Secret Crush lets you send a like in Facebook Dating to a Facebook friend or a friend of a friend, and they'll see you liked them because your profile appears in their Liked you tab. Match Anywhere lets some daters add up to two extra Dating locations, and the dating assistant is an AI chat in the Matches tab that suggests profiles; as of Nov 2026 both are only available to some people, so they may not be in your app yet.
Everything here comes from Facebook's own Help Centre. Dating lives inside the Facebook app for Android or iPhone, not on a computer, and you need to be 18 or over with an account in good standing that's at least 30 days old. If you can't open Dating at all, my Facebook Dating troubleshooting guide covers eligibility and fixes. This page is about the three features people ask about once they're in.
Crush, Match Anywhere and the assistant at a glance
| Feature | What it does | Who can use it | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crush (searched as Secret Crush) | Sends a like to a Facebook friend, or a friend of theirs | Daters using the Facebook app on Android or iPhone | The person can see you liked them, because your profile lands in their Liked you tab |
| Match Anywhere | Lets you browse suggested matches outside your main Dating location, with up to two extra locations | Only some people, and not new Dating profiles | You decide whether people who've added your area can see you |
| Dating assistant | An AI chat that gives match suggestions and dating advice | Being introduced gradually, and you need a Dating profile | You agree to Meta's AI Terms, and your profile can be suggested to other people |
How to send a crush
Facebook's Help calls this sending crushes. The name people search for is Secret Crush, but inside Dating it isn't secret: Help says the person will be able to see that you liked them. Here's the route, as of Nov 2026:
- Open the Facebook app on Android or iPhone, tap Menu, then tap Dating.
- At the bottom of the screen, tap Crush.
- Tap Search to look for a Facebook friend, or scroll to the suggestions under Explore your friend network.
- Tap Send crush next to the person you're interested in.
Why have a separate button at all? Normal likes go to suggested matches. A crush is aimed at your own network: your Facebook friends and their friends. And here's the detail most people miss. Facebook's Help says your current Facebook friends can't see your Dating profile, so a crush is the one move that deliberately puts it in front of a friend. Once you send it, your profile appears in their Liked you tab. If they like you back, you match and can chat in Dating, which is how every Dating match works.
Match Anywhere and the two extra locations
Dating normally suggests people near you. Help says Dating uses location services to suggest matches based on your distance preferences, which is why you're asked to switch location services on before you create a profile. If you need help with that first step, see how to set up Facebook Dating.
Match Anywhere stretches that. It lets you browse suggested matches outside your primary Dating location, and you can add up to two more Dating locations. Adding a location shows other daters that you're looking in that area.
Two catches are worth knowing before you go hunting for it. First, Help says it's only available to some people at the moment, and that doesn't include new Facebook Dating profiles, so a brand-new profile won't see it. Second, it works both ways. People elsewhere can add your area as one of their extra locations, and Help says you can control whether those daters can see you and potentially match with you. If you only want local matches, that's the control to check.
The AI dating assistant
The dating assistant uses smart recommendations and AI-generated dating advice to help you find matches. It sits in your Matches tab as a chat. Help says it's being introduced gradually and you should install the latest version of the app for the most up-to-date experience. You'll need a Dating profile first. Then:
- In the Facebook app, tap Menu in the top left, then tap Dating.
- Tap Matches.
- Under Conversations, tap dating assistant.
- Read the welcome message, then tap Continue.
By using it, you agree to Meta's AI Terms. You can ask it for something specific, and Help gives the example of asking for someone from your hometown who enjoys being outdoors; it then searches profiles and might suggest someone nearby who lists hiking and skiing as interests. Tap a suggestion to see their Dating profile.
Now the part to think about. The assistant works in both directions: Help says others may be shown your profile when they use it. Not every field is used, but the ones Help lists include your job, education level, height, stated age, location, interests, languages and zodiac sign. If you'd rather a detail didn't feed suggestions, it's worth reviewing your profile with that list in mind. The assistant uses your interactions with it to generate responses, but Help says your messages with other daters stay private.
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Why you might not see these features
- Match Anywhere is only available to some people, and not to new Dating profiles.
- The dating assistant is still being introduced gradually, so updating the app is the first thing to try.
- Dating only works in the Facebook app on Android or iPhone, so none of this shows on a computer.
- Facebook says it may restrict which accounts can use Dating, for example new or inactive accounts.
- You may have switched Dating off. If you want to leave instead, here's how to turn off Facebook Dating.
One rule if you run a business
Facebook's Help is clear that Dating profiles and activity can't be promotional or contain commercial offers, and its safety rules say you mustn't sell, advertise or solicit goods or services. You also mustn't misrepresent your name, age or location. So however tempting a feature like the dating assistant looks for reaching people, Dating is off limits as a sales channel. Keep your business on your Page, in Groups and on Marketplace.
Which feature I'd try first
I'd start with the dating assistant if it's showing in your Matches tab, because it's the quickest way to see who fits what you're after, and I'd check what's on your profile first, since the assistant can show it to others. Use a crush only on someone you'd be happy to have know, because they'll see it. Skip Match Anywhere unless you split your time between places or you're planning a move, and if you use it, decide whether you want people from elsewhere seeing you at home.
If you're weighing up how Meta's newer features could fit your own social media strategy, that's the kind of guidance I give. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
Is Facebook Dating Secret Crush anonymous?
No. Facebook's Help says the person you add as a crush will be able to see that you liked them, and your profile appears in their Liked you tab.
Who can you send a crush to on Facebook Dating?
Your Facebook friends, or their friends. You can search for a friend or use the suggestions under Explore your friend network.
How many extra locations does Match Anywhere allow?
Up to two more Dating locations on top of your primary one. As of Nov 2026 it's only available to some people and not to new Dating profiles.
Where is the Facebook Dating assistant?
It's a chat in your Matches tab, under Conversations. You need a Dating profile, and it's being introduced gradually, so it may not be in your app yet.
Can the dating assistant read my Dating messages?
Help says your messages with other daters stay private. The assistant uses your interactions with it to generate responses, and it can suggest your profile to other people.
