Post Date: December 6, 2021

First launched back in 2009, Grindr has grown to become the most famous and largest online dating app for the LGTBTQ+ community. No matter where you are on the sexuality spectrum, using hookup apps for the first time can seem intimidating. So before diving into the world of online dating, here’s a complete guide to using the Grindr dating app.

Grindr is a convenient app that lets you look for all the available men wanting to interact in your vicinity. But no matter how fortunate it may seem, there’s no guarantee that your Grindr experience will be top-notch.

To help you have a worthwhile experience, I will share how you can get started on the app and create the perfect Grindr profile in the rest of the article. 

Getting Started On Grindr

Not everyone is familiar with how Grindr works, and that’s completely fine. It might be their first time using an online dating app for many people out there.

If you are one of them, before you leap into the world of all the flirty messages and emojis, you need to learn how to create an account on the app first. 

Let’s take a look at all the steps you need to follow to create an account on Grindr

Install And Open Grindr

The first step is downloading and installing the app on your phone or tablet. The app is entirely free to download from the App Store for iOS devices or the Play Store for Android devices. 

When you have finished installing the app, you should find an icon with an orange mask in your app drawer or on your home screen. Open it up to get started on the app. 

Sign Up On The App

There should be a “Sign Up” option in the top-right corner. Tap on it, and a form should come up. Fill it out with all the necessary information, including your email address and birthdate. You will also need to create a strong password. 

But if you prefer to connect your new account with your Facebook or Google account, you will find these options at the bottom of the page. Tap on them and follow the instructions to log in. To prove that you are human, you may also need to complete a short activity. 

Review the Terms and Services

To finish signing up, you will need to review all the terms and conditions of Grindr. Afterward, a confirmation should pop up with the option to “Accept” or “Decline.” 

Tap on the “Accept” option to confirm that you agree with all of the grind’s rules and policies. Once you have finally finished signing into Grindr, you can create your unique profile. 


❤️ Pro Tip: If you’re sick of finding people who are just looking for one-night stands, we recommend trying eHarmony.

It’s one of the highest-rated online dating apps in the world. eHarmony users are actually actively looking for relationships. Give it a try here for free and see if you can tell the difference.

5 Tips To Create The Perfect Profile

Now that you finally have an account on Grindr, it’s finally time to jump right into meeting other users—except not quite!

To avoid such unpleasant experiences, having the right profile is a must. A few tips to help you get started on that are: 

Have An Attractive Profile Picture

When crafting your perfect profile, it goes without saying that you should have a decent profile picture at least. When choosing a profile picture, select something that shows who you are.

You can upload some of your other pictures as well. A picture showing off your favorite activity or hobby, or just your simple face, would also work perfectly, as long as it isn’t blurry! 

However, it’s completely understandable if you don’t feel comfortable adding a profile picture. After all, not every gay man has come out of the closet to others, and you don’t need to do it either if you don’t feel comfortable enough.

If you wish to maintain your anonymity, don’t post a picture. Blurry pictures or some random wallpapers might just put others off. 

Provide All Your Basic Information

Grindr Download app

The way to create the perfect profile requires you to at least provide all the essential information on the app. Typically, you might need to provide your age, weight, height, preferred position, body type, and what you are looking for.

You need to fill out these fields on your Grindr profile are not there just for show.

Providing such information lets your potential partner find out if you are the right person for them to hit up or not. There’s less need for unnecessary interactions, and it saves both your and his time.

Don’t Put Unnecessary Symbols In Your Name

A quick look over the many Grindr profiles should give you an idea of how people create their display names. There should be many guys who use either double-headed, upward-pointing, or downward-pointing arrows in their display names.

While it may indicate their preferred position, it is entirely unnecessary. It can even look tacky to some.

After all, there’s a field in everyone’s profile dedicated to sharing your preferred position. Create a display name with only letters and skip out using symbols to avoid looking tacky. 

Create An Attractive Bio

If you think your bio doesn’t matter and put a random inspirational quote in your bio, you are heavily mistaken. It’s possible to put off anyone interested if you show an unnecessary and condescending attitude in your bio. 

The bio should provide a short description of who you are, and it’s best to be completely honest about it. Your potential partner might even like the real you more. So it’s best to put yourself out there as you are.

Be Direct About Your Preferences

The most crucial step is to be completely clear about what you are looking for and into. Can you imagine meeting someone at their place for a one-time hookup and the guy asking weird questions like when you guys are meeting again?

There’s no shame in what you are looking for, but it’s always best to be direct about it. 

Suppose your ideal guy needs to be muscular and at least 6 feet tall. Whatever you prefer, make sure to mention it somewhere in your bio.

Just remember not to be rude and body shame others. If you are more interested in guys of a certain age, make sure to mention that as well, as long as it’s not under 18.

Grindr Features 

Unlike the standard features, you are used to seeing in Tinder, the Grindr app offers its users much more control and many unique features.

Let’s take a look at the top 3 unique features among them: 

Grid View

Grindr has a unique grid view of profiles than your everyday dating apps. When new users log in to the app, 32 different profiles are shown in grids, with each row displaying three profiles.

If you find any user’s profile interesting, you need to tap the image to learn more about them. You can also find out whether a user is online or not from the grid view.

Furthermore, you can see the real-time status of a person’s location thanks to GPS. You will find the profiles sorted by distance from the top to the bottom of a page.

This unique feature of the Grindr app is handy as it helps users to reject a profile immediately. You don’t need to go through all the profiles to find the one you are interested in. 

Search With Filters 

One of the best features of the Grindr app might be this specific one. If you want to ensure a particular match, you can apply filters to your search when looking up new profiles. There are numerous filters to customize the feed you get displayed. 

For example, if you want to date someone around your age range, you need to set up an age limit and find users who match.

There’s also “Grindr Tribes,” a unique feature of the Grindr app. 

These tribes are simply different categories for the community to put men, in different tribes, according to their sexual health, body types, or other factors. When you enter a tribe, it will show up on your profile and help other interested users to find you faster.

Favorite or Block Users

Suppose you find a profile that you are crushing on but don’t want to immediately start a conversation with them. If so, the Grindr app lets you add the profile to your list of favorites.

There’s no worry about them finding out either, as users don’t get notifications when they like them.

So this can be a handy feature if you haven’t started a conversation with someone yet but don’t want to lose their profile.

On the other hand, Grindr also lets you block another user if you find them annoying or make you feel unsafe. This is a handy feature to maintain a safe and secure environment within the community.

Grindr Recap

Not everyone is comfortable diving into the world of dating, and Grindr can seem like a blessing for such individuals. But not knowing how to navigate the app properly can also make it seem like a curse.

Why Is Grindr Xtra So Expensive? Is It Worth It?

This article delves into the premium features of Grindr Xtra to weigh if the paid subscription warrants the higher price tag for your needs. Compare against standard Grindr and other dating app upgrades.

Tinder vs. Grindr: What’s the Difference?

Compare the unique features, target users, and connections for Tinder vs Grindr to understand the key distinctions. Choose the platform best aligned to your dating preferences.

Additionally, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each app, helping you decide which one suits your dating goals better. Whether you’re new to dating apps or looking to explore different options, our article provides valuable insights into Tinder and Grindr’s distinctions.

About the Author

Julia has over 10+ years in the mobile dating app space as a consultant and analyst. Her work has been featured on top websites like Mashable and Women's Health Mag. She writes these blogs to help singles find their true love and life long companion!