Online daters aren’t always single. According to Statista, 50% of users on dating sites are married or in a committed relationship. No wonder searches for “how to see if someone is on dating apps” are blowing up!

I’m 100% sure that “taken” daters aren’t shouting where they spend their time online. And why would they? Dating platforms marketed themselves as safe spaces with no public search functions, guaranteed anonymity, and private messages that never leave the site.

But as someone who knows a thing or two about this, I can tell you: online dating isn’t nearly as private as most people think.

Why You Might Think Someone Is on Dating Sites

If you suspect your partner has a dating profile, you’re probably not just imagining things. Your subconscious picks up on warning signs long before your conscious mind connects the dots:

• They stare at the screen, maybe even with a little smirk.
• They lose track of time when scrolling/texting.
• Their schedule gets packed with urgent “can’t miss” events.
• They won’t let their phone out of their sight or have strong passwords on everything.
• They either start showering you with affection ( love bombing!) or become really cold and distant.

When you notice these behaviors, especially with increased phone use, pay attention. Humans are creatures of habit. Sudden shifts often point to something new in their life.

How to Find Out If Someone Is on a Dating Site

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve noticed clear red flags or you’re following a gut feeling. Let’s break down how to see if someone has a dating profile and connect the dots.

Run a Reverse Username Lookup

I’m sure you know their favorite username. Or even old usernames from high school times. Either way, their nickname can help you find their dating profiles.

Reverse lookup tools work with most dating platforms. When you create a profile online, your data becomes publicly available. Reverse lookup tools aggregate that information. 

And when you enter someone’s username in such a tool, they give you personal identifiers linked to that username.

This could be their real name, age, address, contact details, and plenty more.

Scannero – My Go-To Tool For Dating Profile Search

I was hooked from the first time I used it. Scannero has huge databases and really smooth interfaces. It takes a few clicks for me to find anyone by username.

This people search engine can search across 70+ platforms, even those smaller niche dating sites. If someone has a profile out there, chances are you’ll find it.  

Overall, Scannero can scan billions of public records and give you a full report on anyone.

How to Find Out if Someone Is on a Dating Site in Three Steps

Say you’re searching for the username “lalala1” using Scannero :

1. Visit scannero.io
2. Enter “lalala1” into the search panel.

3. See the results.

A Word on Legality

Generally, looking up public dating profiles is legal. Users voluntarily share this information online, and these services simply aggregate it faster than manual searching. 

However, Scannero’s Terms and Conditions prohibit using this information for tenant screening, hiring decisions, or similar purposes.

Use Reverse Search by Email/Phone 

What do you need to register on most dating sites? An email address or phone number.

But what if you could use that same information to find someone’s username? I found a tool that makes this possible.

Searqle is a powerful people search engine, kind of like Google, but for finding information about people. 

To check if someone is on a dating app, enter their number or email into Searqle:

You’ll get a list of possible usernames linked to this person. Then, do a bit detective work. If they’ve got accounts on Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook, but you find an extra username (like @lalala🔥), it could be their dating profile nickname.

Find Dating Profiles Using Google

Google has commands that can narrow your search. While using them doesn’t always give perfect results (especially if someone has a private profile), it’s worth trying as a free dating app search.

If you suspect they’re on Tinder, try: site:tinder.com “username”.

Google will display matching profiles.

You can combine this with image search. Upload a photo of the person and pair it with the site’s URL and username.

Try Creating a Profile Using Their Email

Some dating sites notify you when an email is already in use. If you know their current email address, here’s how to check if someone is on a dating app:

1. Go to the site they might be using.
2. Click sign up.
3. Enter their email address. Then hit next.
4. If an account exists, you’ll see an error message saying the email is already in use.

This method works best when you’re confident about which one or two platforms they’re on. Checking dozens gets tedious, and not every site uses this verification system.

Check Their Browsing History

If they’re not careful, they might leave traces in their browser history.

And even if they clear it regularly, you can still find dating profiles in their browser settings.

Most people enable autofill on sites they use frequently, and those entries appear in saved passwords lists.

Check their browser settings to see what’s stored there.

Do a Reverse Image Search

Reverse image search might show their dating profiles if they’re using real pics. Google Images works well for this. I also use TinEye when Google comes up empty.

Upload their photo and see what turns up.

Use the “Forgotten Password” Trick

Here’s how to know if someone is on a dating app:

1. Enter their email or phone number in the login field on a dating site.
2. Choose “Forgot password”.
3. If they have an account, the system will offer recovery options or send a login email.

Be careful. If you don’t have access to their email to delete that login message, use another method to avoid tipping them off.

Create a Fake Profile

Build a profile they’d likely find attractive.

Then use search (if available) or keep swiping left until you find them. Take screenshots, note whether the profile looks active or abandoned, and decide your next move.

Check Their Phone

If you have access to their devices, here’s how to find out if your spouse is on dating apps:

1. Go to Settings. 

2. Check Screen Time. You’ll see a list of apps they use most often. Keep an eye on dating apps, app vaults, and messengers.

3. If you see anything suspicious, tap on those apps to see hourly activity. Odd hours or heavy usage are telltale signs.

Look for New Friends on Social Media

Both follows and following. If you spot any unfamiliar accounts, check them. Look for likes, comments, tagged photos, or Instagram Highlights.

You might see them together with someone new or notice a friend group they haven’t told you about. Careless mistakes often reveal what people try to hide.

Top Dating Apps

You might want to check every site on the Internet, but your partner’s more likely using one of these:

Tinder

Tinder is known for its swipe feature. It was made quick, superficial connections based on photos and short bios. Users can message each other if both have swiped right on each other’s profiles.↳

Search features: Location-based search feature. Premium users can access advanced filters, such as age, distance, and interests, to find dating profiles.

Bumble

Bumble is similar to Tinder, but women must message first.

Search features: Bumble lets you filter potential matches. You can set criteria like age, location, and interests. Users can link their Instagram profiles and Spotify accounts.

Hinge

Hinge’s tagline is “Designed to be deleted,” as it focuses on serious relationships. Users create detailed profiles with prompts and photos. Matches can like specific parts of a profile, such as a photo or a response to a prompt.

Badoo

Badoo is a global dating platform that allows users to swipe, chat, and even video call potential matches. Users can also see who’s near them through the “People Nearby” feature.↳

Search features: Badoo allows detailed searches, including age, interests, and location. 

Plenty of Fish

POF is one of the largest dating platforms, and it’s known for its free dating app search. Users create detailed profiles and connect through messaging and “How’s This Person” matches.↳

Search features: POF offers search filters. They include age, location, and relationship goals.

FAQ

Conclusion

The Internet isn’t a completely private space. It was never designed to be, especially when it comes to online dating. You can find someone’s dating profile if you feel like they have one. The process might take time (particularly with manual searches), but your peace of mind is worth the effort.

Author: Nicklaus Borer

Greetings. I am a journalist and a computer engineer. I am engaged in research in the field of security, data and their publication on this blog.