You’re using the most popular dating app… Tinder!
Everything’s going great, until… it isn’t.
You’re getting a few matches, your matches don’t reply to your messages, etc.
Well, you’re not alone, because a lot of people have been complaining about the same things, and had no idea what signs they could be.
Are you shadowbanned? If yes, what is even a shadowban?
Let’s test it out, shall we?!
You’re using the most popular dating app, Tinder, obviously! Everything’s going great, until… it isn’t.
You’re getting a few matches, your matches don’t reply to your messages, and you’re not having a great time like you anticipated to have.
The app seems a bit glitchy, it feels like you’re sitting alone in an empty room.
Are you shadowbanned? If yes, what is even a shadowban & is it removable?
Put your seatbelt on! Here’s everything you need to know about Tinder shadowban!
What is Tinder Shadowban & how to tell I’m shadowbanned?
Tinder shadowban is Tinder penalizing you for doing something wrong (i.e breaking the Tinder community guidelines) without you knowing you’re being penalized.
Your profile becomes almost invisible, and it’ll take you some time until you realize something’s actually wrong.
The official Tinder doesn’t talk about it. However, we all know…
You’re shadowbanned on Tinder if you experience passiveness on the app, be it not getting matches, not getting likes, or even not having enough profiles to swipe through…
Here’s how you can specifically tell if you’re shadowbanned on Tinder:
– You start having difficulties using the app, it feels glitchy.
You can’t exactly put a finger on it, but you sense there’s something off with the app, it’s almost as if it was glitchy.
You can’t do particular things, your profile’s been taking too long to get verified, you can’t change your pictures, and everything is getting on your nerves because nothing seems to function.
– If not zero, you get very few matches.
You got a lot of matches before, and all of a sudden you’re not getting any.
That’s because your profile, your majesty, isn’t being shown to people. You’re invisible.
– You keep seeing the same profiles over and over.
It doesn’t seem to matter whether you swipe left or right, the same profiles keep appearing adding even more to the glitchy experience you’re having on the app.
– You get no messages back.
Let’s say you’ve been having a few conversations going on with a few people, and you stopped getting their messages out of the blue.
It could be that they’re not getting your texts either no matter how many times you tried to reach them.
Or it can be that your profile disappeared from their matches entirely.
– Almost zero profiles are shown to you.
There is indeed a limit of people you can swipe per day. But this time it’s a different type of story.
You’re not shown to people, and people aren’t shown to you. No matter how large of a city, there are no profiles shown to you.
– “Oops! Something went wrong.”
You see the “Oops! Something went wrong” pretty damn often, so much so that it is starting to get annoying.

Note: Do not confuse it with error codes such as error code 5000, or others. Pay attention to the text.
This is what gives you that little ‘glitchy’ feeling while using the app when you’re shadowbanned on Tinder.
When put together along with the low number of likes, matches, and profiles to swipe on, this is definitely a large sign pointing at “Shadowban”.
– You [Tinder Gold subscribers] get zero or very few likes.
You went all happy when you first saw who liked you, but now the story got kind of sad because you’re not getting likes anymore.
You can’t get likes if you’re not seen by people. When you’re shadowbanned you’re invisible but you don’t know it. You’re using the app without being seen by other people.
– You got a warning from Tinder.
If you broke any of the Tinder community guidelines or got reported by people, you’ll perhaps get a warning from Tinder.
It usually looks like this:

– You can’t delete your account.
When you’re shadowbanned you’ll be facing difficulties when you try to deactivate your account.
Essentially, it’s Tinder not wanting you to disturb others, but it’s also Tinder wanting you to stick around for a little longer so that you try to do something about this passiveness of the app.
To understand it clearly, among other things such as lack of profiles to swipe, zero likes, when you’re shadowbanned on Tinder, you can’t delete your account.
It can seem like a glitch whenever you try to deactivate your account, and no matter how hard you try, you’ll end up having your profile still active.
Important
If you’re new, Tinder gives you a kind of boost. However, after a while, you won’t get as many matches, or people to swipe.
Do not confuse this with a shadowban.
How to remove your Tinder shadowban?
A Tinder shadowban doesn’t just go away. I’ve tried, I’ve been there, I’ve done that. Follow me.
Waiting for three months thinking that Tinder will delete your data and won’t remember you aren’t going to work.
Here’s what you can do to remove your Tinder shadowban:
1. Send an innocent and sincere appeal to Tinder.
You can send an email to Tinder at support@gotinder.com, or you can give them a call at 214-853-4309. You want to address the issue as innocently as possible.
Or send a new shadowban appeal request via web form to Tinder.
Here’s a Tinder appeal example:
“Hi,
I’ve been having difficulties using the app, it’s been showing me a lot of errors, the same profiles keep reappearing, and it often glitches when I try to click particular places. Is there a way you could help me with this, please?”
2. Create an entirely new account.
If the appeal doesn’t work and you still want to get back on Tinder, then you need to open a completely new account. Here’s how you do that:
– Get rid of your current Tinder account:
Settings > App Settings > Delete Account
You might experience difficulties when trying to delete your Tinder account. You might want to check this one out: Trouble with account deletion.
On the other hand, find a way to get rid of it entirely. Remove as much information and photos as you can. You need to delete it!
– Uninstall Tinder.
You have to uninstall it from your phone so that you get ready for a fresh beginning on the app.
– Disconnect Tinder from your socials.
Keeping your socials connected might give Tinder enough clues that you’re trying to get back on the app. Disconnect them.
– New phone number, Facebook/Email, account/Apple ID, IP address, bank info(if you’re planning to use premium subscriptions, and new device.
Tinder remembers you. That’s why you can’t use anything that indicates it’s you when you open a new account.
Tinder bans your device too, so we need everything new! Nothing that you used in your previous account, not even pictures!
Note: About the IP address, unplug your internet router, wait for one minute, plug it back in, and you’ve got yourself a brand new IP address.
About the phone number: there are virtual phone numbers you can use to open a new Tinder account, which is easier than buying a new SIM card and it’s guaranteed to remove the shadowban.
– Download Tinder with your new Apple ID/google play account, and IP address.
It is very important that there’s no trace that indicates an old shadowbanned user (you).
You want to renew everything you used on your previous Tinder account.
– Open your new Tinder account.
Note: DO NOT use your old photos, old social media (that’s why you need to open a new Facebook/Instagram/Spotify account), or old bank info with which you paid anything on Tinder!
This time you want to read the Tinder guide and avoid getting shadowbanned again.
If you feel like this is too much effort to put into it, then think of getting any other dating apps.
Check out 8 Ways to Use Tinder Discreetly Without an Account, to know more about the details.
Why am I shadowbanned? Here’s why Tinder shadowbans you!
It’s not because “Oh I’m just unlucky, always been”, trust me.
There is something you’ve done with or without knowing you’re doing something wrong, or perhaps it’s just Tinder.
Perhaps you didn’t hear of Tinder Etiquette, which is exactly what you should know before you get Tinder.
Here’s why you got shadowbanned:
– You broke the Tinder community guidelines
You didn’t even read them, didn’t you?
Taken from Tinder:
Nudity/Sexual Content
Harassment
Violence and Physical Harm
Hate Speech
Private Information
Spam
Promotion or Solicitation
Prostitution and Trafficking
Scamming
Impersonation
Minors
Click here to read the rest, and read more about each of them in detail.
– You swiped right uncontrollably.
It could be detected as a ‘robotic’ move, and then Tinder gets mad at you because you’ve got no standards, you know the drill.
– You sent the same message to a lot of people.
Another ROBOTIC MOVE! Tinder doesn’t like robots, and it can be detected as such if you send the same message to a number of people.
– You ghosted people.
That’s another thing that’ll get some Tinder users mad, and knowing that user experience is one of Tinder’s biggest priorities will get Tinder mad, which then will possibly lead to a shadowban if not a ban.
– You restarted your account too many times.
It’s spooky. Tinder will know you’re up to no good, you’re up to something naughty; and well, take action.
– You’ve been reported (multiple times).
Tinder will not keep someone who disturbs its users…
Getting reported is an indicator that you’re disturbing people by showing inappropriate behavior through your actions on Tinder.
You might get warned. You might just get banned. You might get shadowbanned.
– Tinder doesn’t want you around any longer.
Instead of banning you, Tinder decides to keep you wandering around the app to prevent you from sneaking back into the app.
You’re left trying to fix something unfixable, or you’re left waiting for the app to fix itself when it’s just Tinder not letting you use the app without actually banning you.
How long does a Tinder shadowban last?
There has been word spread around about this Tinder 3-month rule.
It is based on the fact that Tinder clears up your data from their system after 3 months of account deletion.
I’ve seen people waiting for 3 months because of this:
“… we implement a safety retention window of three months following account deletion. During this period, account information will be retained although the account will of course not be visible on the services anymore.”
Taken from Tinder.
It’s account deletion. This means that waiting for three months doesn’t work unless you delete your current Tinder account.
That being said, a Tinder shadowban lasts until you completely delete your account.
Meaning, it’ll last FOREVER if you don’t manage to delete your account!
What’s the difference between the ban and the shadowban on Tinder?
Ban is visible, so much so that even your eyes burn a little once you realize what’s going on.

You won’t be able to access your account again… matches, likes, and conversations are gone. Adios.
Essentially, a ban on Tinder is Tinder’s way of removing you from the app, not allowing you to use it any longer.
Now I want you to meet ‘shadowban’:

They don’t let you know, so we haven’t met him yet. Also gets you mad.
Put simply, a shadowban it’s a form of a ban, but instead of being ‘expelled’ from the app entirely, you still get to use Tinder.
You get to use the app(in a messed up way), it seems kind of normal, then you finally smell the fishiness. No matches, no likes, no messages…
It’s like sitting alone in a dusty, quiet room.
Why not just ban me?
Well, you pay for the premium subscriptions and if you’d find out that Tinder banned you, you’ll get furious and violently tap to unsubscribe to any of the subscriptions you were paying for!
Of course, they won’t ban you!
If you’re not paying for one of the subscriptions, you see that you’re not getting any matches, you feel low, and think of getting, let’s say, Tinder Gold while hopeful and thinking it’ll solve your ‘little issue’.
You’ll stick around enough to think that your account is ok, you just need a bit of a boost through premium subscriptions.
Banning you would mean no opportunities for you to spot a problem and pay to solve it. That is one of the reasons why you get shadowbanned instead of banned.
How to not get shadowbanned?
Besides reading and following the Tinder community guidelines which you MUST, there are a few other things you can do:
- Make a decent profile, with a decent non-offending bio, photos, and anthem.
- Opening lines. Make them irresistible.
- Be active.
- Don’t ghost your matches!
- What to say on Tinder? Keep the conversations going.
- Be nice enough to not get reported.
- Don’t swipe right every person nor be too picky.
- Respect Tinder Etiquette.
Save yourself time and effort, and simply follow the guidelines!
If you get banned for no reason, consider starting to use other dating apps out there.
Sincerely,
Liam
So I created a new Apple ID to download the app, am I able to sign back into my old Apple ID once the app has been downloaded on the new one? Or will Tinder still be able to sense which Apple ID im now using on my phone, even if I sign in on the other one?
Hi Tyler,
Yes, you can sign back into your old Apple ID.
Kind regards,
Liam
I suspect I may be shadowbanned or atleast have a low score, I used the spotlight feature and basically spammed right like an idiot. People stop replying to my messages randomly and then a few months later they’ll respond as if they just received it and they’ll say my account disappeared. Do I need to replace my device when creating a new account? Also is it safe to sign into my main Google account after I’ve made the new profile on a different Google play account? I must say this process seems very tedious and replacing my Gmail account just to use a dating app seems a little too much.
Hi Josh,
Yeah, you are right changing email sometimes it’s frustrating but you still need to change your Gmail account.
Even you might need to use a new phone number too.
Regards,
Liam
I recently found out that I was shadow banned I uploaded new photos yesterday and deleted my account today are those new photos safe to use? If not would retaking home in the same outfit in the same position allow me to use those photos?
Hi PPKJ,
Using the same photos uploaded as before, not recommended. But redoing new pictures same outfit different background are safe to use.
Kind regards,
You can use the same photos but you have to rename the photo files, just export them from your phone to say a PC or laptop re-name the files and re-import back to your phone and upload to said dating app
Been shadowbanned for years . What if I just wait 3 months after deleting app and start all over again with same info / Apple ID / phone number , but different pictures ?
Tinder’s data base deletes all info of users after 3 months this includes IP addresses , so starting all over again this way would be feasible ?
For people in Europe: Anyone tested to delete the data based on GDPR article 17: “Right to be forgotten”?
Based on this, Tinder would have the duty to actually delete all your data, if you want so.
How would I do that?
Tinder is garbage, the accounts are mostly fake, spam or redirects, yhe matches are fake redirects to whatapp and snapchat. It’s so absurd how ridiculously shady this app is, it should be illegal.
Absolute garbage.
I’m definitely shadow banned, happened after a 12 hr photo review process triggered when I tried to log in on my computer for the first time. I was already officially banned in the app (2 days before), when I used the ‘forgotten password’ option immediately after downloading the app. I am 100% certain I did not do anything wrong, had barely chatted to a couple of people for like 2 days. (I’m convinced its because I had an old tinder account and had forgotten the password and email.) I now have a second phone number and email. I hotspot through my phone and am confused about the IP address having read mixed info. Can I use tinder website on phone, or only on computer with incognito window (chrome)? Will incognito window work or do I need a browser attachment? How does this work with tinder requiring location data for matches? Or is IP address not an issue because I’m using phone data?
Hi
ONE question; So if I use my friend (who never used Tinder) to create a new account, not using same pics, SoMe or any other things related to my old account – Can he then logout from tinder so I can with my old device, used for the old account, login to the new account? The difference is that it is another device (My friend’s), apple id, ip adress etc that CREATED the new tinder account but I just login to the new account from my old device and thereby not creating it?
Best regards Simon
Does this mean I am shadowbanned?
When I go to restore purchase it says- ( purchase error, you’ve exceeded the number of times you can restore your purchase after recreating your account. )
Hey so I have Tinder platinum and I haven’t gotten any matches in the last couple of days, which never happens, even though I have boosted my profile and super liked other profiles. Could I be shadowbanned for some reason? The only thing I could think of is that I swiped right on pretty much every profile during the boosts but I’ve been doing that for 2 years without an issue so I don’t know if that could be it. Everything else is fine though (no glitches and I still see a lot profiles). Thanks ahead of time.
Dude I am going through the exact same thing. Downloaded tinder platinum because I wasnt getting any matches. havent been on tinder in over a year and I would get matches. Boosts and superlikes dont work for shit lol. Im not sure what is going on
I got shadow banned after I closed a chat discussion in a polite way (I explained to the lady why I don’t want to continue the chat). All the other chats went silent like in an empty room. I read this article and sent the mail below to Tinder support. 15 minutes later I got a Gmail confirmation mail from them so I thought something happened on their side. I did the confirmation. After 2 hours one of my old chats got live, I received a reply to my message from the day before. I had a new match and I sent a message to that lady. Got no reply yet. So right now only one of my old chats are active again (out of 5…) which is strange as all of them were active a day before. I think this system is wrong. I’m sure I’ll leave Tinder forever if this won’t be fixed in the next few days. (I have Premium subscription)
“Dear Tinder Team,
I noticed that my chats from matches are not active since I closed a conversation yesterday with a lady. I think she reported me. I’m always telling the chat partner if I think a relationship won’t work out. As this lady was living far from me I thought it’s better to stop that conversation and I apologised to her. Please investigate my case and remove the ban as I haven’t violated the community guidelines. I think this is a misunderstanding.
This causes me a lot of struggle.
Please help me solve this issue.
Thank you in advance!”