How to Get Back to Facebook Dating on a New Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Switching to a new phone can feel like moving to a new city. All your apps, settings, and accounts need to be reinstalled, and if you're someone who was using Facebook Dating, you might be wondering how to pick up where you left off—or start fresh—on your new device. The good news? Facebook Dating is tied to your Facebook profile, not your device. So, recovering access is straightforward once you follow a few essential steps.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the exact steps you need to take to access Facebook Dating on your new phone. Whether you want to continue where you left off or create a fresh dating profile, this guide will make the transition smooth and stress-free.

Step 1: Ensure You Have the Right Phone Requirements

Before you begin, make sure your new phone meets the basic requirements:

Operating System: Facebook Dating works on Android (version 7.0 or later) and iOS (iPhone 5s or newer, iOS 12 or later).
Facebook App: You’ll need the official Facebook app, not a browser or third-party version.

Facebook Dating is a feature within the Facebook mobile app, not a standalone app. You won’t find “Facebook Dating” in the App Store or Google Play—it lives inside your main Facebook account.

Step 2: Download and Log In to the Facebook App

Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
Search for Facebook and download the latest version of the app.
Once installed, open the app.
Log in with the same credentials (email/phone and password) you used on your old phone.

✅ Tip: Make sure to log in with the same Facebook account you used for Dating previously. Facebook Dating is tied to your main profile—using a different account will show you a blank slate.

Step 3: Verify Your Account and Set Up Security

If you're logging in from a new device, Facebook may ask for additional verification to confirm your identity. Follow these prompts carefully:

Enter a confirmation code sent to your email or phone.
Answer security questions if prompted.
Update your password if requested, especially if you haven’t logged in for a while.

Once you're in, take a moment to update your account recovery options—like adding a phone number and recovery email—so you won’t get locked out in the future.

Step 4: Access Facebook Dating

Now that you’re logged into your Facebook account, it’s time to find Facebook Dating:

Tap on the three horizontal lines (☰) in the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (Android) corner of the app.
Scroll down until you see “Dating”. It's usually under the All Shortcuts or See More section.
Tap Dating to enter the feature.

🚫 Can’t find the Dating icon? Don’t panic.

If Facebook Dating doesn’t show up, try the following:

Make sure your app is fully updated.

Double-check that you’re 13+ years old (although you must be 18 or older to use Dating).

Confirm that you’re in a country where Facebook Dating is available (such as the US, Canada, UK, and many others).

Try reinstalling the app if needed.

Step 5: Restore or Rebuild Your Dating Profile

Once you're inside the Facebook Dating section, one of two things will happen:

A. Your Existing Dating Profile Appears

If your Facebook account already had a Dating profile, it will automatically reappear—complete with your matches, likes, and conversations (unless you deleted it previously).

You can:

Resume chatting with previous matches.
Update your profile with new photos or info.
Change preferences like age range, distance, or gender.

B. You’re Asked to Create a New Dating Profile

If your old Dating profile was deleted or if you never set one up, Facebook will prompt you to create a new one.

Here’s how:

Tap Get Started.
Choose your gender and the gender(s) you’re interested in.
Add photos (you can pull from your Facebook or upload from your phone).
Fill in basic info like location, height, job, education, etc.
Set your match preferences—such as age range and distance.
Add prompts and icebreakers to make your profile more engaging.

Don’t forget to review your privacy settings. Facebook Dating does not show your dating activity on your Facebook timeline and keeps your dating profile separate.

Step 6: Adjust Notification and Location Settings

To get the best experience, allow Facebook to access your location and notifications:

Go to your phone's Settings.
Tap on Facebook.
Make sure Location is set to “While Using the App” or “Always,” if you want to get matches near you.
Turn on Notifications so you don’t miss any messages or new matches.

This step is crucial because Facebook Dating uses your location to suggest nearby matches.

Step 7: Sync Instagram (Optional)

You can link your Instagram account to your Dating profile for added flair:

In the Dating section, tap the gear icon (⚙️) to open Settings.
Tap General > Instagram.
Log in to your Instagram and give permissions.

Photos and followers won't be shared publicly, but some recent Instagram posts will appear in your Dating profile.

Step 8: Protect Your Privacy and Security

While you're rejoining Dating, make sure your experience is safe and secure:

Block or report anyone who behaves inappropriately.
Avoid sharing personal info like phone numbers or addresses too early.
Turn off location sharing if you ever feel uncomfortable.
Use Facebook’s Safety Tips within the app to stay informed.

What If I Deleted My Facebook Dating Profile?

If you manually deleted your Dating profile in the past, it’s gone permanently. You'll need to start over by:

Re-entering the Dating section.
Tapping Get Started.
Rebuilding your profile from scratch.

Unfortunately, matches, conversations, and past preferences won’t return. So think twice before hitting delete next time!

Final Tips for a Smooth Transition

Keep your Facebook app updated to avoid bugs or compatibility issues.
Use a strong Wi-Fi connection when setting up your profile to speed things up.
Double-check your photo permissions, especially on iPhones where access must be manually granted.
Don’t worry if your matches don’t appear instantly—Facebook Dating often takes a little time to calibrate based on your profile and preferences.

In Conclusion

Getting back into Facebook Dating on a new phone is simple—as long as you have access to your main Facebook account. Since your Dating profile is tied to your Facebook identity and not your phone, it travels with you wherever you go. Whether you're picking up an old conversation or starting over, Facebook Dating makes it easy to jump back into the world of online connections.

Just follow the steps outlined above—download, log in, access Dating, and fine-tune your settings—and you’ll be swiping, matching, and chatting in no time.

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