Have you been waiting by your phone for that special someone to text you back? And how much time should you give them before giving up on the convo? If you're not sure how the person is feeling and they aren't responding, we're here to help. Keep reading for everything you need to know about how long to wait for a reply and how to keep your cool until it's time to move on.

1

Give them about a week to reach out.

  1. A week gives the person enough time to thoughtfully respond. The person you’re chatting with could still be interested even if they’ve gone dark for a little while. It may feel like a long time waiting for them to reach out, but keep your hopes up that they’ll text you back. They could realize that they miss talking with you and send a message.[1]
    • Even though it’s a little old-fashioned, some people will wait 3 days after a date to text you back to make you miss them more.
    • Waiting any longer than a week could be a sign they’re not interested, and it might be best to let the conversation die out.
  2. Advertisement
2

Assume they have good intentions.

  1. The person may have truly been busy or missed your text. Rather than jumping to conclusions, give your texting partner the benefit of the doubt if they haven’t responded yet. You can’t be sure what came up in their life or if they’ve been caught up with something really important, so stay optimistic that they aren’t ignoring your messages.[2]
    • Even if you’re nervous you’re being ignored, try to think of positive thoughts, like the person smiling when they read your messages.
7

Send one more message to grab their attention.

  1. Start a new conversation in case the person missed your message. If you’ve already waited a few days or a week, you’ve put in enough time between now and the last message. Go into a new topic rather than bringing up your last message. Just don’t bring up that they didn’t respond since it sounds passive-aggressive.[7]
    • “Hey there! Hope you’re doing well! What was an exciting thing that happened today?”
    • “OMG I just had the craziest day at work. Hopefully it hasn’t been too busy for you!”
    • “Hi 😊 I finally saw The Batman. You were right, it was so good!! I have to hear your thoughts.”
    • Avoid sending a wall of texts since it could be overwhelming for the person to read and catch up.[8]
  2. Advertisement
10

Move on if you still haven’t heard from them.

  1. You deserve someone who’s excited to chat with you. There are probably a ton of other people that want to hear from you and care about their connection with you. If the person you’re texting doesn’t give you enough respect to communicate their feelings with you, then they’re not going to be worth your time in the long run.[11]
    • Remember—every person you have a special connection with can be used as an opportunity for increasing your awareness, growth, and empowerment. They can also be used to review any areas where you may need to adjust your approach to romantic relationships.
    • Try reconnecting with the end goal you have for your love life. Let that initiate your next move in your dating experience and let it drive you forward.

About This Article

Kate Dreyfus
Co-authored by:
Holistic Love Coach & Intuitive Healer
This article was co-authored by Kate Dreyfus and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Kate Dreyfus is a dedicated Holistic Love Coach, Holistic Empowerment Coach, Heart-Centered Expert, Intuitive Healer, Workshop Facilitator, and Owner of Evolve & Empower. She has more than ten years of experience supporting her clients successfully entering exclusive, romantic relationships within the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe. Kate is devoted to helping others through personal growth and transformation, success in dating and romance, and healing and rebuilding after a breakup. She is also a member of The Biofield Institute, the Healing Touch Professional Association, and the Energy Medicine Professional Association. Kate holds a BA in Psychology from San Francisco State University. This article has been viewed 71,725 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 4
Updated: May 23, 2022
Views: 71,725
Categories: Texting
Advertisement