How to Increase Your Matches on eharmony: 6 Ways to Improve Your Chances
CA
UK
AUNot getting as many matches as you hoped? The truth is, getting more matches isn’t about changing who you are, but about clearly showing who you are to those who will genuinely appreciate it. A few focused adjustments can give more compatible singles the chance to find you—and make it easier for them to see why they should connect.
We will walk you through six practical steps to refine your approach, from optimizing your Match Preferences to crafting a profile that truly reflects you to give you more quality matches in your dating app. The goal isn’t to appeal to everyone, but to help the right people recognize a genuine connection.
Why am I not getting many matches?
After you complete the Compatibility Quiz, eharmony starts connecting you with members who fit your criteria and may be compatible with your lifestyle. Your Discover list includes people who match your search criteria, with new members appearing as they join. A narrow search can limit the people you see, while a sparse profile can make it harder for them to decide whether to engage. So, in order to increase your chances of getting matches, it might be helpful to look at those possible reasons and how to make some impactful changes:
| If you’re experiencing… | Possible Reason | What to review on eharmony |
|---|---|---|
| Very few profiles in Discover | Your preferences may be too narrow | Search Criteria, like Age, Height or Distance |
| Profile views but little engagement | Your profile may not give people enough to respond to | Profile completeness, answers, photos and relationship intentions |
| Likes but few conversations | Your messages may be too generic or passive | Personalized likes and profile-based opening messages |
| Matches that don’t feel suitable | Your preferences or profile may not reflect your priorities | Dealbreakers, lifestyle details and relationship goals |
| Engagement has slowed over time | Your profile may need refreshing | Main photo, additional photos and profile answers |
Review your Match Preferences to see more profiles
Your Match Preferences are the first place to look when your Discover list feels limited. On eharmony, these can include age, height, smoking, children, religion, education, location and search radius.
Divide your criteria into two groups:
- True dealbreakers are factors that would make a relationship unrealistic for you. Your views on children, smoking or religion might belong here.
- Preferences are qualities you like but could reconsider for an otherwise compatible person. A particular height, narrow age range or short driving distance may fall into this category.
Keep what matters, but question settings based on an imagined ideal rather than your real relationship needs. A slightly wider radius or age range may introduce you to someone you would otherwise never see. eharmony similarly recommends challenging less important preferences and adjusting search settings to make your dating pool bigger.
Complete your profile to boost your matches
A sparse profile asks someone to make a decision with very little information. Filling it out creates a more rounded impression and shows that you’re invested in meeting someone.
An eharmony survey saw incomplete profiles ranked top of members’ pet hates about profiles with 55% of daters being annoyed that the profile doesn’t show enough information about who people really are.1 So make sure to add relevant and specific details about your interests and lifestyle. Your profile offers clues about your values, routines and what spending time with you could feel like. eharmony’s profile guidance recommends completing the available sections rather than relying on a few photos and a short introduction. So make sure to hit 100% profile completeness in order to increase your chances of getting high-quality matches.
The Compatibility Quiz contributes to your Personality Profile and compatibility information. Your profile filled with photos and answers help another member form a human impression of you. Give both proper attention, so it sparks their interest and increases your chances of a successful match.
Choose photos that make you easy to recognize
Your first photo should clearly show what you currently look like. Choose a recent, well-lit image in which your face is visible and nobody has to work out which person you are. Using recent photos helps give potential matches a clear sense of who you are on your journey to get higher quality matches.
Aim for at least four to six varied photos, including:
- a clear close-up;
- a photo showing more of your full appearance;
- one or two images of you doing something you enjoy;
- a photo that reflects your personal style — something you might wear on a date;
- optionally, one social photo that adds context without causing confusion.
Avoid using only selfies. Filters, old photos and pictures that hide your face can create uncertainty. A genuine smile and eye contact can make you appear more approachable. These recommendations reflect eharmony’s profile picture guidance to include clear images that show your appearance and lifestyle.
Your photos should not create an idealized character. They should help someone recognize the real person they could meet.
Replace generic answers with specific details
Statements such as “I love traveling” or “I enjoy staying active” may be true, but they give potential matches little to respond to. To increase your chances of getting more matches, transform these into specific narratives by using this structure:
A concrete detail + what it reveals about you + an opening for conversation.
Instead of:
I love the outdoors.
Try:
Most Saturday mornings, you’ll find me trying a new hiking trail, usually followed by an overly ambitious diner breakfast. I’m always open to trail recommendations.
Instead of:
I like to travel.
Try:
I’m slowly working my way through America’s national parks. Yosemite is the current favorite, but I’m willing to be convinced otherwise.
Specific answers reveal your lifestyle and personality while giving someone an easy first-message topic. eharmony’s profile-question advice similarly recommends moving beyond broad qualities to help you get more matches.
Ask someone you trust to review your profile
Ask a friend who knows you well whether your photos look current, your writing sounds like you and your relationship intentions are clear.
Also ask what kind of person the profile might attract and whether anything seems vague or negative. Look for unintended signals rather than letting someone else rewrite your personality.
Outside feedback can be especially useful when selecting a main photo. It is often difficult to judge your own pictures objectively, and eharmony recommends asking friends or family which image creates the strongest first impression for your potential matches.
Be proactive and reach out with a personalized message
A stronger profile may encourage more people to engage, but waiting for every conversation to come to you limits your experience. When someone interests you, like a specific part of their profile or send a message connected to something they shared.
A personalized opener gives them more reason to respond than a standalone “Hey.” In fact, according to an eharmony survey, 44% of daters are annoyed by lazy messages on dating apps.2 That’s why eharmony allows members to like aspects of another profile and begin a conversation based on what the person has shared.
For example:
You mentioned trying to find the best tacos in the city. What’s currently at the top of the list?
Being proactive won’t change how many profiles your settings generate, but it can help promising matches become conversations.
Key takeaways for getting more matches
- Relax preferences that aren’t true dealbreakers: Keep only those search filters active that matter most to you.
- Complete your profile and use at least four to six varied, current photos: On eharmony, you can add up to 12 pictures and answer up to 24 profile questions to show off your personality.
- Make it easy to start a conversation: Replace generic answers with specific details about you to give someone an easy conversation starter.
- Be proactive: Check your Discover list regularly and engage when someone interests you by sending a message based on another member’s profile.
What won’t help you get better matches?
Trying to appeal to everyone usually creates a generic profile. Misrepresenting your age, appearance, lifestyle or intentions may attract attention temporarily, but it makes genuine compatibility less likely and doesn’t account for high-quality matches.
In general, don’t treat your match count as a verdict on your attractiveness or relationship potential. Location, timing, preferences and the number of suitable members nearby all play a role. Focus on what you can control, when asking yourself “how do I get more matches”.
More quality matches start with a clearer version of you
Getting more matches isn’t about becoming someone else or finding a secret formula. It’s about helping eharmony understand what matters to you, keeping your search open where it makes sense and giving compatible singles a clear reason to connect.
Review your Match Preferences, complete your profile, choose photos that tell a genuine story and replace generic answers with details only you could write. These are all great steps to increase your chances of getting matches. Then, take an active role when someone catches your attention. You don’t need to attract everyone, you need to become easier for the right person to recognize.
Q&A – Expert backed answers to your questions
Do you have a burning question, personal story, or problem related to this topic? Send it in! The more details you share, the better we can understand your situation and offer meaningful guidance. Our relationship experts and editorial team may select it and respond with their advice. All submissions are anonymous. For product or account-related questions, please reach out to our Customer Care team via the Help pages.
The responses provided here are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. Any advice shared is not a substitute for mental health services or counseling. We encourage you to contact a licensed therapist or support service for any urgent or sensitive issues you are experiencing. We do not provide real-time or personalized support, and we will only provide responses to submissions if we can offer valuable, helpful, and topical answers.
Thanks for sending in your question! Due to the volume of submissions, we’re unfortunately unable to reply to every single one. If your question gets answered, you’ll find it displayed below. — The eharmony team
