The Silver Dating App That Needs No Download

A lot of people search for a silver seniors dating app expecting to find one in the App Store or on Google Play. Silver Senior Dating is not there, and that is deliberate. It is a web app: the whole site works in Safari, Chrome, Samsung Internet, Edge or Firefox, on an iPhone, an Android phone, an iPad or a laptop. You sign in with the same email and password on every one, and your messages and matches are waiting whichever one you pick up.

Why a web app suits older daters

• No app store account. You do not need an Apple ID or Google password you have long since forgotten, and there is no payment card linked to a store.
• Nothing to update. Every time you open it you get the current version. No more pop-ups asking you to update before you can read a message.
• Hardly any storage. A home screen shortcut takes almost no room, so it will not fill a phone that is already full of grandchildren's photos.
• Bigger words when you want them. Because it is a web page, you can pinch to zoom on anything that looks small, use the aA button in Safari on an iPhone, or set text scaling in Chrome on Android.
• One account on every screen. Start a message on the tablet in the kitchen and finish it on the computer upstairs.

Add Silver Senior Dating to an iPhone or iPad

1. Open Safari and go to silverseniordating.com. Log in if you already have a profile.
2. Tap the Share button, the square with an arrow pointing up. On an iPhone it is usually at the bottom of the screen, on an iPad at the top. On some newer versions of Safari you tap the three dots first, then Share.
3. Scroll down the list that appears and tap Add to Home Screen.
4. Keep the name as it is, or shorten it, then tap Add.

A Silver Senior Dating icon now sits on your home screen alongside your other apps. Tap it to go straight in.

Add Silver Senior Dating to an Android phone

1. Open Chrome and go to silverseniordating.com, then log in.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner to open the menu.
3. Tap Add to Home screen. On some phones the option is called Install app instead.
4. Confirm with Add or Install. If your phone asks, you can drag the icon to a different spot.

Samsung Internet and other Android browsers have a similar option in their menus, usually under "Add page to" or "Add to Home screen". If you get stuck, a family member can do it in under a minute.

Everything works on a small screen

On your phone you can do all the same things as on a computer: build and edit your profile, add photos from the ones already on your phone, browse members, look through your daily match suggestions, send and read messages, comment on posts and take part in polls. You can also verify your identity for free and add the badge to your profile. VIP members get unlimited messaging and members-only chat rooms on the phone too; the pricing page sets out each level, and features explains them in full.

Staying safe on your phone

A phone is personal, and that brings its own good habits:

• Use a screen lock, so nobody who picks up your phone can open your messages.
• On a shared tablet or a library computer, log out when you finish.
• Keep chats on Silver Senior Dating until you have met. The site warns you if someone tries to move you to WhatsApp or text, a common first step in a romance scam.
• Be wary of anyone who asks you to download a different app to keep talking, or to share your screen.
• Never send money or gift card numbers, however urgent the request.

You can block or report anyone from their profile with a couple of taps. Our safety guide has more, and our online dating tips for seniors help you write a profile that reads well on a small screen.

Looking for the SilverSingles app?

Many people searching for a silver singles app are thinking of SilverSingles, which is a separate company with a similar name. We are not connected to it. Our SilverSingles comparison explains the differences fairly, if you are deciding between the two.