Facebook Dating is a separate profile you create within Facebook, not a standalone app
Facebook Dating is a dating feature built into the Facebook app itself. You create a dating profile that is separate from your regular Facebook profile — your friends cannot see it unless you choose to match with them. The feature is available in the Facebook app on both iPhone and Android, and you access it through a heart icon in the main menu.
Facebook Dating does not require you to read anything new. If you already use Facebook, the dating feature is already installed. You turn it on by opening Facebook, tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines), scrolling down, and selecting "Dating." From there, Facebook walks you through creating your dating profile, which includes uploading photos, writing a bio, and answering prompts about your interests.
The feature is free to use. Facebook does not charge to create a dating profile, send messages, or match with other people. Facebook makes money from advertising that appears in the dating section, just as it does everywhere else on the platform.
Key Takeaways
- Your Facebook Dating profile is hidden from your regular Facebook friends unless you both match and choose to message each other.
- You control which information from your Facebook account appears on your dating profile — you can hide your age, location, or work history if you want.
- Facebook Dating stores your messages, photos, and matches on Facebook's servers, which means the company can see this data and use it to target ads to you.
- You can delete your dating profile without deleting your main Facebook account, and doing so removes all your dating messages and matches.
- Facebook Dating is not available in every country — it launched in the United States in 2019 and has since expanded to other regions, but availability varies by location.
What information Facebook uses from your main account
When you create a dating profile, Facebook automatically pulls information from your main account to populate it. This includes your name, age, photos from your Facebook photo albums, your location, your work history, and your education. You can edit or remove any of this information before publishing your dating profile.
Facebook also uses your interests and activity from your main account to suggest potential matches. If you have liked pages about hiking, followed musicians, or joined groups about cooking, Facebook factors this into who it shows you. You cannot turn off this matching algorithm — it is built into how the feature works.
One privacy control you do have: you can choose which photos appear on your dating profile. You do not have to use your most recent Facebook photos. You can upload new photos just for dating, or select older photos from your albums. Similarly, you can write a dating bio that is completely different from how you describe yourself on your main profile.
How Facebook Dating handles your messages and matches
When you message someone through Facebook Dating, that conversation is stored on Facebook's servers. Facebook can read these messages. The company does not sell your messages to third parties, but it does use them to improve its matching algorithm and to show you targeted ads based on what you talk about.
If you match with someone, both of you can see that match in your dating inbox. You can unmatch at any time, which removes the conversation from both profiles. Unmatching does not delete the messages — Facebook keeps a record of them on its servers even after you unmatch.
Facebook Dating does not let you message someone unless you both match first. This is different from some other dating apps, where you can message anyone. The mutual-match requirement means you cannot receive unsolicited messages from people you have not shown interest in.
Privacy settings specific to Facebook Dating
Facebook Dating has its own privacy controls separate from your main account settings. When you set up your dating profile, you choose your age range, distance radius, and height (if you want to include it). You also decide whether to show your work and education information.
You can control who sees your profile by setting a distance radius. If you set it to 5 miles, only people within 5 miles of your location will see you. You can change this radius at any time, and you can also pause your profile so that no one new sees it while you keep your existing matches.
One important limitation: you cannot hide your location entirely. Facebook Dating requires you to share your general location to use the feature. You can set a wide radius to be less specific, but you cannot turn location sharing off completely.
What happens if you delete your dating profile
Deleting your Facebook Dating profile does not delete your main Facebook account. You can remove your dating profile and keep using Facebook normally. When you delete your dating profile, all your matches disappear, and all your dating messages are removed from your inbox.
However, Facebook retains a record of your dating activity on its servers. This data is part of your overall Facebook profile information and is subject to Facebook's data retention policies. If you want Facebook to delete this data entirely, you would need to delete your main Facebook account, which is a separate process.
If you delete your dating profile and then create a new one later, Facebook may remember some of your previous preferences and matches, depending on how long ago you deleted the first profile.
How to turn on Facebook Dating step by step
Open the Facebook app on your phone. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the bottom right of the screen on iPhone or at the top right on Android. Scroll down until you see "Dating" and tap it. If you have never used Dating before, Facebook will show you an introduction screen explaining the feature.
Tap "get your free guide" to begin creating your profile. Facebook will ask you to confirm your name and birthday. It will then ask you to upload photos — you can choose from your existing Facebook photos or take new ones. Add at least one photo before you can proceed.
Write a bio describing yourself. This can be as short or as long as you want. Then answer the optional prompts Facebook provides — these might ask about your interests, what you are looking for, or your ideal date. You do not have to answer every prompt.
Review your profile to make sure the information is correct, then tap "Create Profile." Your dating profile is now live, and Facebook will start showing you potential matches based on your settings and interests.
How Facebook Dating affects your ad targeting
Using Facebook Dating gives Facebook additional information about you, which it uses to show you more targeted ads. If you message someone about travel, Facebook may show you ads for airlines or hotels. If your dating profile mentions that you like fitness, you may see ads for gyms or workout equipment.
This ad targeting happens across all of Facebook — not just in the dating section. Your dating activity influences the ads you see on your main feed, Instagram, and other Facebook-owned platforms. You cannot opt out of this entirely, but you can limit it by adjusting your ad preferences in Facebook's settings.
To see what information Facebook has collected about you for ad targeting, go to Settings, then Ad Preferences, then Advertisers and Businesses. This shows you the categories Facebook has assigned to you based on your activity, including your dating activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my Facebook friends see my dating profile?
No, unless you both match and start messaging. Your dating profile is completely hidden from your regular Facebook friends. However, if you match with a friend, you will both see that you matched, and you can choose whether to message them.
Does Facebook Dating work outside the United States?
Facebook Dating is available in many countries, but not all. It launched in the US in 2019 and has since expanded to Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and parts of Europe and Asia. Availability depends on your location. If you do not see the Dating option in your menu, it is not available in your country yet.
What happens to my dating messages if I deactivate my Facebook account?
If you deactivate your Facebook account, your dating profile becomes inactive and no one can see it or message you. Your messages remain on Facebook's servers. If you reactivate your account later, your dating profile and messages will return.
Can I use Facebook Dating without sharing my real name?
No. Facebook Dating requires you to use the name associated with your Facebook account. You cannot create a dating profile with a nickname or pseudonym. Your dating profile name must match your main Facebook account name.
Does Facebook Dating sell my data to dating companies or advertisers?
Facebook does not sell your dating data to third-party dating apps or companies. However, Facebook does use your dating information internally to improve its own services and to target ads to you. Your data is also subject to Facebook's standard data policies and may be shared with Facebook-owned companies like Instagram and WhatsApp.