In most cases, a lack of studies comes down to availability or eligibility, not a problem with your account.
Why am I not receiving any studies?
There are two likely reasons:
No studies are currently available. Researchers usually launch studies during their working hours, so weekends and holidays tend to be quieter
You don't meet the eligibility criteria for currently active studies, studies can have specific requirements, for example university students in France aged 20 to 30
It's unlikely there's anything wrong with your account unless one of these applies to you:
You took part in a study and received an error code
You tried to log in and were told your account is on hold
You have a limited-access participant account
We also work to keep study distribution fair, so everyone gets an equal chance to take part. If you've completed a lot of studies recently, you may see fewer invitations for a short time as a result.
If none of this applies to you, the most likely explanation is simply that no studies are available right now, or you don't meet the eligibility criteria for the studies that are active.
What can I do to receive more studies?
Keep your About You questions complete and up to date, this gives you the best chance of matching active studies
Avoid VPNs, private relays, and similar services while using Prolific, if you're having trouble seeing studies, try a different browser, device, or internet connection, this can help if your IP has been flagged
If you signed up as a limited participant, check the study estimate you received when you signed up, we'll let you know about any changes, and every study you can access will appear in your studies list
If your account is in good standing, it's just a matter of waiting for new studies to appear.
Why do I see different studies on different devices?
If you're logged into Prolific on more than one device or browser at the same time, this is likely why. Studies only show up on one active session at a time, so your study feed can look different depending on where you're logged in.
To fix this:
Log out of Prolific on every device except the one you want to use
Log back in on that device only
Check your studies list again, it should now match your active session
If you're still not seeing studies after that, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or privacy tool could be affecting things, even one you didn't turn on yourself.
Turn off any VPN or proxy service while using Prolific
If you use an Apple device, check whether iCloud Private Relay is turned on: search Private Relay in Spotlight, and switch it off if it's active
Try switching networks or devices to see if that changes what you can access
This is usually just a setup issue, not a problem with your account.