How to Get Unbanned From Grindr: A Full Guide

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Summary: How to Get Unbanned From Grindr

It’s not always clear why you’ve been banned on Grindr. Most likely, you’ve (unintentionally) violated the community guidelines. Grindr does not allow harassment, sexual content, drug-related content, and content featuring minors on its platform.

On top of that, your account can get suspended if you share too much sensitive personal data (your phone number, home address, bank details) or if you impersonate someone else.

Luckily, there are four ways to get unbanned from Grindr right away:

File an appeal. This is the only way to retrieve your old account.
Set up a new account. Make sure to properly remove all traces of the app off your device first!
Reset your Device ID on Android or iOS. Below, we explain how you can do this.
Get a new IP address by using a VPN. This will remove any bans on your IP and get you back on Grindr easily.

Most of the time, a combination of these methods gets you the best results. This is because Grindr bans accounts on multiple levels.

Want to get started right away? We recommend NordVPN to get yourself unbanned from Grindr. NordVPN lets you use over you over 5,500 IP addresses from server locations all around the world.

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Want step-by-step instructions? Need more information on why Grindr banned you? Keep reading to find out more.

Finding yourself unexpectedly banned from Grindr? We’re here to help you get back on the app!

In order to maintain a safe and welcoming environment, our favorite LGBTQ+ dating app has community guidelines in place to ensure people behave. But sometimes, Grindr gets it wrong, and users are banned for no apparent reason.

We tested and confirmed that these quick and easy fixes can get you unbanned from Grindr. Let’s dive in.

Grindr Ban Explained: Can You Get Unbanned From Grindr?

Yes, you can get unbanned from Grindr. You can attempt to get unbanned from Grindr by either filing an appeal or creating a new account.

Both approaches have pros and cons:

Filing an appeal is the only way to recover your old Grindr account. However, it’s not guaranteed that Grindr will grant your appeal.
Creating a new Grindr account may let you get back on the app. However, you may need to first get a new email address or phone number, as well as reset your device ID.

We discuss all these options further in the article.

How long do Grindr bans last? Are Grindr bans permanent?

A Grindr ban can be either temporary or permanent.

Temporary Grindr bans can last anywhere from one week to six months. On average, a ban will last about seven days.

Depending on the type of transgression, however, your ban can last longer. Unfortunately, Grindr doesn’t say how long exactly a ban lasts and how it determines the length of your ban.

If you have been banned temporarily, you can simply wait out the ban until it has been lifted. If you were banned permanently and want to get unbanned from Grindr right away, take the following steps in our next section.

Recover Your Grindr Account by Filing an Appeal: Step-By-Step

If you want to retrieve your Grindr account and regain access to your previous conversations, your only course of action is to file a Grindr ban appeal.

However, this method works best if you haven’t violated any Grindr community guidelines, whether intentionally or accidentally. Otherwise, Grindr may refuse your appeal.

If you were wrongly banned from Grindr, then it’s time to contact Grindr directly and appeal the ban. Here’s our step-by-step guide:

Go to Grindr’s submit a request page.
Confirm that you want to appeal a ban and enter your email address.
Specify how you created your Grindr account and your device type (iOS or Android).
For the Subject line, your response can be as straightforward as: “Appealing my Grindr ban.”
Now it’s time to write your appeal. In the box “Tell us what’s happening”, you can explain the reasons your account should not have been banned. Make sure to keep it clear and professional. Include important details.
Check off each Community Guideline box. There are nine in total.
At the bottom of the page, you can add any attachments if necessary. Click “Submit” to send off your appeal.

How to Get Unbanned From Grindr Right Away: Three Key Steps

Stuck with a Grindr ban? While dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, or Happn might keep you entertained for a while, we understand it’s not the same. We’ve outlined all the ways to get unbanned from Grindr below.

Infographic showing 3 key steps on how to get unbanned from Grindr app

It’s not always clear to a user whether Grindr banned only your profile or if it also banned your IP address and device ID. In most cases, Grindr bans accounts on multiple levels.

To be safe, we’ve given you several tried-and-tested solutions to try. If one doesn’t work, just try the next one or a combination of multiple steps.

Note:

When you’re trying to get unbanned from Grindr, we recommend first deleting the app off your phone. This is to ensure that there aren’t any traces left on your device that can potentially link back to the ban. Once you’ve done this, you can re-install the app and try out any of the following suggestions.

1. Set up a new Grindr account

Most of the time, Grindr will ban your e-mail address and phone number to prevent you from regaining access to the app.

The first thing you can try is creating a new Grindr account with a different email address or phone number. Depending on the transgression that got your Grindr account banned in the first place, a new account can be enough to get back to meeting people.

Here are a few services we recommend for accessing Grindr after a ban:

For a secure email address, we recommend Proton Mail. This free email service uses open-source end-to-end encryption and offers user-friendly apps for Android and iOS. Proton’s headquarters are in Switzerland, a country that doesn’t participate in international data gathering and sharing.

Visit Proton Mail

To get a virtual phone number, try Tossable Digits. This service offers phone numbers and call forwarding in over 70 countries for as low as $7 per month. You can keep the number for only a few days or maintain it for years, as Tossable Digits doesn’t require contracts.

Visit Tossable Digits

You can also get a new SIM to set up a new account. This may be a cheaper option than getting a virtual phone number. However, using a Google Voice number or a free app like TextMeNow usually won’t do the trick, since most numbers will already have been blocked by Grindr.

Don’t want to bother? A more technical way to access Grindr is by changing your device ID in your Android and iOS.

2. Change your Android or iOS settings

If changing your email and phone number isn’t working, then Grindr might have banned your device ID to keep you off the app. To bypass a Grindr device ban, you’ll have to dive into the settings of your phone.

Note:

Always make sure you’ve backed up your phone before you do any sort of factory reset! Save anything you don’t want to lose somewhere else.

Reset device ID on Android

All you need to do to get a new device ID on an Android is reset your phone back to its factory settings. It’s only a few easy steps. Here’s what you need to do:

Go to “Settings” and tap on “General Management.”
Click “Reset” and choose “Factory Data Reset.”
Choose “Erase All Data.”

You will have to set up your phone as you did the first time you used it, but it will now have a brand new device ID that hasn’t been targeted by a Grindr ban.

Reset device ID on iOS

To get a new device ID on iOS, you need to reset your phone back to its factory settings. On top of that, you might need to delete app-related data from your iCloud storage.

Here’s how to reset your device:

Go to “Settings.”
Click on “General.”
Scroll down and click “Reset.”
Click “Reset all Contents and Settings”.

In most cases, this will be enough to bypass Grindr bans. However, in certain cases, information might still be stored in iCloud.

To delete data stored for an app, go to Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > Manage Storage. Then click on Grindr and delete all data.

3. Get a quality IP: Use a VPN

Finally, Grindr could enforce a ban through your IP address, a digital identifier connected to your account. Luckily, there’s an excellent way to unblock Grindr and get access to new IP addresses: use a VPN.

A VPN is a type of software that does two key things that are relevant for Grindr users:

It creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet that keeps all your data private.
It hides your real IP address and replaces it with a virtual IP connected to a VPN server.

The best VPN providers have servers all over the world. This means that you’ll have access to thousands of international IPs. For this reason, a VPN is a trusted way to get unbanned from Grindr.

Moreover, if you live in or you’re traveling to a region where Grindr is banned due to censorship, such as Iran or Turkey, a VPN can virtually locate you in a region where the Grindr app is available. This means you can connect with other people, no matter where you’re located in the world.

Best VPN for Grindr: NordVPN

Looking for a good VPN for Grindr? We recommend NordVPN for getting around a Grindr ban.

Over the years, NordVPN has built a reputation for being able to unblock content from all around the world, including dating apps like Grindr. With over 5,500 IP addresses to choose from, you’ve got tons of options at your disposal to get unbanned from Grindr.

NordVPN comes with plenty of added features, including an ad blocker and Threat Protection to keep you safe from malware. With 256-bit encryption, no one — not advertisement agencies, government authorities, or your internet service provider — will know you’re using the Grindr app. Your activity is completely private.

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Never want to worry about Grindr bans again? Use NordVPN’s 30-day trial to get back on Grindr today.

What is Grindr?

Grindr is a very popular dating app for gay, bisexual, queer, and trans people. Because the app strives to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone, certain behavior isn’t accepted.

For the most part, these guidelines are very clear: harassment, hate speech, nudity, illegal content, and any content featuring minors can get you banned on Grindr. But sometimes, the moderation systems wrongly flag something, your Grindr account gets blocked, and you’re suddenly locked out of the app.

Usually, a Grindr ban is enforced on multiple levels. That’s why combining different methods gets you the best results: tweak your device settings, create a new account, and use a virtual private network (VPN) to get a new IP address.

Reasons for Grindr Bans: How to Avoid Being Banned on Grindr

If you’re banned from Grindr, it usually means you’ve broken one of the app’s community guidelines. To make sure you don’t get banned again, it’s good to familiarize yourself with them.

Infographic showing violations that can result in a Grindr ban

The following violations can result in a Grindr ban:

Harassment: Harassment occurs when there is a continued pattern of unwanted contact and misuse of the reporting system
Hate, violence, and offensive content: Grindr will remove any content they deem “too graphic, offensive, or insensitive, and hurtful.”
Nudity and sexual content: Pornography and explicit nudity are prohibited on public profiles on Grindr.
Drug-related content. Grindr states that any content that is illegal online, is illegal on Grindr. Specifically, they refer to mentions of drugs, including buying/selling drugs.
Content that features minors. Grindr is absolutely clear about this: the app is for adults only.
Fake profiles and impersonation. Grindr emphasizes that users should not pretend to be anyone else or impersonate celebrities. This is specifically done to prevent catfishing.
Posting personally identifiable information. If you have any personally identifiable information on your public Grindr profile, such as phone numbers, addresses, and financial information, Grindr will ban you. The community guidelines state that, in the interest of safety, Grindr will remove this information or ban the account. This is done to limit the chances of users being scammed through external links or communication outside of Grindr.

Finally, if you’re using Grindr to meet new people and organize events, you can find yourself banned from the app because this behavior has been interpreted as spam. Grindr doesn’t allow any business advertising on the platform, so keep that in mind, and don’t spam people in any way!

We recommend reviewing your Grindr privacy settings to make sure you’re not at risk on the platform.

Final Thoughts: Get Back on Grindr Today

Grindr is a very fun and exciting app, which is why an unexpected Grindr ban can be so frustrating. To ensure you don’t get a permanent ban, make sure you follow Grindr’s community guidelines.

To bypass a Grindr ban, there are steps you can take:

Delete the app from your device.
Create a new account with a new phone number and email address.
Reset your Device ID (but make sure you back up your phone first!)
Use NordVPN to get a new IP address and get unbanned from Grindr.

NordVPN gives you access to thousands of IP addresses and always keeps your data private and your phone secured. Moreover, having NordVPN on your device means you can use Grindr safely, no matter where you are in the world.

As always, don’t forget to check out our general tips for safe online dating and other resources:

How to Get Unbanned From Grindr: Frequently Asked Questions

Wondering how to get past a Grindr ban? Or which Grindr VPN is the best? Check out our FAQ below for some quick answers!

How do I get back on Grindr after being banned?

If Grindr has banned you on the basis of your IP address, all you need is a VPN to get unbanned from Grindr.

Sometimes, Grindr also bans your profile or Device ID. In that case, here’s what you have to do:

Delete the app off your device.
Create a new account with a new phone number and email address.
Reset your Device ID (but make sure you back up your phone first!)

How long does it take for Grindr to unban account?

A Grindr ban be anything from seven days to six months, or even permanent. Usually, it’s unclear how long Grindr will ban your account for.

You can easily get unbanned from Grindr by using a VPN like NordVPN. Otherwise, you can change your device ID or create a new account with a new phone number and email.

Can you use a VPN to get unbanned on Grindr?

Yes, you can use a VPN to get unbanned from Grindr when your IP address is blocked. A VPN gives you a new IP address that isn’t associated with your Grindr account. On top of that, the best VPNs will let you unblock Grindr from anywhere.

Why can't I make a new Grindr account?

Sometimes you’re still banned from Grindr even when you’ve made a new account. In that case, you have to reset your device ID or use a VPN to get around a Grindr ban. We detail the steps in our guide on getting unbanned from Grindr.

Lauren Mak Author

Senior Journalist

Lauren is an internal censorship and security-focused journalist with an eye for how technology affects society. With a background in International Relations and North American Studies, Lauren has a passion for helping understand the importance of privacy, freedom, and internet safety.