How to tell if a guy has a crush on you

It’s not always easy to figure out if a guy is crushing on you. Some guys may enjoy teasing the girl they like, while others might be more romantic and open about their feelings. Even though each guy is unique, there are plenty of signals that can show when a guy likes you more than just a friend. Once you figure out the truth, you can either start a relationship with him or simply feel satisfied knowing how he feels. If you're curious about how to figure out if a guy has feelings for you, keep reading to step 1 and find out more.

See if he's trying to impress you. If a guy has a crush on you, he'll try to impress you in any way he can. He wants you to think he's brave, fun, amazing, and even a little different. Next time you're around someone you think has feelings for you, observe whether he's trying to say or do something to impress you. For example, if he's showing off while playing sports, boasting about a fantastic weekend plan, or trying something crazy like jumping into a pool fully clothed, then it's a good chance he's trying to impress you.

• Pay attention closely when he does something “impressive.” If he keeps looking at you to make sure you're noticing or checking your reaction to what he just did, then he’s probably into you.
• Though it's hard to know what he does when you're not around, try to notice if he behaves differently when you're present. For instance, if he tells a silly joke or starts juggling oranges as soon as you walk in, it might just be his way of impressing you.

Check if he gets jealous of the guys you hang out with. This is another clear sign that a guy might have a crush on you. If he's jealous of the guys you're spending time with, it's likely because he has feelings for you and feels threatened by them. Guys express jealousy in different ways. He might mock the other guys in front of you, act rude or hostile towards them, or simply roll his eyes and look away when they’re around. If he gets jealous of the guys around you, it’s because he wants more quality time with you.

• Of course, he won’t admit that he’s jealous. But if you notice him constantly talking about how bad your friend Thanh is, or asking why you’re friends with someone like Son, it’s his way of showing he wants you to spend more time with him rather than those other guys.
• If he belittles your opposite-gender friends right in front of them, he’s definitely jealous of them. While this behavior could become a problem if he's truly rude, if he’s just a bit unfriendly for a moment, it probably means he’s into you.

Check if he always finds excuses to be near you. If a guy likes you, he’ll want to be around you as much as possible. He might suggest studying together after school or invite you to watch a movie with a group of friends. He could attend a party just because he knows you’ll be there, or he may keep asking what you’re doing and casually say that he’s thinking of doing something similar. If it seems like he’s always around you, doing similar things to what you do, it might be because he has a crush on you.

• Think about this: if a month ago you rarely saw him, and now he’s showing up next to you frequently, it’s likely because he likes you.
• He might be too shy to hang out with you one-on-one, but if he and a group of friends are always near you, it’s still a sign he’s into you.

Check if he’s flirting with you. It’s not always easy to tell if a guy is flirting with you. It largely depends on his age—if he's in middle school, for example, teasing or joking around with you could be his way of flirting. Each age and life stage has a different definition of flirting, but the important thing is, if he picks you, spends more time with you than others, teases you about what you say, what you do, or what you wear, and generally only behaves this way with you, then he’s definitely flirting with you, even if it feels like teasing.

• If he jokes about you always wearing purple or makes funny remarks about your earrings, it’s flirting.
• If he pushes or nudges you lightly, that could be his way of trying to get closer to you.
• If he teases you enough to come up with a nickname for you, then he’s certainly flirting with you.

Check if he treats you differently from other girls. A key sign that a guy might have feelings for you is how he treats other girls. If he treats other girls the same way he treats you, then he likely doesn't have a crush on you. But if he flirts with you but doesn’t pay much attention or show interest in other girls, he might be “falling for you.” Another possibility is if he’s interested in other girls but almost ignores you—this could be confusing, but it could also mean that he likes you and simply feels nervous around you.

• Next time you’re with him and other girls, observe how he acts around them. Does he joke with them, ask them lots of questions, or even playfully put his arm around them? If he does the same with you, he might just be a flirt. But if he treats you completely differently, he may genuinely like you.
• He might even act more polite and respectful towards you than other girls. Does he open doors or pull out chairs for you more than he does for others? If so, he might have a crush on you.

Observe if he tries to help you. Another sign that he might have feelings for you is that he will try to help you. Perhaps he’ll assist you with throwing away trash in class, help you carry books, or check movie times for you. Don’t forget about the small gestures too. Think about it. Do you feel like he is making efforts to be helpful to you? If he does this just for you and not for other girls, it might indicate that he’s helping because he has feelings for you.

• Of course, he might just be a friendly guy who enjoys helping everyone. However, that’s usually less likely than the possibility that he has a crush on you.
• In fact, his willingness to help shows that he cares about your needs. This is a clear sign that he’s paying attention to you!

Watch how he uses his phone. Nowadays, one of the easiest ways to tell if a guy likes you is by observing how he behaves with his phone. He may be too shy to talk to you openly in person and might feel more comfortable getting to know you through his phone. Here are some signs that might indicate he’s interested in you:

• Did he ask for your phone number? Don’t be upset if he didn’t – he might think giving you his number is a more clever way to show that he cares. If he does give you his number, send him a text with your name so he has your number. Afterward, you could smile and say something like, “Feel free to text me sometimes, we can hang out!”
• Pay attention to how often he calls or texts you. If he texts you a lot, it’s definitely a sign that he’s interested. If he never texts you, it could be because he’s too shy. Don’t hesitate to reach out first – he might be waiting for a message from you! However, if you text him repeatedly and he never replies, it could mean he’s not interested.

Notice if he asks you whether you like someone. If he asks you if you like or have a crush on anyone, this is a clear sign that he has feelings for you. He might be asking because he’s jealous or worried that you might be into someone else, or he might secretly hope that you’ll say that you like him. This might not be the most subtle way for him to express his feelings, but most guys don’t know how to go about it any other way. If he teases you or pesters you about liking someone, it could be because he likes you.

• However, there is one exception to this. He might ask you if you like someone because one of his friends likes you, and he’s actually asking on behalf of that friend. Think about whether he has a friend who is always keeping an eye on you or has feelings for you.

Think about whether he talks to you about not finding the right girl. If he frequently mentions that he hasn’t met a girl who’s right for him or that no one is as smart, beautiful, or interesting as you, then he might be trying to tell you that you’re the girl he’s interested in. If he’s dated other girls and tells you that he didn’t really like them, or he constantly mentions that other girls don’t meet his standards, this could be his way of saying that you’re the one he’s looking for.

• However, you need to make sure that he’s not just trying to be friends with you. If he asks for your advice about dating, it could be that he sees you purely as a friend. But if he just “complains” to you about not finding the right girl, then he might be trying to tell you that he likes you.

Notice if he always finds subtle ways to compliment you. Another sign that a guy might like you is that he constantly finds ways to compliment you. He may not say something as direct as, "You look beautiful today," but he might tell you that the color of the dress you're wearing is lovely, that he likes your new earrings, or that he thinks your new shoes are amazing. Just the fact that he pays attention to your appearance, what you do, or what you're wearing shows that he cares about you and might even be secretly in love with you.

• He may also praise things like how skilled you are at sports, how smart you are in class, or how much he enjoys your jokes. While some guys might be shy about complimenting your personality or talents and focus more on physical traits, this can still be his way of expressing feelings for you.

Pay attention to whether he tries to learn about your plans. Another signal that he might be developing feelings for you is when he always asks what you're doing over the weekend. Perhaps he’s asking out of jealousy to ensure you're not seeing anyone else, or he might be asking as a way to invite you to hang out, hoping you'll ask him along. If he’s curious about your plans outside of school, it’s likely because he wants to join in on those activities.

• He might simply say something like, "Are you doing anything fun this weekend?" If you say no, he might take the chance to invite you to do something. If so, he’s probably interested in you.
• Observe his expression when he asks about your weekend plans. If you mention you're hanging out with your girlfriends, notice if he seems relieved that you're not going out with any guys.

See if he opens up to you. If a guy likes you, he will open up about his thoughts and feelings. He might talk to you about his pets, siblings, friends, or even his future aspirations. If you notice that he shares personal details with you and even says things like, "I don't tell many people this" or "Not many people really know this about me," then this is a clear sign that he sees you as someone special. When a guy likes you, he’ll likely be more open with you than with others.

• Even if he doesn't open up right away, it doesn't mean he doesn't like you. He might just be a bit shy.

Notice if he laughs more when he's around you. If the guy likes you, he might feel more nervous or self-conscious around you than with other girls, and this could lead to him laughing more than usual when he's with you. He might laugh hysterically at something that’s not even that funny or even giggle at something you said with no intention of making a joke. Next time you're together, observe if he laughs more than usual. If he does, it could be because he’s secretly in love with you.

• Pay attention to how he behaves around others. Is he someone who laughs a lot in general, or does he laugh more when he's around you? If his laughter is directed at you, it’s probably because he likes you.
• You can also see if he tries harder to make you laugh. If he jokes more when he’s with you compared to others, or just seems to put more effort into being funny, it could be a sign that he has a crush on you.

Notice if he frequently finds excuses to touch you. A natural sign to watch for is that if a guy is into you, he will find ways to touch you more. For instance, if you’re sitting next to each other and your knees or feet brush together, or if his foot keeps “accidentally” brushing yours, this could indicate he likes you. If you're in a group and he keeps playfully pushing or bumping into you just to tease or touch you, it’s likely a sign that he has feelings for you.

• Take note the next time you’re together. Does he subtly touch you or nudge you a few times? If so, he might like you. However, if he's really shy, he might not try to touch you or might feel awkward being near you.

Observe if you catch him looking at you. This could be another signal that he likes you. If you glance over during math class and catch him staring at you, or if you notice him following you as you walk through the cafeteria, it could mean he’s attracted to you. If he blushes and looks away, or gets embarrassed when you "catch" him staring, it’s even more likely he has a crush on you.

• The downside of this method is that if you try too hard to catch him looking at you, he may start thinking you’re the one with feelings for him. But that’s the truth, right?

Pay attention to whether he turns towards you when you speak. Next time you talk to him, observe if his chest, shoulders, and feet are facing you, and whether his body is oriented in your direction. If he likes you, he’ll want to be closer to you and be drawn to what you're saying. He might even lean forward to be nearer to you as you talk. If he turns away, crosses his arms, or faces the other direction, it likely means he doesn’t like you. While body language isn’t everything, it can certainly give you clues about his feelings.

• Of course, observing how he behaves around others is useful too. Does he seem more open with you than with others? If he always crosses his arms when talking to everyone, it’s no big deal if he does the same with you.

Watch if he seems restless when he's around you. This could indicate anxiety. If he fiddles with his hoodie drawstring, picks at his nails, brushes imaginary dust off his clothes, or kicks the air when he's near you, he’s probably anxious because he likes you. The next time you talk, pay attention to whether he moves his arms or body more than usual. If he does, it likely means he’s attracted to you and unsure about how to act around you.

• He might also be fiddling with his phone or simply looking at it to find something to do. This doesn’t mean he’s bored or wants to talk to someone else; it simply means he’s nervous talking to you.

See if he pays more attention to his appearance when he’s around you. If you catch him adjusting his hair, checking himself out in a mirror or any reflective surface, wiping dirt off his shoes, or fixing his shirt or pants when he's near you, it's likely because he likes you and is concerned about how he looks. Next time you talk, observe if he seems self-conscious about his appearance. If so, it could be because he wants to look his best in front of you.

• Think about it: you probably spend extra time in front of the mirror before meeting someone you like, right? Guys do the same. If he likes you, he will be worried about his appearance even when talking to you.

Observe if his face lights up when you enter the room. This is one of the clearest signs that a guy has feelings for you. If you walk into a room, whether it’s a classroom or a birthday party, and you see his face brighten, his eyes widen, and he flashes a big smile, it’s likely that he has a crush on you. He might not immediately approach you and may act shy, but his first reaction clearly shows his interest in you.

• He might quickly look away or try to play it cool rather than rushing over to you. However, if you catch that first look in his eyes, you'll know how he truly feels.

Notice if he is fully focused when you’re speaking. If a guy really likes you, he will give you his full attention. He will face you, look into your eyes, and won’t be distracted by looking around for his friends or texting while talking to you (unless he’s using his phone because he’s nervous). If one of his friends walks by and he doesn’t even notice them, or if he’s not constantly scanning the room, it means he’s completely captivated by you.

• The next time you chat, pay attention to whether he gives you his undivided attention. If he listens intently to what you say and responds thoughtfully, he may very well like you. However, it’s possible he’s so nervous that he gets distracted trying to figure out what to say next!

• Learn to understand body language. It can tell you A LOT.
• If he’s with a friend and meets you, his friend might nudge him, punch his arm, or giggle.
• Pay attention to how he talks to you compared to other girls he’s not interested in. Try to notice the difference, and perhaps when you’re closer and know him better, you could ask him if he likes you.
• If you’re trying to make him jealous by asking another guy or one of his friends to pretend to be your boyfriend, it won’t make things easier—it will likely backfire and create more problems.
• Remember, sometimes guys are just being polite when they show interest or compliment you. Some guys don’t realize that their actions can make you feel attracted to them. To figure out if it’s just part of his personality, observe how he interacts with others and compare it to how he treats you. While this isn’t a surefire way to know if he likes you, it can give you some clues!
• Don’t rush or overthink things. Don’t forget that you can’t truly know if he likes you yet. Honestly, the best thing you can do is wait or have a conversation with him about it.
• Don’t ask him directly if he likes you, even if you think he does, because his answer could be either “yes” or “no.”
• Does he give you advice even when you don’t ask? This is one of the strongest signs!
• Ask your friends if they know who he likes. (Unless your friends aren’t close with him, in which case it’s probably obvious. But this strategy can still work well.)
• Try complimenting him and observe how he reacts.