Getting Started with Ark: Swiping, Matching & Messaging

Welcome to Ark! We’ve designed the app to be super easy to use so you can focus on making real connections. After setting up your account, just make sure Ark has permission to access your location, and you’re all set to start swiping!

Swiping: How It Works

Swiping is at the heart of Ark—it’s how you connect with potential matches. Here’s what each swipe means:

Swiping Up – Sending a Like

Interested in someone? Swipe up! You can do this by sliding your finger up on their photo or tapping the heart icon while viewing their bio.

• If you’re the first to swipe, you’ll need to wait and see if they swipe up on you, too.
• If they’ve already liked you, it’s a match! 🎉

Swiping Down – Passing on a Profile

Not feeling a profile? No problem! Swipe down by sliding your finger down on their photo or tapping the "X" icon in their bio. Don’t worry—they won’t be notified.

• Changed your mind? You can reset your down swipes anytime and give those profiles a second look!

Send a Message with Your Swipe Up!

Want to stand out? You can send a message with your like, so they’ll see it before they even swipe on your profile! Here’s how:

1. Tap on the person's main profile photo to open their bio.
2. Long-press on a bio detail or photo that interests you.
3. Type out your message.
4. Tap "Send Like" and cross your fingers! 🤞

Oops! Swiped the Wrong Way? No Worries!

Mistakes happen! If you accidentally swiped the wrong way, just tap the circular back arrow in the top right corner. Watch a quick ad, and the profile will pop back up!

Matching: Making Connections

A match happens when both of you swipe up on each other. When that happens, head over to your Chat screen (tap the chat bubble icon at the bottom) to start the conversation!

New Matches

Your latest matches appear at the top of your Chat screen under "New Matches." But don’t wait too long—if neither of you sends a message within 7 days, the match will expire! 😱 So say hi before it’s too late!

Current Matches

Below “New Matches,” you’ll find your ongoing conversations.

Archived Matches

If there’s no activity for 30 days, your match moves to the Archived section (the little box icon in the top right of your Chat screen). Want to revive the match? Just send a message, and they’ll be back in your active chats!

Messaging: Keep the Conversation Going!

To chat, just tap on a match and start messaging—there’s no limit to how many messages you can send! You can also have fun with GIFs from GIPHY or send voice messages to add a personal touch to your conversations. 🎤

🚫 No photo sharing for now, but if you're an Ark Premium subscriber, you can video chat and even see read receipts!

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to start swiping and making connections. Happy matching! 💙