Frequently Asked Questions

LocalBitcoins is a peer-to-peer Bitcoin trading platform that connects buyers and sellers directly. We provide a secure escrow service and desktop application to facilitate safe Bitcoin transactions worldwide.

LocalBitcoins operates in over 190 countries worldwide. However, some jurisdictions may have restrictions. Check your local regulations before trading.

When a trade starts, the seller's Bitcoin is automatically moved to our secure escrow. The Bitcoin is held safely until the buyer confirms payment. Only then can the seller release the Bitcoin from escrow to complete the trade.

LocalBitcoins charges a small fee of 1% from the seller for each completed trade. Buyers trade for free. There are no fees for creating an account or maintaining a wallet.

You can cancel a trade from the trade window before payment is marked as complete. Both parties must agree to cancel, or the trade will automatically cancel if the payment window expires. Bitcoin in escrow will be returned to the seller.

If the seller refuses to release Bitcoin after you've paid, you can open a dispute. Our support team will review your payment proof and transaction evidence to resolve the issue fairly, typically within 24-48 hours.

Yes, you can create your own trade advertisement and set a custom price using a percentage margin above or below the current market rate. This allows you to compete with other traders while maintaining your desired profit margin.

LocalBitcoins supports hundreds of payment methods including bank transfers, cash deposits, PayPal, Skrill, gift cards, and many more. The available methods depend on the offers in your region.

Trade limits are set by individual sellers in their advertisements. Additionally, your account verification level determines your overall trading limits. Higher verification levels allow larger trades.

Go to Security Settings in your account, select Enable 2FA, and scan the QR code with your authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. Enter the 6-digit code to activate 2FA protection.

Immediately change your password and contact our support team. If you cannot access your account, use the account recovery option. We recommend enabling 2FA after regaining access to prevent future unauthorized access.

Yes, we use industry-standard encryption to protect your data. Your personal information is never shared with third parties without your consent. All sensitive data is encrypted both in transit and at rest.

Check the user's feedback score, number of completed trades, account age, and read reviews from previous trading partners. We recommend starting with smaller amounts when trading with new partners.

The LocalBitcoins desktop app is available for Windows 10 and later, macOS 11 and later, and major Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora.

The application automatically checks for updates when you launch it. You'll receive a notification when a new version is available. Click Update Now to download and install the latest version.

Yes, go to Account Settings and select Export Transaction History. You can download your complete trading history in CSV or PDF format for tax reporting or record-keeping purposes.

First, check your internet connection. If that's working, try restarting the application. Make sure your firewall isn't blocking the app. If issues persist, contact our technical support team for assistance.