Free Grind FAQ
About Free Grind
Where do I download Free Grind?
Follow the instructions on the Download page. Only download Free Grind from the official releases page, never from anywhere else. If you're a technical user, you can also build it yourself.
Can I pay for Free Grind, or for early access?
No. Free Grind is free and always will be. There's no paid version, no premium features and no paid early access. Anyone who asks you to pay for it is a scammer.
If you want to say thank you to a contributor, FUNDING.md lists their donation links. Donations are optional and don't get you anything in the app.
Is Free Grind a modified Grindr app?
No. Free Grind is a separate client that talks to the Grindr API directly. It isn't a patched version of the official app, so there's no bloat to remove: every feature is built from scratch.
Free Grind started as a fork of Open Grind and has grown its own features since. The two projects aren't affiliated.
How do I know a release is safe?
Free Grind is open source, and its releases are reproducible: you can build the same version yourself and check that you get exactly the same file. Releases are also signed. See KEYS.md to check who signed a download, and REPRODUCIBILITY.md to check what's inside it.
How many people use Free Grind?
We don't know, and that's on purpose: Free Grind has no analytics, no trackers and no install counter. The only hint is the download count on the releases page.
When does feature X arrive? When is the next update?
Search the issues for the feature, or use Settings → Issues & Feature Requests in the app. New versions are announced on Telegram and Discord.
Features
Can I fake my location?
Yes, it's built in and doesn't need a subscription. See Location spoofing.
Can I use paid Grindr features?
The grid is unlocked for free, see Unlocked grid. For some paid actions, like unsending messages or sending more expiring photos, Free Grind can try a bypass, see Paid feature bypass.
Can I create a new account?
Yes, on Android: tap Sign up on the sign-in screen. On other platforms, create the account on Android or in the official app, then sign in to Free Grind.
How do I sign in with Google, Facebook or on a new device?
See Sign in.
Can I use several accounts?
Yes, see Multiple accounts.
Can I change the colors?
Yes. Settings → Look & Feel has the color scheme, accent color, pure black mode, grid columns and more.
Are there AI features?
Only if you want them: Chat translation can use Gemini, ChatGPT or Claude with your own API key. Without a key, nothing is sent to any AI service.
Problems
Can I get banned for using Free Grind?
Using any unofficial client technically violates Grindr's terms of service. The risk is low, but it exists. The paid feature bypass carries an extra risk.
If your account is restricted, Free Grind shows why and for how long.
I can't sign in.
- Accounts created with Google or Facebook need Sign in with Google or Sign in with Facebook, not email and password.
- If Grindr asks for SMS verification, finish it on the Verification screen.
See Sign in.
I don't get notifications.
Check Settings → Notifications and your system's notification settings. On Android, notifications need Google Play services. On desktop, they only arrive while Free Grind is running. See Notifications.
Videos don't play on Linux.
Install an H.264 decoder, see Video codecs on Linux.
The window is blank or flickers on Linux.
See Rendering problems.
Something broke after an update.
Make sure you're on the newest version: Settings → Check for Updates. If you switched to the development update channel, switch back to main for tested releases.
Where do I report a bug?
Use Settings → Report Bug or Feature, or open an issue on GitHub with your device, platform, Free Grind version and what you were doing.