How To Link Tinder To Instagram [& Why It Might Be A Mistake]

Linking your Instagram to Tinder lets your potential matches scroll through your most recent Instagram images.

If your Instagram profile is set to private, up to 34 images are shared with the Tinder app. But if it’s set to public, Tinder users can check out all your content.

Connecting and unlinking Tinder from Instagram is easy - but linking your Instagram to your Tinder profile isn’t necessarily a good idea.

Keep reading to find out how to do it, undo it, and most importantly - when you should do it.

How To Link Tinder To Instagram

1. Open Tinder.
2. Tap the icon in the upper left corner to access your profile.
3. Tap your photo to view your entire profile.
4. Tap “Edit Info.”
5. Scroll down to “Instagram Photos” and tap “Connect.”
6. Log in to Instagram.
7. Grant Tinder permission to access Instagram by tapping “Authorize.”

A common Tinder Instagram error occurs when you try to connect the same IG to more than one Tinder profile. For instance, if you reset your Tinder but still had Instagram connected to it, you won’t be able to link that Instagram to your new Tinder account.

To prevent this from happening, make sure to unlink Tinder from Instagram before you delete your Tinder profile. It’s not enough to do it via Instagram, you have to do it from within the Tinder app as well.

How To Disconnect Tinder From Instagram

1. Open Tinder.
2. Tap the icon in the upper left corner to access your profile.
3. Tap your photo to view your entire profile.
4. Tap “Edit Info.”
5. Scroll down to “Instagram Photos” and tap “Disconnect.”
6. Confirm by tapping “Ok.”

Before you spend the 45 seconds it takes to link Tinder to Instagram, here are 2 points worth pondering:

Tinder photos are dating photos - IG images aren’t.

Hopefully, you selected your Tinder photo lineup to achieve maximum attractiveness. (If you don’t know how to choose your best dating photos, this article has some great tips.)

So when potential matches scroll through your Tinder pics, they're seeing exactly what you want them to see - images chosen because they make someone want to learn more about you, spend time with you, etc.

But most people don’t curate their Instagram content with an eye for dating apps.

Here’s the problem with not applying a “dating photo strategy” to both: When someone is swiping on Tinder, they’re making a snap decision based on your photos, bio, and IG snaps.

The technical term is “thin slicing,” which in layman’s terms simply means someone is making a series of tiny judgments based on every little thing the brain subconsciously notes about what it sees, and it then forms and overall impression. And it happens fast.

So when you include IG pics, you’re giving their brain that much more food for thought. Images are powerful things, and without the context of knowing someone’s personality, it’s easy to get the wrong idea.

Which way do you think that swipe’s going to go if your Instagram selection looks like this?

If someone is already hesitant to swipe right based on your Tinder profile, those initial 6 Instagram images may be the deciding factor. That means if you’re not careful about what you post, Instagram could torpedo your Tinder game.

Tindstagramming is real - and it’s real annoying.

While women are typically on the receiving end of this trend more often, it also happens to guys. You swipe left on a Tinder profile, then suddenly you’re getting DM requests from that person on Instagram.

It’s called “Tindstagramming”, which NYMag helpfully defines as “The act of sneaking into someone’s Instagram DMs after failing to match with them on Tinder.”

Think of it as a back door to Tinder messaging - you didn’t match on the dating app, so Instagram offers a second (or third, or fourth) chance for the rejected party.

You can probably also look forward to a whole bunch of “Hey I saw you on Tinder...” comments on your images.

Set your “dating” Instagram profile to private, so only up to 34 images are visible. The key to incorporating Instagram successfully is choosing images that will make someone want to know more about you.

Travel snaps are ideal because who doesn’t want to imagine themselves on an adventure? Pet photos make great “message bait” - cute animals are natural conversation starters. Hobbies, activities, that one time you tried the Unicorn frappe - images that make someone think hanging out with you would be fun.

Images that are confusing, could be taken out of context, or negative in some way are the ones that will sabotage your Tinder profile.

If you’re not getting the results you want on Tinder, linking your Instagram likely won’t be a magical fix.

Instead of getting frustrated, why not get some expert advice? The dating experts at VIDA can customize a Tinder strategy for you - including selecting your strongest photos and writing an irresistible bio.

We’ll even handle your Tinder messaging for you! Imagine dates with the most intriguing local singles - and all you had to do to meet them was show up! VIDA makes it that easy.

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