Online Dating Convo Starters: 30 Clever Ways to Break the Ice

Show your personality and sense of humor with these clever online dating icebreakers.

Updated October 21, 2024
Laughing woman using laptop

Venturing online looking for love? Why not start the conversation with a clever or funny online dating icebreaker? Whether it's a quirky question or a clever quip, our icebreakers for online dating are the perfect way to show your sense of humor and start a convo. 

Clever Safety Quips

Internet dating and safety go hand-in-hand. Open with a comment, such as:

  • You must have a big firewall, being so hot and all.
  • Is this a good spot to phish? I'm looking for your personal information.

Keyboard Catchphrases

Make light of the fact that your conversation isn't actually a conversation, it's an exchange of typed words with icebreaker jokes like these.

  • Do you type here often?
  • sjljjjgsk... Sorry, I just had a keystroke looking at your photo.
  • Wanna meet me at the space bar for a (beer, wine, or cocktail emoticon)?
  • Are you stuck on Caps Lock? Because you seem like the BOLD type!
  • Can I borrow your F1 key? I need help talking to this cute guy/girl.

Related: 55+ Online Dating Quotes That Show Your Personality

Dating App Dialog

People on dating apps and websites sometimes seem to use their language. Use these common phrases and turn them into a winning icebreaker:

  • Is your name Hansel/Gretel? Because I just breadcrumbed my way to your inbox.
  • Can you put on a pair of gloves to keep your finger from swiping left? 
  • Life or death decision: swipe left or right?

Online Pickup Lines

Other website and app names also make great replacements for typical pickup line locales like bars or Heaven. Try leading with something trendy like:

  • Are we a snap? Because whenever I look at your profile, everyone else disappears.
  • Do you have Google Maps? Cuz I got lost in your profile.

Tongue-in-Cheek Tech Talk

If you want to re-imagine an old pickup line for modern times, replace a few words with common technology terms like these.

  • There's no ESC now; I've sent the first message!
  • If I had a bitcoin for every time I saw someone as beautiful as you, I'd have one bitcoin.
  • Do you believe in love at first type, or do I need to send another message?
  • Can I borrow your keyboard? Because I want to backspace your past and type our future.
  • Is your keyboard broken? It seems to be missing M E.
  • Your battery must be running low cuz your profile's been running through my mind all day.
  • I think my computer's memory is shot; it doesn't seem to remember our date. Oh wait, that was in my dreams!

Quirky Questions

Sometimes, you simply want a fun way to ask someone on a date. Try out these internet-related invites.

  • I asked my computer for advice on how to ask you out... wanna go out for a byte?
  • I tried calling tech support first, but they couldn't help me get a date with you!
  • My avatar thinks your avatar's cute. Wanna set them up on a date?

Cheeky Compliments

Go bold and simple with something like:

  • I like your face, and I'd love to see what it's attached to - wanna meet up?
  • On a scale of one to ten, how close is your profile picture to your actual face?
  • I'd love to see what you look like without pixels, can we connect IRL?
  • I think my computer's got the Disney virus. Every time I click on your profile, I get Goofy!

Riddle Me This

Offer up a coy invitation when you pose your invite as a riddle. If your potential date is smart enough to figure it out, you're sure to meet up and have a great time.

  • Holla at me $#), Starbucks on 4th! (The symbols are on the same keys as 430, so even though it looks like you just swore at the person it was actually code for the meetup time.)
  • Copper Uranium Astatine Olive Garden Monday night? (On the periodic table, the symbol for Copper is C, the symbol for Uranium is U, and the symbol for Astatine is At.)
  • Do you like me? <kbd> y or n(In basic HTML code, the second part simply means type "y" or "n.")
  • I'd like to Ctrl + C your profile then Ctrl + V you into my life.

Lead With Humor

Online dating can be frustrating, creepy, and disheartening, but it can also be lots of fun. Show potential mates your lighter side with opening lines, questions, and icebreakers meant to spark a smile.

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Online Dating Convo Starters: 30 Clever Ways to Break the Ice