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Why You're Not Getting Matches on Tinder (And How to Fix It)
- Authors
- Name
- Gautier
Zero matches. Again. You just spent 20 minutes swiping, and the result is the same as always: nothing. Nada. The void.
You're starting to wonder if you're really that ugly. Spoiler: probably not. The problem is elsewhere — and you're about to solve your Tinder problems once and for all.
I've been there. For months, I got 2-3 matches per week max, and half of them never responded. Today, I'm at 15-20 matches/week. The difference? I understood what was wrong — and I fixed it.
In this guide, I'll show you exactly why your profile isn't performing, and how to fix it.
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The Real Reasons Behind the Problem
Before looking for solutions, you need the right diagnosis. Here are the three main culprits.
Reason #1: Your Photos
It's brutal, but it's reality: on Tinder, your photos represent 90% of your first impression. Your bio is the bonus. Your photos are the entry ticket.
Common problems:
- Mirror selfie (cliché number 1)
- Blurry or poorly lit photos
- Face not visible or too far away
- No variety (5 nearly identical photos)
- No photos showing your life/personality
- Group photos where you're unrecognizable
The brutal test: Show your photos to a female friend (a trusted one who'll tell you the truth). Ask her: "Would you swipe right?" If she hesitates, you have your answer.
Reason #2: Your Bio
An empty or weak bio can kill a profile even with good photos. But an average bio with average photos? That's a guarantee of nothing.
Bios that don't work:
- Empty (the worst)
- "I love traveling, music and good restaurants" (generic)
- List of requirements ("No annoying girls")
- Too long (3 paragraphs, nobody reads)
- Inspirational quotes (cringe)
- Self-deprecation ("I don't know what to put here")
Reason #3: The Algorithm
Tinder has an internal scoring system (often called ELO). The better your profile performs (matches, conversations, responses), the more it's shown to "desirable" profiles. The less it performs... the less you're shown.
What hurts your score:
- Swiping right on everyone (it shows)
- Matching and never sending a message
- Getting unmatched or reported frequently
- Being inactive for long periods
- Having a profile that's been struggling for a while
In short: if your profile has been struggling from the start, the algo can actively penalize you.
Optimize Your Photos
This is priority number 1. Without good photos, everything else is useless.
What You Need
Photo #1 — The Clear Portrait Your face, well-lit (natural light ideally), confident smile or look. This is THE photo that decides if they look at the others or swipe left immediately.
Photo #2 — Lifestyle You doing an activity (sport, travel, event). Show you have a life.
Photo #3 — Social Proof You with friends (but you must be recognizable). Show you're sociable, not a hermit.
Photo #4 — Passion/Hobby What makes you unique. Guitar, climbing, cooking, whatever — show your personality.
Photo #5 (optional) — The Fun One A photo that makes people smile. With an animal, a funny situation, etc.
For a complete guide on photos that generate matches, with examples and mistakes to avoid, check the dedicated article.
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Rewrite Your Bio
Once your photos are in place, your bio must finish the job.
The 3 Golden Rules
1. Be Concise Max 3-4 lines. Nobody reads paragraphs.
2. Show, Don't Tell "I have a sense of humor" → No. "My last date said I was funny. She was lying, but I appreciate the effort." → Yes.
3. Give a Hook Something she can use to talk to you.
Bio Examples That Work
"Engineer by day, mediocre chef by night. My carbonara was described as 'edible' by my mom."
"Looking for someone to go to concerts of bands nobody knows and pretend to understand natural wine."
"Strengths: I'm punctual, I have a plant that survived 2 years, and I know all the good restaurants in the neighborhood. Weaknesses: I'm terrible at dancing, but I make up for it with enthusiasm."
For more inspiration, check rewriting your bio to convert with 50+ examples by category.
Understanding the Tinder Algorithm
The algo is a black box, but we know some things.
What Boosts Your Score
- Being selective: Swipe right on profiles you're genuinely interested in (50-70% left swipe is healthy)
- Engaging after matching: Send a message in the first few hours
- Having conversations: Longer conversations = better signal
- Completing your profile: Photos, bio, Spotify, Insta connected
- Being regularly active: Better 10 min/day than 2h once a week
What Destroys Your Score
- Swiping right on 100% of profiles
- Matching and never messaging
- Getting unmatched quickly
- Being reported (inappropriate messages, fake profile)
- Resetting your account too often
Technical Errors to Check
Sometimes, the problem is neither your profile nor the algo — it's technical.
Quick Checklist
Your search settings:
- Is the age range realistic?
- Is the distance sufficient? (in a city, 5 miles is little)
- Haven't you activated filters that are too restrictive?
Your account:
- Are you using a valid phone number?
- Is your account shadowbanned? (test: create a temporary profile, if it works better, you might be shadowbanned)
- Haven't you been reported recently?
The app itself:
- Updated version?
- Have you tried logging out/back in?
- Check that your photos load correctly
Account Reset: Good or Bad Idea?
Deleting and recreating your account can give a "new boost" (the algo favors new profiles). But be careful:
- If you keep the same number/Facebook/email, Tinder can recognize you
- A reset every month eventually stops working
- It's a bandaid, not a solution
The real solution? A profile that naturally performs.
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My Personal Experience
In 2022, I had 2-3 matches per week. Today, 15-20. What changed?
My photos. I stopped the selfies. I asked a friend to photograph me during an outing. I added a travel photo and one with my dog.
My bio. I ditched the generic stuff. I added humor. I gave something to hook onto.
My behavior. I stopped swiping like crazy on everyone. I started sending personalized first messages.
The change wasn't instant — but in 2-3 weeks, the results were there.
Learn More
If you want to boost your number of likes beyond profile optimizations, check our guide on how to get more Tinder likes.
And once you start matching, make sure you know how to start the conversation so you don't waste your new matches.
The 5-step action plan:
- Redo your photos — That's 90% of the work. Portrait, lifestyle, social, passion.
- Rewrite your bio — Short, funny or intriguing, with a hook.
- Be selective — Stop swiping right on everyone.
- Engage quickly — Send a message in the hours following the match.
- Be patient — Changes take 1-2 weeks to show results in the algo.
You're not doomed to swipe into the void. Your profile can crush it — it just needs to be worked on. Now get to work.