How does messaging work on Bumble? (2024)

FAQs

How does Bumble work with messages? ›

Bumble works the same for men and women, except that men aren't allowed to send the first message to a woman they've matched with. Once a woman sends a message to a man, they can chat without any restrictions. After making a match on Bumble, you can see and chat with contacts from the conversation page.

On Bumble, yes, women are required to send the first message after a match. But every other app, it's up to whoever decides to make the first move.

Keep in mind that on Bumble, women Make the First Move by sending the first message. If you don't have First Move privileges you have to wait for the other member to send the first message. Once they do you will be able to reply to them to lock in your connection. Remember: You have 24 hours to respond to a First Move!

Our platform is designed to be safe and empowering for women and, in turn, provide a better environment for everyone. Men and nonbinary people cannot initiate a conversation with women. However, they can extend the match using the daily 24-hour extend feature.

Despite the convenience that read receipts would offer, Bumble does not offer any sort of read receipt feature, either by default or as part of a premium upgrade. That means it's not possible to tell if a user you've been conversing with has read your message.

Regardless of the reasons behind the decision, it's important for users to be aware that Bumble does not offer read receipts. This means that you won't be able to tell whether or not the recipient has read a message you've sent.

Once they've sent their first message, their match has 24 hours to respond, or the connection expires. In same-sex matches, either person is encouraged to make the first move within 24 hours. The other person has 24 hours to respond, or the connection expires.

It could easily be that your match just wasn't in a good place to start a meaningful chat this time. It's common for people to turn off notifications not just from Bumble, but from most apps on their phone. So don't assume your match actively decided not to message you. Maybe they just didn't see you in time!

One of the more obvious rules of the online dating game is not to send a message immediately after you match. Give it 2-3 hours before you send a message, that way you don't seem too eager and you give yourself an air of mystery!

If you're a man matching with women, you'll have to wait for the woman to start the conversation. If you're nonbinary, a man matching with someone other than a woman, or a woman matching with women, either person can start the conversation.

Can guys message first on Bumble at all? ›

Bumble empowers women to Make the First Move in all matches. In same-gender matches, matches with two non-binary people, or matches between non-binary people and men, anyone can message first. This is what makes our community unique, but we get that messaging first can feel daunting.

Wait at least 2-3 days before meeting up.

Spend a few days getting a feel for their personality and interests and building some chemistry before you take the next step. To get a sense of what your potential date is like, try to have at least a couple of meaningful conversations that go beyond just small talk.

At Bumble, women make the first move. In heterosexual matches, the woman has 24 hours to make the first move and the man has 24 hours to respond. In same-sex matches, either person has 24 hours to make the first move. The other individual has 24 hours to respond or the connection expires.

If you are having trouble locating a conversation it could be that your match has deleted their account or has been blocked on Bumble. Some deleted accounts will still remain in your conversations list as "Deleted user" for a short period of time.

We show our users profiles that they have already left swiped on, just incase they changed their mind or made a mistake. Hence why your profile may still be shown to other users even though you have swiped left initially as we may show you the same profile again incase you want to swipe right a second time round.

On Bumble, you don't need to pay to make great connections. You can swipe through members' profiles, make matches, and send messages all for free.

Swipe right on the person you want to talk to.

If they swipe right on you back, you'll be able to chat with them! You have 24 hours from the time you match with someone to start a conversation with them (unless you're in Bizz mode—then you'll have 7 days).

It could easily be that your match just wasn't in a good place to start a meaningful chat this time. It's common for people to turn off notifications not just from Bumble, but from most apps on their phone. So don't assume your match actively decided not to message you. Maybe they just didn't see you in time!