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How long is too long for a text response?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 18, 2026

Post Senning's general rule is to not wait longer than one to three hours to reply, he tells TI. "A text conversation can go stale in a few hours," he says. "Don't just make them wait." If you're crushing on someone, don't play mind games, he says.

How long is reasonable to wait for a text back?

Wait 4 hours before texting again if they don't respond. You may need to send a second message to remind the other person. Studies have shown that after 4 hours, you're more likely to get a response if you text again. That gives you enough time to restart the conversation and makes you sound less clingy.

How long should a text response take?

The fact is that 95% of texts will be read within 3 minutes of being sent, with the average response time for a text being a mere 90 seconds. This comes to show that if you're not getting the response you're waiting for, either the person you've texted hasn't yet seen your message or is purposefully avoiding you.

Why is he taking so long to respond all of a sudden?

There may be distractions like friends, family, office work, and other issues that may be leading to late replies. Besides, the guy may have other options and trying to give you a hint that he's not interested. When he stops responding quickly, don't panic: Give him space.

Why do guys take so long to reply?

It can mean a lot of things when a guy replies late. If he takes more than 12 hours to reply, he may be extremely busy with work. Notably, some common reasons a guy suddenly stops replying may be that he gets involved in an accident, he's lost his phone, or he doesn't have access to it due to an emergency.

20 related questions found

How long should you wait for a guy to text you before giving up?

A week gives the person enough time to thoughtfully respond.

Even though it's a little old-fashioned, some people will wait 3 days after a date to text you back to make you miss them more. Waiting any longer than a week could be a sign they're not interested, and it might be best to let the conversation die out.

Should you text again after no response?

If it's been three hours and you haven't heard from them, don't send a second message. Seriously… give them some time to get online and read through their messages and get back to you. Ideally, we recommend waiting at least 8 days before sending your second message.

How long should I wait for a girl to reply?

A 5-minute response time is ideal, since it gives you time to think of an awesome reply that'll show off your personality and get her attention. But since you're not keeping her waiting too long, responding after a few minutes still lets you keep the conversation flowing.

What do you do when a girl takes too long to reply?

When a girl takes longer than a day to reply she could be busy, uninterested, or keep you on hold. The best way to deal with it is to play it cool. Look at the context of the conversation rather than the amount of time it took her to reply.

Should I not text her for a few days?

You care more than she does, which means she's got the power. Don't text her for a few days, and if she still doesn't text first, it's time to move on. This could also mean that she is more used to guys taking the lead in conversation, and is therefore waiting for you to do the same.

How do you tell if a girl is playing hard to get?

15 Signs She's Playing Hard to Get

  • She Says She Might Be Busy. ...
  • She Brings You Up in Conversation With Your Friends. ...
  • She Tries to Get Your Attention, But Not Your Compliments. ...
  • She Takes Her Time Texting Back. ...
  • She Takes Playful Jabs at You. ...
  • She Looks Away When You're Talking. ...
  • She Doesn't Request You on Social Media.

Is no response a rejection?

When we put ourselves out there by sending people messages on an online dating site (or many), we risk the chance of not getting a message back. But, let me be clear: Non-response does not equal rejection. In other words, the absence of a positive reply — a return message — is not the same as someone turning you down.

How many unanswered texts is too much?

When it came to how many consecutive texts were considered "needy," both people in long-distance relationships and not in long-distance relationships said that about six texts hit the mark.

Should I text him back after he ignored me for days?

So how long should you wait to text him back after he ignores you? The general consensus is that you should wait around 2 to 3 days before texting him back. This gives him the idea that you aren't constantly waiting on him, and that you are not going to be the only one to make an effort going forward.

How long should I make him wait for a reply?

Post Senning's general rule is to not wait longer than one to three hours to reply, he tells TI. "A text conversation can go stale in a few hours," he says. "Don't just make them wait." If you're crushing on someone, don't play mind games, he says.

When should you stop texting a guy?

How to Know when to Stop Texting a Guy

  1. 1 You already texted him and are waiting for a reply.
  2. 2 You know he has a busy day.
  3. 3 He replies with one-word messages.
  4. 4 He never messages you first.
  5. 5 He turns down invites to hang out.
  6. 6 He doesn't introduce you to his friends.

Does not texting a guy back make him want you more?

It depends entirely on how a guy approaches getting ignored and what assumptions he makes when you don't text him back. For example, some guys really like the chase. They want a challenge and, by not texting them back, you have them hooked. They will then text you more, trying to get your attention.

What is considered excessive texting?

One of the most obvious signs you're texting too much is that almost every message in your conversations comes from you. If you're on an iPhone and the majority of most of your conversations is in blue bubbles, it's a sign that the people on the other end just aren't as invested as you.

What is considered obsessive texting?

Those who are constantly checking their phone, snap if you interrupt them, lack sleep and fail to get their work done are known as compulsive texters. Specifically, for girls, compulsive texting is associated with lower academic performance.

Should I triple text her?

Rarely Okay: The “Where Have You Gone?” Triple Text

If you sent her a text a few days ago and didn't hear back, and then you sent her another text yesterday and didn't hear back, don't send a third text today. Every text you send from this point on will just make her feel harassed.

Why do I not get a text back?

If your initial message to them wasn't an urgent one, it's important to give them some time to reply. There are plenty of reasons they might not get back to you right away — they could be busy at work, not in the mental space to chat, or dealing with bad cell service. They also just might not be glued to their phone.

How do you respond to no response?

If you get the “no response” response: Accept that you can't control what other people do. You don't know their motivations or reasoning. So, don't automatically assume a “no response” equals no unless you really know the person and his/her modus operandi. Do follow up once, but probably no more than that.

Why would someone not text you back?

It's important to remember there's a variety of reasons why someone may not reply to your text. For example, they might have a low battery, no cellphone signal, or anything else that might prevent them from responding to you.

What does it mean if a girl takes a long time to text back?

Yet, we all also understand that people are sometimes so busy that they won't check their phone for several hours. So, if you're messaging a woman and she takes a long time to text back, it could be that she's ignoring you. Or, it could be that she's genuinely very busy.

How can you tell if a girl no longer likes you?

How to Know If a Girl Is Not Interested in You through Text

  • You Text More Than She Does. ...
  • Her Replies Are Short and Cold. ...
  • She Takes a Long Time to Text Back. ...
  • She Never/Rarely Initiates Contact. ...
  • She Seems Non-committal When You Ask Her Out. ...
  • She Only Contacts You When She Needs Something.