How Does Tinder’s Algorithm Work? Explanation & Tips

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Your guide to increasing your matches
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Frustrated by a lack of matches or new profiles to swipe through on Tinder? Learning more about its algorithm and how Tinder works can help you boost your own profile and get more matches. That’s why we’re here to reveal Tinder’s secrets and let you in on what everyone wants to know: how to use the algorithm to your advantage. For our top Tinder tips, keep reading!

Things You Should Know

  • Tinder’s algorithm shows you to other profiles who have similar photos, bios, or location settings to your own.
  • To boost your Tinder profile, write a funny, creative bio and use pictures that show off your personality.
  • Swipe left sometimes to select matches carefully and show Tinder that you’re a high-quality profile.
Section 1 of 4:

How does Tinder’s algorithm work?

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  1. There are a few different things that Tinder takes into account when showing your profile to others: your photos, your bio, and how many people have swiped right on you. The better your profile is and the more right swipes you’ve gotten, the higher your profile goes in the algorithm (which means more people see it). [1]
    • Tinder also keeps track of who you’re swiping right on and will show you similar profiles. For instance, if you only swipe right on people with hiking pics in their profile, you’re likely to get more outdoorsy folks to match with.
    • Tinder does not track your religion, your ethnicity, or your social status. Your profile will never be boosted or throttled based on those factors.
  2. If you’ve been a Tinder-user for a while, you may have heard of an “Elo score,” which is an algorithm that some dating apps use to rank profiles. However, Tinder has said that while they used to use Elo, they are not relying on it anymore. [2]
    • Some dating apps use the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which pairs users who are similar to each other.
    • It’s unclear exactly what kind of algorithm Tinder uses now, since corporate keeps that info under wraps. However, we know enough that we can tell you how to boost your profile while using Tinder with the tips below.
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Section 2 of 4:

Increasing Your Algorithmic Score

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  1. Tinder rewards users who have fun, engaging profiles with good photos and bios. If you haven’t already, be sure to pick out your best photos, and write a funny, creative bio to get more matches . [3] Need more help filling out your profile? Check out our tips for creating a great Tinder profile at the bottom of this article.
    • Make sure that your profile is complete and accurately represents who you are and what you are looking for in a potential partner.
  2. Yes, it’s true: Tinder rewards its users who swipe on the app often. It’s easy to forget about Tinder and come back to it after a week, but unfortunately, that’s going to throttle your profile. Try to keep up a consistent schedule and use Tinder on a regular basis to hack the algorithm .
  3. Features like adding your relationship goals or including your pronouns are rolled out on the app fairly often. [4] If you open up Tinder one day and notice a feature you’ve never seen before, try it out! The algorithm will reward you because it wants its users to test new features.
  4. While swiping right on everyone might seem like a good strategy, it can actually backfire in a big way. Swiping right on everyone tells the algorithm that you’re not picky, so they’re going to show your profile to low-quality profiles (like people with no photos or blank bios). Since these low-quality profiles are likely bots, this severely decreases your chances of getting any matches.
    • On the flip side, when you’re picky about who you’re swiping right on, it tells the algorithm that you care about who you’re matching with, boosting your profile and showing you to higher-quality people.
  5. Super Liking a profile is like giving yourself a temporary boost: it forces Tinder to ignore the algorithm and push your profile to the top of that person’s queue. Use your 1 free Super Like that you get per day, and consider paying for more if you find success that way. [5]
  6. Tinder will bump your profile if you’re a paying customer. If you have the money and don’t mind spending a little extra, consider upgrading your profile to see if it makes a difference. If not, you can always cancel and go back to regular Tinder at any time. Here are your upgrade options: [6]
    • Tinder Plus: unlimited likes and rewinds, plus hides ads.
    • Tinder Gold: unlimited likes and rewinds, hiding ads, 5 Super Likes per day, and 1 Boost per month.
    • Tinder Platinum: unlimited likes and rewinds, hiding ads, 5 Super Likes per day, 1 Boost per month, prioritized likes, and the ability to message someone without matching with them.
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Section 3 of 4:

Resetting Tinder’s Algorithm

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  1. While deleting and remaking your account too often can result in a shadowban (meaning Tinder won’t show your profile to many people at all), you can do it once without any repercussions. If you think that your algorithm is messed up, delete your entire profile, then remake it using a different phone number or Facebook account. Since Tinder uses your number or FB account to track who you are, it will think you’re a different person and start your algorithm over from scratch. [7]
    • Like we mentioned above, be cautious about deleting and remaking your account too many times. If Tinder notices that your profile with the same name and similar photos keeps popping up, it might think you’re a bot (and then throttle your profile).
Section 4 of 4:

Creating a Great Tinder Profile

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  1. Selfies are great, but what do they say about you? When you’re looking through your best pics, try to find ones where you’re doing a fun hobby or hanging with friends. The more your photos let your personality shine, the more matches you’re likely to get. [8]
    • Try taking a quick pic when you’re on a hike or out walking your dog. These tell potential matches a little bit about you before you even start chatting.
    • Choose a high-quality profile picture that is clearly showing your face.
  2. Blank bios are a huge turnoff, and are bound to get you fewer matches. Take a few minutes to write a bio that’s both humorous and engaging to make a great Tinder profile . Let it highlight your interests and personality. Write a bio like: [9]
    • “Pros: Great at making pasta. Cons: Can only make pasta.”
    • “Last time I was somebody’s type, I was donating blood.”
    • “Looking for someone to watch horror movies with.”
  3. Show potential matches that yes, you’re a real human! Use Tinder’s features to link your Spotify and Instagram accounts to your profile. That way, people swiping will be able to start convos about your recent IG post or what band you’re really into right now.
    • Matches won’t be able to see your Instagram handle or your Spotify name, just the pics and songs on your profile.
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How Do You Get More Matches On Dating Apps?



Join the Discussion...

Tinder hacks that actually work to get more matches
WikiNarwhalJammer458
41
WikiNarwhalJammer458
I've (24yo man) been on the apps for 4 years now and it's been mostly frustrating. I feel like I spend hours on Tinder every week and only ever a... Read More
Maya Diamond, MA
Relationship Coach
Make sure your profile really showcases your interests, lifestyle, and personality, and that you make it very clear about what you're looking for... Read More
WikiGiraffeHugger577
WikiGiraffeHugger577
I don't work for Tinder or anything, but from what I've heard about the algorithm is that each person has a hidden score in the app. Tinder tries... Read More
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/articles/7606685697037-Powering-Tinder-The-Method-Behind-Our-Matching
      2. ↑ https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/articles/7606685697037-Powering-Tinder-The-Method-Behind-Our-Matching
      3. ↑ https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/articles/7606685697037-Powering-Tinder-The-Method-Behind-Our-Matching
      4. ↑ https://www.tinderpressroom.com/2022-12-14-Tinder-Introduces-Relationship-Goals,-Because-Sharing-What-You-Want-Is-Sexy
      5. ↑ https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004493543-Super-Like
      6. ↑ https://www.help.tinder.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004487406-Tinder-Subscriptions
      7. ↑ https://textgod.com/tinder-shadowban/
      8. ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-make-a-successful-tinder-profile
      9. ↑ https://www.gq.com/story/how-to-make-a-successful-tinder-profile

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