How to Reset Hinge Algorithm with Fresh Start
Go to your profile settings. Open the Hinge app on your device and tap on your profile icon in the bottom-right corner. Then, select Settings from the menu that appears on screen. This works on all versions of the Hinge app no matter which platform you’re using.
Tap on “Delete or Pause Account” and select a reason why. There isn’t a normal menu option for a Fresh Start, but it is a hidden setting before you pause or delete your account. Scroll down to the bottom and tap on Delete or Pause Account. Choose one of the options listed for why you want to pause your account. While it’s not entirely clear if the option you pick matters, most people recommend choosing Prefer Not to Say so the Fresh Start option is offered right away.
Select “Try It” when the Fresh Start prompt appears on screen. A screen with the Hinge logo and flowers will appear, offering your profile a Fresh Start that resets your algorithm. Select Try It on screen and then confirm by tapping on Let’s do it on the following screen. Go slowly when you’re clicking through the settings so you don’t accidentally cancel the Fresh Start option. If you don’t get the Fresh Start option on screen, check our advice on alternate ways to improve your algorithm. Before you start swiping again, check out how to optimize your profile so your profile is more visible and gets more matches.
What does a Hinge Fresh Start do?
Fresh Start keeps your likes but resets your recommendations. Your profile stays the same, and you get to save all the likes and conversations you already have. After doing a Fresh start, your recommendations are completely reset, and profiles you liked or skipped over before will go back into your feed. If you ever unmatched with someone, resetting your algorithm can make them reappear in your feed as well.
Alternate Ways to Improve Your Hinge Algorithm
Limit your search distance and age to a narrower range. If you’re noticing a lot of people you’re not interested in, lower your search distance to 1 mile (1.6 km) and set the age range 1 year apart. You may find profiles closer to you that you didn’t see beforehand. If you’re still not interested, you can quickly swipe through the profiles you want to skip. If you run out of people, increase the distance or age range slightly to see a new group of potential matches. Keep in mind that reducing your distance and age range will also limit who can see your profile, so you may get fewer matches.
Readjust your dealbreakers and filter settings. Dealbreakers and filters are Hinge settings that limit the profiles shown in your feed based on specific preferences, such as relationship type, age range, and religion. Try removing some of your dealbreakers or filters to see if there are other people appearing in your feed that you missed before. Tap on your profile image in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Click on the sliders icon in the top-right to open your Dating Preferences. Select the preference you want to update from the list. Check or uncheck the boxes that match your preferences. Uncheck This is a dealbreaker to view people outside your preferences.
Skip all of the Standout profiles. Standouts are featured profiles that Hinge thinks would be a good match for you. While you may want to send a Rose to like them right away, click on the X instead to remove them. This can put your profile back in their feed in hopes that they’ll send you a like. This might also hack the algorithm into adding similar profiles back into your regular feed so you can find people you’re interested in.
Take a short break from the app. Give yourself a few days or a couple of weeks away from Hinge. Try out other dating apps to see if you have any luck there in the meantime. When you come back, you may have a lot of new potential matches in your feed. Even if the algorithm doesn’t completely improve, you may come back with a different perspective on the type of person you want to date.
Upgrade to a Hinge+ or HingeX subscription. HingeX boosts your profile so it appears earlier in other people’s feeds, and it gives you enhanced recommendations for profiles that are a good match for you. Both Hinge+ and HingeX also let you use more filters so you can find people that you’re more interested in. While paid accounts are higher priority and more visible, you will still eventually find the same profiles in your feed using a free account if they’re still active.
Delete and remake your Hinge account. If you want to start completely from scratch, delete your account from your profile settings. While you will lose all of your current matches and conversations, your algorithm will start completely fresh when you make a new account. Click on your profile icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Select Settings from the menu. Scroll down and click on Delete or Pause Account. Follow the prompts on screen and confirm your account deletion.
Expert Advice for Optimizing Your Hinge Profile
Pick flattering profile photos that show your personality. Damona Hoffman, a celebrity dating coach, offers the reminder: “You have to be the star of your profile.” She recommends choosing pictures where you’re wearing eye-catching colors that make people pause on your profile and want to learn more. She also mentions choosing pictures that show off your personality and what you like to do so people get a complete idea of who you are. Dating coach Suzanna Mathews recommends putting your best picture first as your lead picture to make a good first impression. If you have a weaker picture, put that in the middle of the group. Use your second strongest picture as the last photo so it’s the very last thing a person sees on your profile. Jeremy Sharvit, a dating app developer, mentions including “social proof” as well as clear photos of yourself. He explains that examples of social proof pictures include hanging out with your friends, doing something cool, going out, and showing off some of the activities that you're into.
Choose engaging prompts with thoughtful answers. Hoffman continues, “Any prompt that shows emotion and creates an exciting question is the best.” Rather than choosing standard prompts, she advises questions with “a tone of humor built into it” to show you’re having fun. However, she notes that the prompt should still reveal a little bit about your passions and who you are as a person. “I advise people to stick to three prompts,” notes Alison Wellington, a certified dating coach. She recommends starting with a lighthearted prompt early that’s potentially comedic. Then, use your second prompt for a prompt that’s more serious about the relationship. End with another fun prompt to finish on a high note. Want more ideas on what prompts to use? Check out advice from other wikiHow users on the forum page “What are the best Hinge prompts in your personal experience?”
Fill out every section of your profile. Dating coach Maya Diamond agrees, “The most important thing is to make a profile that represents your interests, lifestyle, and personality.” She adds that being clear about why you’re on the app and what you’re interested in helps filter out people who are not right for you so you find matches you’re more compatible with. Leaving sections blank on your Hinge profile can make it seem like you’re hiding something, so be sure to enter all your basic information accurately.
Make the first move when you match with someone. Hoffman states, “I don't think anyone should use dating apps waiting for the other person to make the first move.” When you match with someone, dive into a conversation right away so you aren’t waiting for them or making them wait for you. If you’re not sure how to start your conversations, check out our guide on the best Hinge openers.
Start conversations with your matches. Kristina Mirgorodskaya, a dating coach, says “try to be creative with your questions and responses” when you’re chatting with your matches. She recommends commenting on specific things on their profile descriptions or images. To get to know them better, she suggests asking about their biggest dream, what they want to achieve in life, what’s important in a partner, or what they are looking for on a dating app. However, Mirgorodskaya warns to keep your in-app convos to 5-6 exchanges at most before suggesting to meet up so you don’t lose any momentum.
How does the Hinge algorithm work?
The Hinge algorithm is similar to the Gale-Shapley algorithm for finding matches. The Gale-Shapley algorithm uses data on dating profiles to pair the most compatible matches with each other. Hinge checks the preferences you set as well as how you behave on the app to find people who have a lot of similarities to you.
Hinge Reset FAQs
How often can you reset your Hinge profile? You can reset your Hinge profile as often as you want, but there’s always a chance the Fresh Start option may not appear. If you aren’t offered a Fresh Start, you may have to delete your account and start from scratch to do a full reset.
Does resetting Hinge improve your matches? You may get more matches from people that you skipped over or unmatched with before. Maybe they added more eye-catching pictures or updated their profile so it catches your eye more. You may even be more open to people you ignored before if your interests and preferences have changed. If you kept your profile the same after a reset, some people may skip over it again in their feed because they’ve seen you already. Make sure to update your pictures and information to catch their attention again.
Why is Fresh Start not showing up? Fresh Start may not appear if you reset your profile very recently or selected a different reason for deleting or pausing the app. Even if you can’t do a full algorithm reset, optimizing your profile and adjusting some of your preferences can help you find new matches in your feed.
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