How to Delete a Dating Profile for Good

Is deleting the app the same as deleting your profile?

No. Removing an app from your phone leaves the account in place. To close it you need to use the delete option in your account settings. If you have a paid subscription, check that separately, because Bumble says subscriptions may not cancel automatically and Hinge explains the steps by payment method.

How do you delete your profile on each app?

• Hinge: tap your photo icon, then the gear icon, scroll to the bottom, tap Delete Account and confirm.
• Bumble: tap the profile icon, then the gear icon, scroll to the bottom, tap Delete account, choose a reason and confirm.
• Tinder: follow the steps in Tinder’s Delete your Tinder account help article. Uninstalling alone does not do it.
• Match: the delete flow offers Hide your account or Delete My Account. Choose delete if you want it gone.
• OkCupid: choose delete rather than disable. A disabled profile can be reopened; a deleted one can’t.

App menus change over time, so if a step looks different, use the app’s own help centre, linked in the sources below.

What is the difference between hiding, pausing and deleting?

Hiding or pausing keeps the account and lets you come back. Hinge’s Pause stops you being shown to new people while you keep chatting with matches. Bumble’s Snooze Mode hides your profile for a set time or indefinitely. Deleting is what closes the account.

Can a deleted profile come back?

Sometimes, for a limited time. Bumble and Badoo say an account can be restored for up to 28 days. Hinge says that if you make a new account with the same phone number within 90 days, it will restore some profile information such as your name, photos and prompts. Tinder keeps profile data for a 90-day safety retention period, though the profile is no longer visible to other users.

What if your partner asks you to delete a profile?

If an old profile has caused worry, deleting it can be a simple way to clear things up, and it avoids confusion later. That should be your own choice. Nobody should demand your passwords or use your account for you, and if a request feels controlling or frightening, support services can help.