Facebook Dating lives in the Facebook app, not a separate program
Facebook Dating is a feature built into the main Facebook app on your phone — you do not download anything new or create a separate account. On Android, open Facebook, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right, scroll down, and tap "Dating". On iPhone, tap the menu icon at the bottom right, scroll to find "Dating", and tap it. If you do not see Dating in your menu, your phone's operating system or your region may not support it yet; Facebook Dating is not available everywhere.
The first time you open Dating, Facebook asks you to create a separate dating profile. This profile is hidden from your regular Facebook friends — people you know through Facebook will not see it unless you both match with each other. You choose which photos to use, write a bio, and pick your age range and distance preferences. Your dating profile does not pull automatically from your Facebook profile; you build it from scratch.
Once your profile is live, you see other people's profiles one at a time. You can like or pass on each person. If someone likes you back, Facebook tells you it is a match, and you can start messaging them through the Dating feature.
Key Takeaways
- Facebook Dating is a feature inside the Facebook app, not a separate download, and is available on both iPhone and Android in most countries.
- Your dating profile is separate from your regular Facebook profile and stays hidden from your existing Facebook friends unless you both match.
- You create your dating profile by choosing photos, writing a bio, and setting your age and distance preferences yourself.
- Matches happen when both people like each other's profiles, and you can message matches only through the Dating feature.
- Facebook Dating is free to use, though some features like seeing who liked you may require a paid subscription in the future.
What information Facebook Dating asks for
When you set up your dating profile, Facebook asks for your age, gender, and the gender(s) you are interested in. You also set a distance radius — how far away you are willing to look for matches. You can choose to show your job title, education, religion, and whether you have children, but none of these are required.
You upload photos yourself; Facebook does not pull them from your regular Facebook account. You write a short bio describing yourself. You can also answer optional prompts that Facebook provides — things like "My ideal weekend" or "What I am looking for" — to give people more to know about you.
Facebook does not show your dating profile to people you are already friends with on Facebook, and it does not show your regular Facebook friends list to people you match with. However, if you match with someone and start messaging, they can see your name and profile picture, just as you can see theirs.
How matching and messaging work
When you see someone's profile, you tap a heart to like them or an X to pass. You cannot undo a pass, so if you change your mind about someone, you cannot go back and like them later. If someone likes you and you like them back, it is a match.
Matches appear in a separate section of the Dating feature. You can only message people you have matched with. Messages stay within the Dating feature — they do not appear in your regular Facebook Messenger inbox. If you unmatch with someone, the conversation disappears for both of you, and you cannot see their profile again unless they create a new one.
Facebook Dating does not show you who has liked you unless you pay for a premium feature (if your region offers one). Without paying, you only know someone liked you if you also liked them back and matched.
Safety features and what they do
Facebook Dating includes a few built-in protections. You can report or block someone directly from their profile or from a conversation. If you block someone, they cannot see your profile, and any existing conversation disappears.
The app also has a "Safety Center" section with tips on meeting safely — things like telling a friend where you are going, using video chat before meeting in person, and trusting your instincts if something feels off. These are reminders, not enforced rules; Facebook cannot prevent unsafe behavior, only give you information to make safer choices.
Facebook does scan profiles and messages for known scam patterns and removes accounts that break its rules, but no automated system catches everything. If someone asks you for money, claims to be in an emergency, or seems suspicious, you can report them to Facebook.
Differences between Facebook Dating and other dating apps
Facebook Dating is built into an app you already use, so you do not need to download something new or manage another login. It is free — there is no subscription required to see profiles or message matches, though some regions may eventually offer paid features.
Because Facebook knows your real identity and location (from your account), it can verify that you are a real person more easily than some other apps. However, this also means Facebook collects data about who you interact with and what you search for in the dating feature, just as it does everywhere else on the platform.
Facebook Dating has a smaller user base than apps like Tinder or Bumble in most places, which means fewer profiles to browse. It also does not have some features those apps do — for example, you cannot see who liked you without paying, and there is no swiping mechanic (you tap hearts and X's instead).
If Facebook Dating is not showing up on your phone
Facebook Dating is not available in every country. It launched in the United States, Canada, and some other regions, but rollout has been slow. If you do not see Dating in your Facebook menu, it may not be available in your location yet.
You can also check whether your phone's operating system supports it. Facebook Dating requires a relatively recent version of iOS or Android. If your phone is very old, updating your operating system (if possible) may help. If you have a very new phone and still do not see Dating, try closing the Facebook app completely and opening it again.
If Dating appears in your menu but you cannot create a profile, Facebook may have flagged your account for violating its rules. Check your email for messages from Facebook about account restrictions. If you think this is a mistake, you can request a review through Facebook's help center.
What happens to your data in Facebook Dating
Your dating profile information — photos, bio, preferences, and conversations — is stored by Facebook. Facebook uses this data to show you relevant profiles and to improve its matching system. Like all Facebook features, your dating activity is part of your overall Facebook data profile, which Facebook uses for advertising and other purposes.
If you delete your dating profile, your conversations disappear, and your profile stops showing to other people. However, Facebook may keep records of your activity for legal or safety reasons. If you want to stop using Facebook Dating but keep your regular Facebook account, you can delete just the dating profile without affecting the rest of your account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Facebook friends see that I am using Dating?
No. Your dating profile is completely separate and hidden from your regular Facebook friends. They will not see it in your profile, your activity, or anywhere else unless you both match with each other. Even then, they only know you matched if they also created a dating profile and swiped on you.
Can I use Facebook Dating without a Facebook account?
No. You need an active Facebook account to use Dating. You cannot create a dating profile without logging into Facebook first. However, your dating profile is separate from your regular Facebook profile, so you can keep them very different.
What should I do if someone is harassing me through Facebook Dating?
Report them immediately. Open their profile or your conversation with them, tap the menu icon (three dots), and select "Report". Describe what happened. You can also block them so they cannot contact you again. Facebook reviews reports and removes accounts that harass other users.
Is Facebook Dating really free?
Yes, the basic features are free — browsing profiles, liking people, and messaging matches cost nothing. Some regions may eventually offer paid features like seeing who liked you, but these are optional. You can use Facebook Dating fully without paying.
How do I delete my dating profile?
Open the Dating feature, tap the menu icon (three dots or lines, depending on your phone), and look for "Settings" or "Delete Profile". Select it and confirm. Your profile disappears immediately, and all conversations are deleted. You can create a new dating profile later if you change your mind.