How to Use the Hinge App

Co-authored by Maria Avgitidis and Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: September 2, 2024

Hinge is a dating app that you can download for free from the Google Play Store for Android or App Store for iOS. You can pay for an upgrade instead of keeping the free membership and unlock features like sending unlimited likes that cost between $4.99/mo to $12.99/mo. This wikiHow will teach you how to use the Hinge mobile app.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Creating an Account

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1
Get the Hinge app from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS). The app is free to download from either of these app stores.
- You'll find the search bar at the top of your screen in the Play Store (Android) or in a tab at the bottom of your screen in the App Store (iOS).
- Tap Install (Play Store) or Get (App Store) and it will begin downloading to your phone or tablet, then let you know when it's done installing. You'll find the app icon on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
2
Open Hinge. This app icon looks like a stylized "H" on a white background that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
- If you still have the app store open, you can tap Open or Launch instead.
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3
Choose if you want to use Hinge with your Facebook account or phone number. To use Hinge with your Facebook account, you're required to have at least 60 friends (it's a new rule they implemented to cut down on spammers and catfishers).
- If you choose to use a phone number, you must be able to receive the text notifications from Hinge. Once you enter the verification code that's texted to you, enter the information that would have been pre-filled if you opted to use Facebook, such as your name, current location, email address, birthday, photos, and hometown.
4
Create your profile. Add information like your height and if you have, or want children, so people who are looking at your profile can get a brief understanding of you. You can tap the circle next to "Visible on profile" if you want to hide any information, like which high school you went to.
- When you're prompted to pick 6 photos, you can use photos that you've uploaded to Facebook, Instagram, and your camera roll. Tap the prompt above each individual photo to choose a caption. Make sure to use photos that really look like you and are recent.
- When you're prompted to answer 3 questions, tap the plus sign to find questions to answer. Within each, you'll need to tap Answer to select a question, tap the example answer to edit your answer, then tap Done until you've answered at least 3 questions.
- Tap the arrow in the bottom right corner to continue through the profile creation process.
- When you're done creating your profile, you'll be directed to the Discover feed.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Navigating Hinge

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This app icon looks like a stylized "H" on a white background that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
2
Tap the chat bubble icon near the bottom of your screen. This will open your messages and matches area where you can see all the messages you've sent and been sent from your inbox.
- Tap a match to read and respond to a conversation or comment.
3
Tap the heart icon centered in the bottom of your screen. This tab shows you all the profiles who've liked you, however, if you have the free membership, you will only see the latest profile to like you while all the previous likes are blurred out. You can pay to upgrade to Preferred to see all your likes.
- If the likes are mutual, their profile will move to the "Matches" section.
4
Tap the star icon. This opens the "Standouts" tab and you'll see prompts and answers from people who match your profile instead of the "Discovery" tab that shows you their main profile picture and basic profile.
- Every Sunday, you get a free rose to send to one of these standouts.
5
Tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner of your screen. You'll be redirected to your profile, so you can edit it if you want to or see how the public sees it.
- Tap "What Works" to get tips on how to use different aspects of your profile to increase your chance of matching.
- Tap "Preferences" to change the matches you're getting, such as a different age range or maximum distance.^{[1]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Sending a Like or Rose

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1
Open Hinge. This app icon looks like a stylized "H" on a white background that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
- Free accounts are limited to sending 10 likes per day and 1 rose per week.
Tap either the "H" or the star icons to get to the appropriate feed. Since Standouts are prompts answered by people who are more your type, they are more likely to respond and match with you.
It's in the lower right corner of the profile thumbnail.
4
Tap the rose icon or Send Like. If you have roses available, you'll see it listed as an option here. Roses are seen first by the recipient rather than likes.
- You can buy more roses by tapping the rose icon in the "Standouts" tab.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Upgrading to a Paid Account

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This app icon looks like a stylized "H" on a white background that you can find on one of your Home screens, in the app drawer, or by searching.
You can either edit your profile or change some settings here.
You'll see this next to a gear icon.
It's under the "Membership" header under the notification settings.
5
Tap Select a plan and choose one from the drop-down list. You can choose from the following plans:
- $19.99 for 1 month; $39.99 for 3 months; $59.99 for 6 months.
- With your paid subscription, you'll get access to sending unlimited likes (free accounts are limited to 10 per day), setting extra preferences (like height, education, and family plans), access to see more of who liked you, and often have a higher chance to go on dates.
After you select a plan, you'll see the join button in the lower right corner of your screen.
7
Click Subscribe. A receipt of your purchase will display on your screen from the appropriate app store (Google Play for Androids and the App Store for iOS).
- If you want to cancel the subscription, you'll need to do so through the Google Play Store or App Store instead of the app.

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Question

When should you meet someone off Hinge?

Maria Avgitidis
Matchmaker & Dating Expert
Maria Avgitidis is the CEO & Matchmaker of Agape Match, a matchmaking service based out of New York City. For over a decade, she has successfully combined four generations of family matchmaking tradition with modern relationship psychology and search techniques to ensure her professional clientele are introduced to their ultimate match. Maria and Agape Match have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, Fast Company, CNN, Esquire, Elle, Reuters, Vice, and Thrillist.

Maria Avgitidis

Matchmaker & Dating Expert

Expert Answer

Aim to set up your offline date within two to three days. That way you will avoid your conversations turning into a pen pal or learning too much about each other too soon. Remember that you shouldn't be learning that much before meeting offline, because you are still strangers!

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