OtterHalf

How Do I Match with Someone and Start Chatting?

There are two main ways to create a match on OtterHalf:

When Someone Likes You

  • You'll find them in the Liked You tab (heart icon in the bottom navigation).
  • To match, tap the chat icon on their profile to open the match screen, add an optional message, and tap Match with [Name].
OtterHalf Liked You screen; tap the chat icon to open the match screen.
Add an optional message and tap Match with [Name] to match.
  • Once matched, their profile moves to your Chats tab.

Sending a Like or Flower

You can start a match from Discover or Standouts:

  • In Discover: Tap the heart icon on any photo or prompt that interests you. Adding a comment increases your response rate!
  • In Standouts: Tap the star icon in the navigation bar to open Standouts, then tap the heart on a photo or prompt to send a Like or Flower. Adding a comment helps start conversations.
  • If they accept your Like or Flower, you'll become a match and their profile will appear in your Chats tab.
Discover screen: tap the heart on a photo or prompt to send a Like.
Add an optional comment and choose Send Like or Send Flower.

Not interested? Passing on someone helps our system learn your preferences. In Discover or Standouts, tap the X to pass on a profile.

Starting a Conversation

You've matched! Here's how to start chatting:

  • Go to your Chats tab and select the conversation.
  • Send a message, emoji, or react to messages your match has sent.
  • Looking for conversation tips? Check out our Dating Tips and Safe Dating Advice

No matches yet? Keep exploring, keep your profile updated, and send thoughtful Likes—your next connection could be just around the corner!

Managing Chat Notifications

To control when you get notified about new messages:

  1. Tap the Profile tab (person icon in the bottom navigation)
  2. Tap the Gear icon to open Settings
  3. Scroll to Notifications and tap Push Notifications
  4. Turn on New Messages (or the equivalent option) to receive notifications when matches message you
  5. Ensure notifications are enabled for OtterHalf in your device settings

The three dots in the top right of a conversation open options for that chat (e.g. unmatch), not notification toggles. For more on notifications, see our notification management guide.

Fixing Message Problems

Having trouble sending messages? Try these steps:

  • Check that you have a stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data)
  • If a message fails, close and restart the app, then try sending again

Still experiencing issues? Visit our Basic Troubleshooting guide for additional solutions.