How to do a hard reset for tinder

Dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, or Hinge sometimes require a complete restart. Whether you’ve been officially banned, suspect you’re shadow banned (receiving zero likes despite previous success), or your profile score has plummeted beyond recovery, this guide will help you wipe the slate clean.

If you’re just looking to refresh your profile without serious issues, a simple soft reset might work. But for more serious problems, follow this comprehensive guide.

This tool and guide is free for you but it cost me to make. Support me by checking out my course. why?

• Dating apps are less likely to ban high “elo” profiles.
• Find out the better and cheaper method to get premium.
• Get an unfair advantage on dating apps for the rest of your life. (better than gold)

Step 1: Delete Your Existing Account

First, you need to properly remove your old profile:

1. Open your dating app and tap your profile picture in the top left
2. Access the settings menu (usually a gear icon)
3. Scroll down to find “Delete Account” option
4. Confirm the deletion
5. Uninstall the app from your phone

Note: Sometimes you might not be able to delete your account normally. In this case, proceed to the next step.

Step 2: Request Complete Data Deletion

Simply deactivating your account doesn’t actually remove your data from the company’s servers.

1. Send an official data deletion request to the app’s privacy email (e.g., privacy@gotinder.com)
2. Use this template:

Subject: GDPR Data Deletion Request

“To Whom It May Concern:

I request the complete deletion of all my personal data under GDPR Article 17.

Account details:

• Name: [Your Name]

• Email: [Email used for Tinder]

• Phone: [Phone number used for Tinder]

Please delete ALL data associated with my account.

Please confirm.

Regards,
[Your Name]

3. Wait for confirmation (can take up to a month)

Step 3: Clear All App Data

This step helps remove local traces of the app:

• Android users: Go to Settings → Apps → [Dating App] → Storage → Clear data and cache
• iPhone users: Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer deep cleaning options. Uninstalling is your only option.

Step 4: Using a New Phone

Dating apps are increasingly sophisticated at tracking users across re installs:

1. If possible, use a different phone for your new account
2. Find that old Iphone that you don’t use anymore
3. Consider an inexpensive second-hand phone ($30-40 on marketplaces)
4. If buying a new iPhone, create a new Apple ID too
5. You can use the phone on hotspot/WiFi without a SIM card if necessary

Too hard?  You can make a new account in the browser but this increases your risk score and will result in you getting banned easier.

IMPORTANT: Never log into your new account from a device where you were previously banned.

Step 5: Get a New Phone Number & Email

This is perhaps the most crucial step of the reset process:

New Phone Number Options:

• Purchase a prepaid SIM card 
• Try number apps verification apps like TextNow, smspool or Burner
• Use a verification service (usually under $5)

New Email:

1. Create a fresh Gmail account from your new device
2. Don’t import contacts or connect to your other accounts
3. Use this email exclusively for dating apps

For extra security, use your new phone number for initial verification, then switch to email verification for future logins.

Step 6: Your Photos

Dating apps use image recognition to detect reused photos:

1. Use completely different photos than your previous account
2. Or modify your old photos using the image editing tool to change their digital signature

Step 7: Use a Different Network

Your IP address can be used to track you:

1. Use mobile data instead of your home WiFi that you used on your previous account.
2. Try a public WiFi hotspot or a friend’s network
3. Avoid VPNs as they can trigger suspicion flags
4. You can likely return to your regular network once the account is established

Step 8: Create Your New Account

Now you’re ready to start fresh:

1. Use your new phone number and email
2. Avoid social logins (Facebook, etc.)
3. Wait at least 3 days after sending deletion requests
4. Don’t link old Instagram/Spotify accounts
5. Use a different payment method for premium services or use the online dating: unfair advantage method to get premium for cheap.
6. Avoid face verification if possible
7. Use the new modified pictures.

Step 9: Use Your New Account Wisely

To avoid future bans:

1. They are more likely to ban low “elo” profiles. Check out my journey on making a better profile: here
2. Be selective with your first 20 swipes to establish your “standards”
3. Don’t purchase long-term subscriptions – stick to monthly plans
4. Avoid swiping right on everyone – the algorithm penalizes this behavior.

Bonus: the travel method

When you travel out of the country it’s a great opportunity to create a new account.

• You will most likely have a new SIM, use it!
• Different regions have different data laws. Thus your old account details might not exist in this regions data center.
• You’re in a different location and have a different ip. This lowers your fingerprint.

For Canadian users

Since your data laws allow them to keep a face id of you indefinitely you need to user the travel method. Sorry, there’s no other way.

Final Notes

The more steps you follow, the lower your risk score will be. While some users might get lucky skipping steps, creating a completely new digital fingerprint gives you the best chance of success.

Read more about how dating apps use your data here: https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/privacynotincluded/tinder/

If you believe you’ve been banned unfairly and a hard reset fails, you can:

• Utilize the arbitration process (see their Terms of Service)
• File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau
• Check for ban appeal processes (available for some apps as of 2024)

This guide works for most major dating apps including Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge.