Dating App Safety Settings You Should Change Right Now (2026)

Universal Settings to Change on Every App

These settings apply across Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Match, and most other dating apps. Check each one today.

• •Disable distance display — showing exact distance reveals your approximate location to every match
• •Turn off read receipts — these create pressure to respond and give controlling people ammunition
• •Limit profile visibility — most apps let you hide your profile from specific people or make it visible only to people you have liked
• •Disable social media linking — connected Instagram or Spotify accounts reveal personal information you may not want strangers to see
• •Enable two-factor authentication — protects your account from being hacked or impersonated
• •Review app permissions — disable access to your contacts, location (when not using the app), and microphone if not needed
• •Block instead of unmatching — blocking prevents someone from finding you again on a new account

App-Specific Settings

Each app has unique safety features that are often buried in settings menus. Tinder offers a panic button through its Noonlight integration that contacts emergency services. Bumble has a Private Detector that blurs unsolicited inappropriate images. Hinge lets you set preferred pronouns and dealbreakers that filter who can message you.

Take 5 minutes on each app you use and go through every setting in the Safety and Privacy sections. The defaults are designed for maximum engagement, not maximum safety.

What Your Profile Should Never Include

Beyond app settings, what you put on your profile matters for safety. Never include your workplace name, daily routine locations, home neighborhood, children's names or photos, or your full last name. These details make it easy for someone to find you in person before you have decided to share that information.

Use your first name only. Choose photos that do not reveal identifiable locations like your home exterior, workplace building, or regular hangout spots.