Photo Verification is mandatory in the USA, and you won’t be able to skip this step until you verify. If you're not in the USA, photo verification is optional (unless requested by us for safety reasons).
How do I Photo verify?
Show potential matches you’re the real deal by photo verifying. It’ll give them confidence that you’re the same great person IRL as you are in your profile photos.
- To verify your profile, tap the verify button in your own profile or another member’s verified badge
- Then, take a selfie when prompted
We’ll then use a mix of automated and human review to make sure your selfie matches the photos in your profile. Within a few minutes, we’ll let you know if your verification is confirmed or if it wasn’t accepted.
Why have I been asked to photo verify?
From time to time, we require members to verify their photos. Typically, we do this to make sure that a profile isn’t fake or if we have a suspicion that the member is under 18. We use an automated process and human moderators to identify that you are a real person and old enough to use Bumble.
If you’re based in the USA, this is a mandatory process, and you won’t be able to skip this step until you verify.
The selfie you submit is stored in our system along with any other photos you've uploaded onto the app. Don't worry—this photo won't be shown on your profile, and won't be visible to anyone on Bumble. We collect and use your photo for verification purposes on the basis of our legitimate interests identified in our Privacy Policy.
I’m having issues with Photo Verification
If you're running into issues, here’s how to fix them quickly:
Camera issues:
A working camera is essential for this step, as you’ll need to take a photo to verify that it’s really you.
- If your camera is broken, try switching to another device, ask a trusted person for assistance, or see if you can troubleshoot the camera on your current device.
Check your app permissions:
- iPhone: Settings → Bumble → Enable Camera
- Android: Settings → Apps → Bumble → Permissions → Enable Camera
- Update the app and restart your phone
Selfie not clear, or gesture doesn’t match:
- If you’re shown a pose to copy, follow the pose exactly
- Use good lighting
- Avoid hats, sunglasses, or filters
- Make sure your face is clearly visible
Stuck on verification:
- Force-close and reopen the app
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Restart your device and try again
Verification not accepted:
- You’ll have 3 attempts to retry
- Retry in clearer lighting
- Remove anything that might obscure your face
- Make sure you have at least 1 photo of you alone uploaded to your profile
- If you’re still not able to pass, please contact us
Verification not accepted, but you have an active subscription:
- If you can’t access your account due to not passing Photo Verification and have used all your attempts, your subscription won’t renew
- You can also request a refund anytime by following the steps here
- If you get back into your account, you’ll still have access to your premium features for the rest of your subscription period
- Please note, this does not apply for Apple payments. If you subscribed using Apple, you’ll need to contact Apple directly.