How to Find Out If Your Ex Still Likes You: 16 Tell-Tale Signs (2024)

Co-authored byJulia McCurleyand Savannah Vold

Last Updated: May 3, 2024Fact Checked

How to Know If an Ex Still Likes You

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1. 1

   Notice if your ex always seems to be around.^[1] Your ex will probably try to find reasons to be around you if they’re still interested. They might pop up at your job, hang out at your favorite places, and attend events they know you enjoy. Track how often you see your ex to figure out if they might be trying to run into you.^[2]

   • If you and your ex both like the same local coffee shop, they might not be there to see you. However, if your ex was never interested in art before your breakup but shows up at every gallery opening in town, they’re probably coming in the hopes of running into you.
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   Look at what they post on social media.^[3] If you’re still following them on social media, scroll through their recent postings to see what’s been happening in their lives. Notice if they seem happy or sad. Additionally, see if they appear to have moved on or might be stuck in the past.^[4]

   • For instance, a post like, “Really miss the good times I used to have with a certain someone” or "The last few days have been hard" might mean they’re thinking about you. On the other hand, if they’re posting pics of them with a new partner, they might be moving on.

   Tip: If looking at your ex’s social media makes you feel sad or jealous, unfollow them and ignore this suggestion. Your feelings are super important, so don’t do something that makes you unhappy.

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   Check if they like your posts and pics on social media.^[5] It’s normal for your ex to occasionally react to some of your posts. However, your ex might still be interested if they like most of your posts or go back to like old posts. Track how often they interact with your social media account to see if they still care about you.^[6]

   • For instance, it might not mean anything if your ex likes a post about you getting a new car. However, they probably still like you if they like every photo you post of yourself.
   • If your ex likes old photos of the two of you together, it’s very likely that they still like you.
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   Watch how your ex reacts when they see you. When you run into your ex, watch their reaction to see if it’s positive, neutral, or negative. Look at their facial expressions and read their body language to help you figure out how they feel.^[7]

   • For instance, let’s say your ex smiles really big and comes over to say, “Hi! How’s it going?” This might be a sign they still like you.
   • If they give you a slight wave and say, “Oh, hey,” they might feel neutral toward you. In this case, they might just want to be friends.
   • On the other hand, they might have moved on if they frown, move away, or fold their arms in front of their body.
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   Notice if your ex touches you a lot. When you like someone, it’s really hard to resist casually touching them. In fact, this is a common way to flirt! Consider if your ex touches you on your arm, shoulder, back, or legs. This could be a sign that they like you.^[8]

   • You might also notice that your ex goes in for a hug whenever you run into each other or after you have a conversation. This might mean they like you.

   Tip: If the touching makes you uncomfortable, tell them to stop. Say, “Don’t touch me like that anymore. Please respect my personal space."

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   See if they’re willing to do you a favor. Your ex might be willing to help you out with something if they’re still into you. Tell them about a problem that you’re having and see if they volunteer to help. Alternatively, ask them to help you with something you know they’re good at doing. If they say yes, they might still like you.^[9]

   • For example, ask them to help you with a homework assignment or ask them to help you host a party for a mutual friend.
   • If your ex is super friendly and helpful, they might do you a favor even if they don’t like you.
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   Pay attention if they’re hanging onto some of your things. After a relationship ends, you’re generally expected to return your ex’s things back to them. If your ex keeps some of your stuff, it might be a sign they still like you. Check to see if you got all of your things back from them.^[10]

   • For instance, your ex might keep 1 of your shirts so they can smell your scent. Similarly, they might keep a book you lent them that was important to you.
   • If the item is expensive, your ex might just be trying to keep it for its value. As an example, don’t let them keep your headphones.
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   Find out if they've se|gone on any dates or hooked up with someone. Check your ex's social media accounts to see if they're posting about a new relationship or if they've posted photos with a new partner. Additionally, ask your mutual friends if they know if there's someone new in their life. If they're dating someone else, they're probably focused on the future of their new relationship.^[11]

   • In some cases, your ex might post photos of themself with someone else to make you jealous. However, they've likely moved on if they're in an official relationship.

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1. 1

   Track how often your ex reaches out to you.^[12] Your ex will probably find reasons to contact you if they’re still interested. Check how often they call, text, or talk to you in person. Similarly, consider if they start the conversation back up after it has ended. This might be a sign they like you.^[13]

   • For example, your ex might text you to ask questions they probably know the answer to. They might ask, “Do we have an assignment due tomorrow?” or “Do you know if Candy’s party is still on for Saturday?”

   Tip: Some of their communications may be negative. For instance, they might send you an angry text about the breakup or something they saw on your social media. This might be a sign that they're still thinking about you or that they're jealous.

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   Notice if your ex brings up nostalgic moments in your relationship. If they start telling happy stories about your relationship, it means they’re thinking about good times. This is a sign that they might still like you. Listen when your ex starts talking about old times to see if they’re focusing on the good parts of your relationship.^[14]

   • They might say, “Remember that time we had a candlelight picnic under the stars? That was such a good night,” or “I still remember how much we laughed at the improv theater. We had such good times together.”
3. See Also

   What Is My Ex Thinking During No Contact?7 Things Your Ex Feels During No ContactNo Response Can Still Be A Response To Your ExThe Male Mind During No Contact

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   See if they check on you when you’re going through hard times. When you’re feeling upset, it’s natural for someone who cares about you to check in on you and make sure that you’re okay. Notice if your ex always seems to be there for you when you need someone. Additionally, consider if they’re willing to listen to you talk about your problems.^[15]

   • For example, let’s say you post on social media that your relative is in the hospital. Your ex might immediately text, “Are you okay?”
   • Keep in mind that this might not mean they like you romantically. They might continue to check up on you because they still care about you as a friend.
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   Notice if they come to you for advice. Typically, you go to someone you trust when you need advice. Consider how often your ex relies on you for advice about their problems. If your ex consistently comes to you, this means they probably still feel close to you. It might even mean they still like you.^[16]

   • For example, they might tell you about problems they’ve been having at work or school. Then, they might ask what you think they should do about them.
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   Pay attention if they start talking about their past mistakes. Bringing up their mistakes means that they’re thinking about what they could have done differently during your relationship. This may mean they’re trying to figure out what went wrong and if they can still salvage it. Listen closely if they start talking about what they did wrong, what they could’ve done differently, or how they’ve changed for the better.^[17]

   • They might say, “I realize now that I should’ve listened more,” “I really regret talking to that other girl. I’ll never make that mistake again,” or “Since we broke up, I’ve really changed. You made me a better person.”

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1. 1

   Ask your friends if they think your ex is still into you. Your friends have a different perspective on your relationship with your ex. They’re likely able to see things you might overlook, making them a great source of advice. Talk to them to find out how they think your ex is feeling about you and get several opinions to help you figure out if your ex might still like you.^[18]

   • You might ask, “What did you think about my relationship with my ex?” “Do you think we might get back together?” “Do you think they’ve moved on?” and “Could they still like me?”
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   Find out if your ex still talks to your family. While there are several probable reasons why your ex might maintain a relationship with your family, this could also be a sign that they haven’t totally moved on. Ask your family members if they’re still in communication with your ex. If they are, ask them if your ex still talks about you, which could be a sign that they still like you.^[19]

   • It’s normal for your ex to stay close with your family if you share kids together. They may be talking to your family because it’s important to maintain those healthy relationships for the good of the kids.
   • If your ex had a friendship with a family member before your relationship, they’ll probably stay friends with that person after the breakup. Don’t count these types of relationships when trying to figure out if they still like you.
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   Talk to mutual friends to find out how often your ex talks about you.^[20] If your ex still likes you, they’re probably looking for reasons to talk about you. This means their friends will probably have heard them talking about you. Check with the mutual friends you share to find out what your ex is saying.^[21]

   • Ask, “Does Alex still talk about me?”
   • If you don’t have any mutual friends, you might try reaching out to their friend group. If you’re nervous, get one of your friends to ask one of your ex’s friends instead.

   Warning: When you ask about this, you’ll be bringing your ex up as a topic of conversation. This might make people think that you’re still interested in them.

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Signs Your Ex Still Likes You and Help Talking About Getting Back Together

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

• If you're still in contact but not romantically together, focus your efforts on rebuilding a friendship with them. Being friends will help them trust you again and maybe develop stronger feelings for you.
• Notice anything they're still doing that they did in the relationship. For example, my boyfriend used to act shy around me and did this nervous walk whenever he passed me, and he still does those things.

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