If you don’t want to have Grindr installed on your mobile device and you’ve been searching for methods on how to use Grindr without an app on your phone, you are in the right place!
That’s what we’ll be discussing in today’s article.
Grindr is the most used gay dating app worldwide with 3.6 million daily active users in 196 countries and it is loved by the LGBTQ community.
It was launched more than a decade ago, in March 2009. It is available for both iOS and Android devices and you can download it from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store respectively.
The ad-supported version is free to use and offers some great essential features in the free package.
Although, you can pay for premium versions, adding a lot of great pinpoints: Grindr XTRA and Grindr Unlimited.
The app works with GPS positioning and sorts other profiles from distance.
Profiles will automatically load as you scroll down your cascade until you’ve reached the maximum number of profiles allowed for your plan.
There are also a lot of filters available if you’re a premium Grindr user.
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How to use Grindr without a mobile app
Grindr is designed to be used on a smart device, be it an Android or iPhone. Although, you may want to be using it without having an app installed. And that’s understandable.
If your device has more than a couple of years, it may be lacking the processing power to smoothly run the app.
Free storage is also another common concern. Grindr is not the smallest Android app around.
A lot of people also prefer to be texting using a physical keyboard instead of tapping the virtual touchscreen on a small 6″ – or even less – display.
However, privacy concerns are certainly among the most common reason not to be using a hookup app on your phone.
Not everyone in the gay world is “out of the closet”, and many prefer not to reveal their sexual orientation to straight people.
It can be embarrassing if your parents, friends, or even work colleagues notice you have a gay dating app installed on your phone.
Well, Grindr thought about it and the app offers the “Discreet icons” feature.
It lets you change the original mask icon to a new one from a group of unsuspected icons of your choice like a calendar, a notepad, a camera, etc.
Despite that, you may prefer not to have a gay dating app on your phone and search for alternatives to find a gay man or woman – and there are some.
Grindr Web (currently unavailable)
Grindr Web was launched in 2020, and it lets you use the dating app on your computer. It features a discrete presentation that looks a lot like an email client.
There’s more, you can activate an “office mode” which makes all profile pictures invisible to avoid getting each other’s attention.
You can toggle it on for when your boss or your parents are lurking over your shoulder.
There was a lot more to say about this great Grindr add-on, but unfortunately, this feature has been unavailable for quite a long time now and we’re not sure when it is coming back again.
Note: You can’t register a new profile and start using Grindr just with Grindr Web. For that, you still have to install the mobile app on your device.
Using an Android emulator
Presently, this is the best method you can go for. You can get an Android emulator and it will let you install almost any Google Play Store apk on your computer.
Using an emulator can also help you fake GPS location and change your Grindr location.
That way you can safeguard yourself from others to get your exact location, and you can also search for gay people in other areas far from you.
There are some free Android emulators available on the web and most will do their job just fine.
Bluestacks
Bluestacks is one of the most regarded emulators to use on a Windows computer.
Having it installed, you can just access the Google Store and download and run Grindr, the same way you would do on a smart device, like a phone or a tablet.
It gets regular updates, and that helps you deal with possible bugs and other app issues.
Be aware the app is quite heavy and uses a lot of system resources.
Your Windows PC should have at least 4 GB of RAM, but we strongly recommend using it in machines with 8 GB or more, otherwise, it will be laggy.
KOPlayer
KOPlayer is among the best Android emulators you can use on your computer. This emulator supports the use of multiple accounts and it is developed on x86 Architecture.
It also enables video recording and is known to be one of the most stable emulators you can use.
And there is more; you can operate several emulators on a single Windows machine.
But the best attribute is undoubtedly its speed. It tends to run faster and smoother than Bluestacks.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t get many updates. Maybe it’s this app’s bigger downside.
Memu Play
MEmu Play is another great option when choosing an Android emulator. It comes loaded with a ton of useful features.
It rules when it comes to compatibility. It works with most AMD CPUs, which is a feature that is not available on many Android emulators out there.
And there is more; this emulator is able to run multiple instances of apps and Android versions at once.
The only downside is that it is a bit heavy. If you’re planning to use it on an older machine with less than 4 GB of RAM and with an outdated CPU, it will be laggy and unpleasant.
Wrap Up
Grindr is one of the most popular dating apps for gay people. Although there may be a bunch of reasons why you don’t want to be using it on your smart device.
Maybe you have legit privacy concerns, or it can be the situation where the Grindr app is too heavy to run smoothly on your phone. And perhaps you just run out of storage space.
Either way, installing an Android emulator on your personal computer is your best bet. You don’t need to have it on your mobile device as you can take total control of your Grindr account on your PC.
It’s simple and practical and you keep your privacy intact.
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