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I still remember the Tuesday I accidentally swiped right on my high-school lab partnerâon Facebook, not Tinder. My phone buzzed, and suddenly âChemistry 2.0â was more than a class; it was a potential date. Hereâs the thing: none of it wouldâve happened if I hadnât first unlocked Facebook Dating, the tucked-away feature that 70 % of my single friends still donât know exists.
Ready to discover how Facebook Dating worksâand why itâs quietly becoming the sleeper hit? Letâs dive in and get you matching before your next coffee break.
Update the App & Log In (Yes, Itâs ObviousâBut Do It Anyway)
âBut I already have Facebook,â you say. Fair. Still, double-check:
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iPhone: App Store â Updates â Facebook â Update.
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Android: Google Play â Manage apps â Facebook â Update.
Older versions sometimes hide the Dating icon under a maze of menus. Once youâre on the latest build, open the app and log in. If youâre still using a burner account from 2013, nowâs the time to switch to your real profileâFacebook Dating pulls basics like your first name and age straight from it.
Find the Hidden âDatingâ Tab (a.k.a. Where Did They Hide It?)
Open the Facebook app and look for the three horizontal lines (nicknamed the âhamburgerâ):
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iOS: Bottom-right corner.
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Android: Top-right corner.
Scroll until you spot a purple heart icon labeled Dating. If itâs not there, tap the search bar inside the menu and type DatingâFacebook will surface it even if itâs buried.
Hereâs what surprised me: on my older Samsung, the tab only showed up after I switched my language to English (US). Regional quirks are real; if youâre traveling or using a second language, toggle back temporarily.
Tap âGet Startedâ & Set Your Ground Rules
Youâll land on a welcome screen that feels oddly like a wedding invite: soft purple gradient, subtle confetti animation. Tap Get Started. Facebook will ask three quick things:
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Confirm your first name and age (auto-filled).
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Allow location accessâyouâll need this to match locally.
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Choose your gender and whom you want to meet (men, women, everyone, or custom).
Craft a Profile That Doesnât Scream âI Rushed Thisâ
Facebook makes setup stupid-simple by importing your most recent profile photo and job info. But letâs be realânobody falls in love over your 2019 company headshot. Spend five extra minutes on these Facebook Dating profile tips:
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Photos: Upload 4â6 pictures, including one full-body shot and one candid laugh. Profiles with 4+ pics get 50 % more likes.
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Prompts: Answer at least two (âMy simple pleasuresâŠâ or âThe last song I belted in the carâŠâ). Theyâre conversation rocket fuel.
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Bio: 2â3 sentences max. Example: âAmateur surfer, professional pizza critic. If you can quote The Office, weâll get along.â
Step 5: Swipe, Like, and Slide Into DMsâWithout Looking Creepy
Once youâre live, Facebook Dating works like a hybrid of Hinge and Instagram Stories:
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Suggested matches: Based on preferences + mutual groups/events.
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Second Look: Accidentally Xâd someone? This tab is your undo button.
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Secret Crush: Add up to 9 Facebook friends or IG followers. If they add you too, itâs a matchâawkwardness averted.
Pro move: Instead of the generic âHey,â react to a specific prompt or photo. My go-to opener is, âWait, you also cried at the Up montage? Letâs discuss over coffee.â Works 8/10 times.
Bonus Level: Troubleshooting âFacebook Dating Not Showing Upâ
If the purple heart is still ghosting you:
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Age check: You must be 18+.
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Region lock: Facebook Dating isnât live everywhere. Check the official list .
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Device restriction: Tablets, desktops, and Facebook Lite wonât cut itâmobile app only.
Ready to Try Facebook Dating? Your Step-by-Step Guide Awaits
Tap that hamburger icon, follow the five steps above, and you could be swapping âhow we metâ stories by the weekend. And heyâif you run into your old lab partner, tell them I say hi.
Trending FAQ: Facebook Dating in 2025
Q1: Is Facebook Dating free?
Yesâzero upsells, no âboostâ coins.
Yesâzero upsells, no âboostâ coins.
Q2: Can my Facebook friends see Iâm on Dating?
Nope. Unless you use Secret Crush and they add you back, your activity stays in a separate bubble.
Nope. Unless you use Secret Crush and they add you back, your activity stays in a separate bubble.
Q3: How do I delete my Dating profile?
Go to Dating â Settings â General â Delete Profile. Your main Facebook stays untouched.
Go to Dating â Settings â General â Delete Profile. Your main Facebook stays untouched.
Q4: Does Facebook Dating show up on desktop?
Noâmobile app only .
Noâmobile app only .
Q5: How accurate is the location filter?
Within ~5 miles if GPS is enabled. Pro tip: widen radius on vacation for spontaneous meet-cutes.
Within ~5 miles if GPS is enabled. Pro tip: widen radius on vacation for spontaneous meet-cutes.
Now stop scrolling and start matchingâyour future âChemistry 2.0â is only five taps away.
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