Can You Skip Someone on Bumble? 3 Ways

You’re on Bumble, swiping away, when you spot a familiar face – maybe it’s a coworker or a friend’s ex. You freeze. Swiping right or left doesn’t feel right. So, can you skip them?

Let’s walk through what Bumble lets you do in this situation

Can You Skip Someone on Bumble?

The short answer is no, Bumble does not have a feature that explicitly allows you to skip a profile.

Unlike some other apps where you can just close the app and hope the profile disappears the next time you open it, Bumble’s algorithm doesn’t work that way.

Now, here’s the thing. On Bumble, you swipe right to show interest and left to pass. The app is designed to keep you engaged, showing profiles based on your preferences and swiping patterns. If you come across someone you’d rather not swipe on, you have limited options.

One workaround is simply to do nothing. If you don’t swipe on a profile, it will eventually cycle out as new profiles are shown. However, this can mean a temporary pause in your swiping adventure, as the profile will stick around for a bit before the app refreshes with new faces.

So why isn’t there a skip button?

Well, Bumble’s philosophy is about making decisions, whether to connect with someone or not. The app encourages a decision-making process, even when it feels a bit uncomfortable.

What to do if you see a familiar face on Tinder?

The reality is, seeing someone you know on Bumble isn’t rare, especially if your social circles overlap. So, what should you do? Here are a few practical steps:

First, consider the context. Is this person someone you can easily laugh this off with?

If yes, swiping right could be a fun way to say, “Hey, fancy seeing you here!”

This might seem counterintuitive, but hear me out.

If you swipe right and it turns out they’ve done the same, it could be a chance for a laugh over the coincidence. This can be a light-hearted way to address the elephant in the room, especially if it’s someone you’re on good terms with.

If not, and you’re worried about potential awkwardness, it’s okay to swipe left. Remember, swiping left on Bumble is anonymous; they won’t know unless they’ve swiped right on you too.

What if you don’t want to make any move at all?

Maybe it’s your boss or an ex-partner. In such cases, there are two options you could take.

Swipe left, and never have a chance of matching with them again.

Swipe right, and unmatch immediately. This is ideal for solving situations when their profiles keep coming back due to them constantly matching your preference.

If the idea of them seeing you on the app is uncomfortable, it might be a good moment to review your privacy settings.

Bumble allows you to adjust your settings so you can have more control over who sees your profile. This won’t help with the profile already in front of you, but it can help prevent future encounters.

Another approach is to embrace the situation.

Dating apps are mainstream now, and there’s less stigma about meeting someone online than there used to be.

If both of you are there, it’s for a similar reason, right? It might not be such a bad thing after all.

Lastly, if you’re feeling bold and open, you could reach out to the person outside the app. A simple message saying, “Saw you on Bumble, small world!” could break the ice and clear any awkward air.

How to Avoid Seeing Someone You Know on Bumble

It’s quite the conundrum, isn’t it? You’re on Bumble to meet new people, not bump into your neighbor or your best friend’s cousin. While Bumble doesn’t offer a magic “invisibility” shield, there are some steps you can take to minimize the chances of an awkward digital run-in.

1. Adjust Your Distance Settings

By going into your settings, you can manipulate the distance filter to widen or narrow the geographical range for potential matches.

If there’s someone in your immediate vicinity you’d prefer not to see, increasing the minimum distance can reduce the chance they’ll appear in your swipe queue.

This is particularly handy if you live in a smaller town or city.

Just remember, the larger the distance you set, the less likely you are to see people from your local area, which can be a double-edged sword if you’re not looking for a long-distance thing.

It’s about finding that sweet spot where your world doesn’t collide with theirs on the app

2. Revise Your Age Range

If the person you’re aiming to avoid falls into a specific age bracket, you have the option to adjust your preferences to exclude that group.

It’s straightforward: Access your settings and set the minimum and maximum age to create a buffer around the age of the person you want to dodge.

This method isn’t just about avoidance; it’s also about refining your search to match with individuals who are truly within the age range you’re comfortable dating.

Be Selective With Your Swiping

Bumble’s algorithm takes note of your swiping patterns.

If you consistently swipe right on certain types of profiles—whether it’s based on interests, lifestyle, or other personal preferences—the algorithm will try to show you more profiles that align with those choices.

By being choosy and swiping right only on those you’re genuinely interested in, you can indirectly influence the algorithm to curate a feed of profiles that are more your style and less likely to include those you’d rather not see.

Final Thoughts

While there could be ways to avoid certain people, the truth of the matter is, that you can’t entirely avoid awkward situations like this. They’re inevitable.

If you’re lucky you’d only to have to face them a few times per your experience with online dating.