Android App', and then install it.

To get the eBay app on your Windows Phone:
  1. From Start, tap Marketplace.

  2. Tap Applications.

  3. Search for 'eBay for Windows Phone ', tap it, and then tap Install twice.

To get the eBay app on your BlackBerry:
  1. Go to the BlackBerry App World on your phone.

  2. Search for 'eBay Mobile ', and then install it.

Fixing common technical problems

Here are a few things you can do to fix common technical problems:

Problem

Solution

Can't launch or use the app

Be sure you have the latest version of our app. If not, please update it.  


For example, to update the eBay Mobile app on your iPhone, you need to:

  1. Tap the App Store icon.

  2. Tap Update at the bottom of the screen.

  3. Select eBay, and then tap Update.

Already have the latest version of the app, but still can't launch or use it

Uninstall the app, and then reinstall it.

Note: No information will be lost. All your eBay account activity is stored on eBay.co.uk, not on the phone.

Lost Wi-Fi connection

You may need to reconnect to your wireless network. Here's how:

  1. Go to your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings.

  2. Select your network. If you've previously set up a connection to that network, your device should automatically connect to it using the password that you entered before. If not, enter the password.

Photos won't upload

Try these solutions:

  • Uninstall the app, and then reinstall it.

  • Reboot your mobile device.

Can't log in with eBay user ID or password

Try these solutions:

  • Make sure you're entering all your information correctly. If your device has the predictive text feature for typing, it may automatically enter something that doesn't match your user ID or password. Double-check what you enter when you sign in.

  • If you use the PayPal Security Key for your password, make sure you add the security key numbers to the end of your password when you sign in.

Contact Customer Support
If you're looking for more help or have a question to ask, contact us.
Contact us

Have a question? We can help.

 Contact us

Ask eBay members

Get help from other eBay members. Visit the Answer Centre to post a question.