What To Do If He Wont Text You Back

Women's Dating

What To Do If He Won’t Text Back (7 Tips From a Matchmaker)

Lauren Sanders

Written by: Lauren Sanders

Lauren Sanders

Lauren is a professional matchmaker, dating expert, certified life/dating coach, multi-published self-help author, and founder of The Love Crush Agency™. She has 15+ years of experience as a therapist and a professional background working with the nation’s largest matchmaking agency. Lauren's relationship book "You Deserve the World" encourages women to never settle for anything less than they deserve. Other notable books by Lauren include "Lipstick Faith: A Collection of Inspirational Writings and Rainbows" and "Strawberries: 100 Devotions for the Brighter Side of Life." She has been featured on WikiHow and the New York Times.

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Edited by: Austin Lang

Austin Lang

Austin Lang has worked in writing and academia for more than a decade. He previously taught writing at Florida Atlantic University, where he graduated with a Master’s degree in English. His past experience includes editing and fact-checking more than 500 scientific papers, journal articles, and theses. As the Marketing Editor for DatingAdvice, Austin leverages his research experience and love for the English language to provide readers with accurate, informational content.

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Reviewed by: Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted as a dating expert by The Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, Bustle, Salon, Well+Good, and AskMen.

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Discuss This! Discuss This!

It’s one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of dating. You think things are going well, you’re texting back and forth with a new love interest…and then he disappears. No warning. No explanation. You’ve been ghosted!

Don’t sweat it. We’ve all been there at some point.

If you’re wondering what to do if he isn’t texting you back, you’ve got several options. I’ve come up with seven things you can try to provoke a response or receive the answer you’re looking for.

1. Text Him Something Casual

If you’re searching for the best way to seem non-eager regarding a non-returned text, send your love interest something super casual. Perhaps ask about his day or inquire about how he is feeling. 

  • How’s it going?
  • Are you having a good day?
  • Can you believe this weather?

A lighthearted conversation removes some of the pressure of deliberately asking why he hasn’t reached out to you. It’s also a great way to appear even-tempered and non-aggressive.

2. Ask Him Directly What’s Going On

If you’d like to take more of the direct approach, bluntly ask him why he hasn’t responded to any of your text messages. Asking a direct question may seem aggressive, but in the end, being straightforward can be the best route for getting closure.

Being direct leaves no room for confusion. It also gives you a better idea of his mindset. 

Photo of a woman frowning at her phone
You may need to ask a direct question to get a direct answer.

Too often in today’s dating world, people leave questions unanswered. This leaves daters feeling insecure about themselves and unsure about the connection altogether. So, to avoid being misled, sometimes asking direct questions is the best way to go.

3. Send an Engaging Meme

If you want to get back to flirty vibes, try something lighthearted. Send a random meme that will make him laugh or prompt him to respond. Maybe something self-effacing like a “You there?” or “Was it something I said?” To show you don’t take yourself too seriously.

If he doesn’t respond to a friendly meme, that will reveal a lot as well. If he is continually ignoring your texts, he’s showing how he truly feels about you. There’s no need to continue to reach out to someone who is nonresponsive. You don’t want to seem desperate or needy. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.

4. Look for Answers on Social Media

Social media can be both a blessing and a curse. So much is posted online these days, and it’s easy to place puzzle pieces together. If a guy you’re dating is unresponsive, and you’re wondering what to do, check out his social media accounts. 

Do some scroll searching. You might be able to find clues on social media.

A lot of people chronicle their lives online on a daily basis. Perhaps his workload is busier than usual, and he hasn’t had much time to socialize with others. Or maybe he’s having some type of emergency that demands a bit more of his time. Anything is possible. 

However, also remember that it’s easy to make assumptions based on social media. So, take anything you see with a grain of salt. It’s still a wise decision to reach out to him, regardless of what you see on social media. His profile may only provide a snapshot of what’s going on in his life. Reach out to him if you want the details and — ultimately — the truth.

5. Try to Talk to Him in Person

If all else fails, schedule a meetup with your guy. Meeting in person will be very telling. You’ll be able to observe his tone of voice, mannerisms, and body language

We all text. But not all of enjoy texting. Some people are bad texters. There may not be much you can do to change that.

Not only will you get a response from him if you meet in person, but you’ll also see how he responds to the conversation. He won’t be able to dodge your questions or pretend he didn’t receive any messages if you’re standing right in front of him.

6. Tell Him How You Feel & Get Closure

If your love interest has been consistently ignoring you, and you’ve decided to move on, I recommend you send him a “closure text.” Oftentimes, closure texts are ultimatums that force people to respond, especially if they don’t want to lose you. 

Keep in mind, even though he may quickly respond after you reveal your disappointment and desire to get closure, don’t be fooled by his false promises. If he’s been ignoring you for days or weeks, it’s likely for a reason. He may be a bad communicator. He may be seeing someone else. Pay attention.

7. Ghost Him Back & Move On

As a last resort, and if all else fails, drop him. Completely forget he ever existed and move on with your life. You don’t need the drama.

Bottom line: If someone is ignoring you, it may be time to return the favor.

If he’s not texting you back on a consistent basis, it’s a sign he’s not interested, or he is spending his time elsewhere. In either scenario, you’re wasting your time and energy on that connection.

Being Left on Read Can Hurt. But It’s Not You

These days, it’s hard to avoid being ghosted if you’re single and actively trying to make something happen. You’re going to run into roadblocks and disappointments. You can navigate those difficult moments by keeping a cool head and weighing your options for moving forward.

Remember that someone not answering you has more to do with their character than yours.

Hopefully, the pointers I’ve provided can help regarding what to do if a guy doesn’t return texts. No matter what, stick with your gut and never look back.