7 Ways to Fix Your Hinge Algorithm

Here’s how to fix your Hinge algorithm:

For the most part, you can fix your Hinge algorithm by using the app as it is intended. 

The algorithm thrives on data, so every time you interact with a match, update your profile, go on a date, or use the prompts, you’re giving the algorithm what it needs. 

With more data, it should be able to find good matches.

So if you want to learn all about ways to fix your Hinge algorithm, then this article is for you.

Keep reading!

7 Ways to Fix Your Hinge Algorithm (Everything to Know)

What Is the Hinge Algorithm?

Hinge is a dating app, and the Hinge algorithm refers to the set of rules that governs how the app functions. 

It can also refer to how the algorithm is customizing your own experience. 

So instead of fixing the algorithm in general, you can do things that might fix how the algorithm is specifically interacting with your Hinge profile.

What’s interesting about the Hinge algorithm is that it’s based on the Gale-Shapley algorithm, which won a Nobel Prize in 2012. 

The system that powers matchmaking on hinge is built on strong scientific principles, and it’s quite different from most other dating apps.

If you’ve used Hinge, you already know. It’s not based on swiping. 

Instead, Hinge tries to match people that it thinks will mutually like each other. 

It gets you to spend more time looking at a profile and potentially engaging with the other person before you give up on a match. 

A lot of this different approach is only possible because of the Hinge algorithm.

How Does the Hinge Algorithm Work?

Aspects of the algorithm are proprietary, so I can’t give you a perfect breakdown. 

But, I can mix a bit of deduction and speculation to give you a fair idea of how it works.

That said, Hinge uses as much data as it can to try to provide quality, mutual matches. 

In a way, it uses a powerful process of elimination to figure out what people like.

The first step for the algorithm is to collect raw data on who you like (it does this for everyone). 

Whenever you like someone, Hinge pays close attention to all of the details associated with that person. 

It uses this data to refine its assessment of what you like. 

At the same time, it’s doing this for everyone else.

So, once Hinge has a good pile of data, it can recommend two people to each other who are very likely to be mutually interested. 

They have compatible likes.

They don’t have any deal breakers (such as one person wanting kids while the other hates kids). 

And, the selection process is working in both directions, so you’re both likely to be interested, as opposed to an app that suggests a lot of one-sided connections.

When Do You Need to Fix Your Hinge Algorithm? (2 Instances)

Now that you’re getting deeper into the topic, we can start going over some of the issues and how to deal with them. 

There are instances where Hinge isn’t doing a good job of suggesting matches. 

If that happens, then you might want to take action to adjust how the algorithm interacts with your profile. 

For the most part, there are two occasions that would lead down this path.

#1 You Stop Getting Matches

It’s a common story you see with dating apps. 

You sign up and create your profile. 

You get a lot of matches, and things seem good. 

Then, the matches suddenly stop coming, and there’s not a lot of incentive to keep using the app.

While Hinge tries pretty hard to prevent this scenario, it can still happen. 

More often than not, this happens to people who live in smaller towns or rural areas. 

It’s possible to burn through your potential matches and have no one left for the app to suggest. 

There are other issues that can lead to this too. 

I’ll show you how to fix common problems in a bit. 

But, if you’re here because you aren’t getting matches anymore, you’re in the right place.

#2 Match Quality Declines

This is the other common issue. 

Sometimes, the quality of your matches degrades over time. 

Once again, this isn’t supposed to happen, but no system is perfect. 

If it seems like your matches are getting further and further away from anyone you actually find compatible, then it’s time to try to fix your algorithm. 

So, with that, let’s get into some of the things you can try.

How to Fix the Hinge Algorithm? (7 Ways)

At last, we can get into the nuts and bolts of how you can fix your algorithm. 

I have a handful of tips for you, and the good news is that none of them are particularly difficult or painful. 

For the most part, you’ll get better match results if you give the app more data. 

That much should be apparent. 

So, a few of these tips are going to show you how to give the app data. 

If that’s not enough, there are some drastic measures you can take too, and they’re all below.

#1 Use the App

This might sound simplistic, but Hinge runs on an algorithm that is constantly parsing data in order to improve results. 

Whether you’re not getting enough matches or they don’t seem like good matches, more data is usually friend.

Spend time with the app and go through your matches thoroughly. 

Have conversations with people. 

Go on dates (if they seem promising). 

Give the app information. 

It should be self-correcting.

If the app can’t correct things on its own, I have plenty of additional tips for you. 

But, it’s easiest to start by just using the app a little more to give it the information it needs to succeed.

#2 Go Through the Prompts

Sure, you could chalk this up to using the app, but there’s something specific you might need to know about Hinge prompts. 

The app provides new prompts every month. 

So, if you stay proactive about going through the prompts, you’re generating a lot of data for the app.

This is more useful than you might think. 

Hinge doesn’t just randomly throw prompts at you. 

It experiments with prompts, but it also uses response data to refine them. 

So, each month, you’re seeing the prompts that generated the most useful responses for the app. 

The algorithm is constantly improving the value of prompts, so keeping up with them only helps your results.

#3 Revisit Your Deal Breakers

There are two ways to think about this. 

First of all, as you use the app, your idea of deal breakers might change. 

The app uses deal breakers to eliminate potential matches without you ever seeing them. 

The idea is that these are the things that matter the most to you. 

So, if you find that a new deal breaker emerges after interacting with your matches, update it. 

That’s an easy way to improve match quality.

The other thing to point out is that people sometimes get a little lazy when they create and maintain a profile. 

Starting a dating app forces you to spend a lot of time going through account stuff before you can really use the app. 

There are good reasons for that, but if you suffered burnout in the middle of account creation, you aren’t the first, and you won’t be the last.

If you haven’t, revisit your deal breakers to ensure that they are accurate. They might be preventing good matches.

#4 Log Your Dates

Hinge provides the ability to track when you meet up with someone who matched with you on the app. 

This is very important information for the app. 

If you go on a date and want a second date, tell the app. 

This information gives it very strong data about your likes.

If you meet and don’t want a second date, that’s still very important data for the app.

Logging dates is far more helpful than you might imagine.

#5 Revamp Your Profile

Do you remember what I said a minute ago about people burning out during account creation? 

If you think that might have happened to you, then go back through your profile. 

There is probably a lot of room for improvement. 

Even if that doesn’t describe you, profiles benefit from a little attention now and then.

More than anything else, go to the trouble of improving your photos. 

Only post your best photos, and get rid of anything that isn’t flattering. 

It might feel frustrating, but dating apps require people to judge each other with shocking little information. 

Present your best, and you’ll probably get more matches.

And, make sure you get an outside opinion. 

Your favorite picture of yourself might not actually be the most flattering picture you have.

#6 Talk to Support

If you feel like the app isn’t working the way it should, then it really might not be. 

Sometimes, Hinge issues are because of a limited dating pool in a region or a bad profile. 

Other times, the software misbehaves. 

If you’ve ever used a computer, smartphone, or any other electronic device, you already know this.

Errors happen. 

So, if you’re having a bad experience, talk to support. That’s why it exists. 

You might find that there is a systematic problem that is negatively impacting your match results.

#7 Make a New Account

When all else fails, you can use this as a last resort. 

You can delete your profile and create a new one. 

Keep in mind that if you do this, you’re losing everything. 

Deleting your account gets rid of every message, picture, and match saved on your current profile.

But, when nothing else works, this is sometimes the easier way. 

Hinge is adapting how it works with your profile using a lot of data. 

If something in that data collection is poisoning your results, it can be difficult to find the root of the problem. 

So, when nothing else works, a new account can give you a fresh start and another chance at getting good matches.

Author

  • Theresa McDonough

    Tech entrepreneur and founder of Tech Medic, who has become a prominent advocate for the Right to Repair movement. She has testified before the US Federal Trade Commission and been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, helping influence change within the tech industry.