How To Tell If A Guy Likes You, Over Text

Man happily reading a text message from a girl

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Texting continues to be one of the most preferred modes of communication in dating. But, at times, it can also make it difficult to understand the other person’s intention. For instance, how to tell if a guy likes you over text? Understanding someone’s feelings can be challenging without non-verbal cues. Although the 24×7 messaging apps have made it easier to communicate with people any time of the day, a lot is missed out over text. The facial expressions and body language speak a lot about a person, and text messages make it tough to know if they are being sarcastic, flirtatious, or funny. So if you are curious about a guy you are texting and wish to know if he is intrigued by you, read on to know about some signs he likes you.

In This Article

28 Signs To Tell If A Guy Likes You Over Text

You don’t need psychic abilities to find out if a guy is interested in you. He will behave differently, even over text. These signs can help you in your quest.

1. He wants to know more about you

It is pretty evident that if a guy is interested in you, he would want to know more about you, your likes, dislikes, and interests. He may even ask questions to learn about your friends and family. It shows he is engaging in a conversation to build a connection.

Sometimes, it takes us a long time to figure out that the other person likes us back. Anamika writes on her blog, “Things were going as usual until I realized I had fallen for him. It puzzled me to think how he would react after knowing this. Meanwhile, he was already busy dropping me indirect hints, only for me to notice them. One day, he took the risk of asking me out, and I was ecstatic. The courtship period was super fun and puzzling too (i).”

2. He compliments you

He compliments you, how to tell if a guy likes you over text

Image:
iStock

When you like someone, you tend to admire several things about them, and the attraction keeps getting stronger each day. Compliments express our admiration. The same rule applies to dating. If a guy gives you compliments, it is a tell-tale sign that he likes you.

However, be watchful as some guys shower compliments even when they don’t mean it. You will know if he is just bragging or saying random things about you or if he is mentioning subtle things about you—the latter shows he is paying attention. So, you need to use your observation skills here.

protip_icon Do remember
A guy who is interested in you will compliment you on traits or features no one notices. For instance, he may praise you for staying calm in a tense situation.

3. He responds quickly

If he replies to your messages immediately, it shows he likes you and wants to indulge in a conversation with you. Also, it indicates he doesn’t like to keep you waiting and guessing.

On the other hand, don’t worry even if he doesn’t message quickly as some guys do not want to look desperate.

4. He sends you long texts

If he spends time writing long, personalized, and thoughtful texts to you, it reflects that he is interested in you. He may want to keep talking with you, sharing his thoughts and stories.

5. He gives you a nickname

Does he call you by your pet name often? This could be a sign that he likes you. If you’re wondering, ‘Is he flirting with me?’ giving you a nickname is one of the common signs that shows he likes you. Notice that he is trying to establish a close connection with you.

6. He discusses what you’d do in his presence

Does he say things like “I wish I was there with you” or “If I weren’t stuck with this work, we would be hanging out ...” These clearly show that he is thinking about being with you as he enjoys spending time with you.

Constant texting, how to tell if a guy likes you over text

Image: Dall.E/MJ Design Team

7. He texts you throughout the day

He keeps texting you throughout the day, and you both share each other’s details 24×7. Does it feel like you both are virtually together? It is a sign that you both like each other’s company and don’t mind chatting all day. He is probably busy, and he still makes time to talk to you throughout the day. It means he likes you.

protip_icon Point to consider
Some guys flirt with many girls simultaneously while texting. To know if he is genuinely interested, note how quickly he responds. If he appears online but takes time to respond, you are probably one of the many girls he is chatting with.

8. He is the first one to start a conversation

Generally, people find it challenging to start a conversation. If your interest overcomes this hurdle and initiates conversations time and again, it is a good sign. Perhaps he likes talking to you and so he goes the extra mile to get an inch closer to you.

9. He sends you texts for no reason

Do you keep getting messages from him, one after another? Does he check on you or ask you random stuff such as your interests or hobbies? He may also mention something like, “I saw this, and it reminded me of you…” These show that he is finding excuses to talk to you and does not want to lose your attention.

10. He texts you when he wakes up or hits the bed

He texts you as soon as he wakes up or hits the bed

Image: IStock

Do you find his texts the moment you wake up and before you sleep? Does he try to impress you with morning and night messages? He may want you to know that you are always on his mind. He must be trying to make a connection to ensure he is the first and last thing on your mind. This is a clear sign that he admires you.

11. He texts you even on a busy day

You are aware that he is having a busy day, and yet he still manages to text you. It implies that talking to you is a priority for him.

12. He texts you when he is with his gang

Even when he is out with his friends, does he keep talking with you? He doesn’t leave you on read and does not let you assume any worst-case scenarios. There is a likelihood that he misses you and wants to continue the conversation by telling you what he is up to.

protip_icon Point to consider
If his friends add you on social media, it may indicate that this guy spoke to his boy gang about his feelings for you.

13. He texts you flirty emojis

Flirty emojis, such as an emoji with two heart eyes or a hugging emoji, are a great way to show how one feels. However, be watchful as it could be a slippery slope. Some people use flirty emojis with everyone they chat with. If he makes an exception for you by sending flirty emojis only to you, he probably has a soft corner for you. Emojis make the conversation more intimate and eliminate the serious part of the conversation. He may use them to make his intentions clear or make the conversation fun.

14. He keeps you posted about his day

Did his presentation go well or otherwise? Did his friend recover from an injury? What did he have at lunch? You know it all because he keeps you posted about his day’s occurrences. It’s an indicator that he is comfortable with you and likes to share about himself.

15. He doesn’t keep you waiting

A guy who likes you will respect your time and not keep you waiting for replies. He does not give you a chance to interpret things wrongly–he would inform you when he is unable to text and restart the conversation when he can.

16. He double texts you

If you haven’t replied to his message, he might double-text you. It shows that he has checked his phone to see if you have replied. While it can sometimes seem like desperation, it could also be one of the signs he wants you to notice him. By reaching out again, he’s making an effort to keep the conversation going and show that he’s interested in your attention.

17. He texts you to meet in person

Has he been dropping hints about how much he would like to meet you in person rather than texting? If he constantly asks out for a coffee date or says he wants to show you a beautiful location, these are the clues that he wants to be with you.

18. He shares inside jokes

Inside jokes are an unmistakable sign of growing intimacy.

Image: IStock

You have been texting each other long enough to have things that are funny to you both. It is an unmistakable sign of growing intimacy between you two.

19. He shares important things over text

Did he text you when he got promoted or when his work proposal was accepted? If yes, your guy likes to share the important things of his life with you right away without the fear of you judging him. It also shows that you are becoming an essential part of his life. People share their accomplishments with people they like, and he wants you to be proud of how his life is going.

20. He makes you laugh

Do you get memes, gifs, and funny videos from him? If he sends you all these to lighten your mood, he wants to make you laugh. It shows he cares for you and wants to see you smiling.

21. He remembers little things about you

During a conversation, he might surprise you by bringing up some details that you may have mentioned in previous conversations. For instance, he may ask you if you bought a new headphone as you mentioned the old one was not working. It shows that he pays attention to you, appreciates you, and puts effort into remembering things you tell him.

Angel Grey, a young YouTuber, talks about the signs to know if someone likes you over text. Grey is someone who loves wearing high heels and on one occasion, a boy that she liked sent her a post about high heels. Later, it turns out that he liked her as well. She concludes this point by saying that if they like you, they will remember certain things about you (ii).

22. He wants to know about your day

If a guy likes you, even little things about you will interest him. He would like to listen to all the details of your day, even stuff like what you ate for lunch or what you wore to office. On your bad day, he may spend hours listening to you to comfort you. All these make him feel connected to you.

23. He shows concern

It is natural to be concerned about someone you like. If he is interested in you, he will show genuine concern for you. He may even ask you questions about you and your loved one’s well-being.

24. He tries to know about your love life

He may ask direct questions such as “Are you seeing someone?” or indirect ones such as “Oh, did you go to the movie alone?” He might also mention subtly that he is single, hoping for a ‘me too’ from your side.

25. He helps you with your problems

Did you mention a problem you were facing? And did he come up with a solution for it the next day? Does he try to help you with projects and share informative links and videos with you? It is his way of telling you that he cares for you.

26. He laughs at your silly jokes

Even if you tell a poor joke, he goes “ha ha ha” or “lol.” It shows that he likes you even at the expense of looking silly. He wants you to feel comfortable with him.

27. He closes the conversation in time

It can get uncomfortable when a conversation is left hanging or ends without proper closure. He may message you an emoji or “catch you later” to end the conversation. It shows that he doesn’t want you to be waiting for further messages as he cares for you.

28. He apologizes quickly

If something goes wrong, he apologizes quickly. For instance, if he misses to message you or sends something to you unintentionally, he gives you an explanation and says sorry immediately. The gesture shows that he doesn’t want anything to impact the bond that you two share.

Why Is It So Hard To Read Someone’s Feelings Through A Text?

Reading someone’s feelings through text is challenging due to the absence of non-verbal cues like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice, which are crucial for interpreting emotions. Readers need to learn spoken language’s nuances to distinguish the sender’s true intent or emotional state. Sarcasm, humor, or subtleties often get lost or misinterpreted in written form. Additionally, the brevity and informality of texting can lead to oversimplification of complex emotions. Without immediate feedback, misunderstandings may arise, as readers may project their feelings or biases onto the text.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is he interested or just being nice?

Some indicators that may help you determine whether he likes you are: He flirts with you, never talks about any other girl, enjoys your company, treats you like a lady when you’re out together, opens up to you, discusses “our” future, compliments you, wants to spend time with you, starts meaningful conversations with you, goes above and beyond for you, offers to do things specifically for you, makes eye contact, leans towards you during a conversation.

2. When should I walk away from a man?

There is no mutual respect or trust between the two of you. They don’t respect you and are drawn to other women; they don’t want to spend the rest of their lives with you and are constantly criticizing you. These tiny cues might alert you when it’s time to end your relationship with a man.

3. What should I text to get him to chase me?

It is not appropriate or healthy to manipulate someone into chasing you. Relationships should be based on mutual respect, trust, and open communication. Instead of trying to manipulate the person, focus on building a genuine connection and communicating your feelings and needs openly and honestly. If you’re wondering how to keep him interested, emphasize creating shared experiences and understanding each other’s goals and interests. If the person is not interested, it is better to move on and find someone who is a better match for you.

Knowing how to tell if a guy likes you over text can help you communicate your interests to him. If he responds quickly, compliments you, asks questions to get to know you, gives you nicknames, sends long texts, has the desire to meet you, and texts you throughout the day, he may be interested in you. Guys may send texts for no reason and initiate conversations when they like a girl. Ensuring you don’t have to wait for his messages, flirting, and sharing about his day are common behaviors in guys when they are interested in someone. However, despite all the signs, deciphering someone’s true feelings over text can be complex. Communicate openly when in doubt—clear communication helps build a strong foundation for any relationship.

Infographic: Texting Him Back

If it is confirmed that he likes you through texts, your response depends on whether you feel the same about him. Once you’ve acknowledged your feelings for him, our infographic will help you communicate the same to him.

how to tell if a guy likes you, over text (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • Knowing someone’s feelings over a text or message can be tricky and often misguiding.
  • If a guy sends you long messages, often compliments you, wants to know more about you, and texts you throughout the day, it could signify that he likes you.
  • Every guy is different, and not every message they send is a true reflection of their feelings.


Do they reply quickly? Do they use lots of emojis? Do they ask you questions? Watch this video to see all the signs that someone likes you over text!

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Marsha has done her Bachelor’s degree in Sexology and has six years of experience in the field. She takes up counseling for individuals, couples, and for persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities. She dives deep into the issues and helps her clients remove anxiety, despair and unresolved trauma.

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