Grindr: age checks in the UK
Whole service gated in the UK since 25 July 2025: video selfie, or selfie plus ID, with FaceTec liveness. Grindr says it controls the data and deletes documents and videos after the check.
Age check required Dating Grindr LLC verified 6 September 2026
Facts panel
Everything here is what the service, its vendor or a regulator has published, with the source and the date we read it. No adjectives.
- Domain
- grindr.com
- Age check
- Age check required, first recorded 25 July 2025
- Triggered by
- the whole service
- Applies to
- all UK users
- Notes
- Help article updated 31 August 2026.
- Methods
- Face scanPhoto ID
- Vendor
- in-house or unnamed for face scan (Grindr in-house with FaceTec liveness), photo id (Grindr in-house)
- Last verified
- 6 September 2026
Methods and retention, one row per method
| Method | Provider | Retention, as published | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facial age estimation (face scan) | Grindr in-house with FaceTec liveness |
“permanently deleted once age assurance is complete. Grindr will not retain the documents or videos you provide.” Quoted from grindr.com, dated 31 August 2026; checked 6 September 2026. Held by the service. Period as stated: after check; keeps method and pass/fail. |
grindr.com, dated 31 August 2026 Primary source · checked 6 September 2026 |
| Photo ID | Grindr in-house |
No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026). |
grindr.com, dated 31 August 2026 Primary source · checked 6 September 2026 |
What you will see
- What happens
- You cannot use the app until you complete a video selfie or selfie plus ID.
- How long it takes
- Not stated by the service.
- If you decline
- No access.
- Official help page
- grindr.com
Questions people ask about Grindr
Does Grindr require age verification in the UK?
Yes. As of 6 September 2026, Grindr requires an age check for the whole service, applying to all UK users. First recorded 25 July 2025.
Is the Grindr age check a face scan?
A face scan (facial age estimation) is one of 2 recorded methods: Facial age estimation (face scan) and Photo ID. Providers named: Grindr in-house with FaceTec liveness and Grindr in-house. Which methods a service offers can change; the date each was checked is shown on the page.
What does Grindr keep after the age check?
Facial age estimation (face scan) via Grindr in-house with FaceTec liveness: "permanently deleted once age assurance is complete. Grindr will not retain the documents or videos you provide." (grindr.com, dated 31 August 2026; checked 6 September 2026). Photo ID via Grindr in-house: No published retention period found (checked 6 September 2026).
What if the Grindr age check is not working?
This site records what the service publishes; it does not troubleshoot or offer workarounds. Grindr's own help page is https://www.grindr.com/blog/age-assurance-in-the-uk. The service lists 2 methods, so a second method may be offered if one fails: Facial age estimation (face scan) and Photo ID. If you do not complete the check, the service states: No access.
Regulator actions
No Ofcom or ICO action naming this service is recorded as of 6 September 2026.
Sources for this entry
- Grindr blog service policy 31 August 2026
Changes to this record
- — seed: record created from research/01 and research/02 seed
Correct this entry
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