23 Sure Signs A Shy Guy Likes You (And How To Help Him Open Up)

Looking for signs a shy guy likes you but is too afraid to admit it? Welcome aboard. Today you’ll learn all you need to know about their unique mindset, how they express their affection, and how to help them open up, so stay tuned!

While there are women who would completely discard the idea of dating a shy guy, there are those who see something unique and appealing in their silence.

Shy guys have that sense of mystery that makes women fall for them. The ‘only’ trouble is:

How to tell if a shy guy likes you and what are those subtle signs a shy guy likes you?

It won’t be easy because as much as you like mystery, you would prefer to know where you stand with him at some point.

Be one step ahead of him and awaken the seducer inside him with Infatuation Scripts.

He will be sending you mixed signals that will involve you in this guessing game that’s symbolically called ‘he likes me—he likes me not’.

That is bound to happen because he has put you on a pedestal. For him, you are a goddess among people.

So don’t blame him for lacking the confidence to approach you and ask you out. He will get there. He just needs more time.

Now that you have some quick insight into what being with a shy guy is really about, it’s time to answer the question we started with.

How Do You Know If A Shy Guy Likes You Secretly?

You know a shy guy likes you if his face lights up every time he sees you, if he’s nervous around you and if he tries hard to impress you.

These are just some of the signs a shy guy likes you, so the easiest way to get the answer is to go through ALL the signs he likes you more than a friend but he’s trying not to show it! (You’ll find these signs below.)

After all the signs, you will probably want to know what to do about it and how to act. So, just keep reading and you’ll find all the tips and tricks that will help you to get him to open up to you and admit he indeed is falling for you.

I recommend THIS GUIDE to make sure you understand his signals and you don’t waste an opportunity to have this kind of guy by your side.

Clear Signs A Shy Guy Likes You But Is Trying Not To Show It

You can feel his eyes on you when you’re not looking

It’s tough to tell when a shy person is flirting with you (or at least trying to) because they have their own subtle way of showing interest and affection.

Instead of establishing eye contact like the majority of extroverted and confident guys, shy guys rather choose to stay in a safe zone where they can observe you without being noticed.

So, if you notice that every time you look at him, he looks away, it means he doesn’t want to be caught in the act of admiring your presence or checking you out.

He knows his look would give him away and he’s not quite ready for you to know that.

A shy man simply can’t risk letting you know that he has a crush on you but at the same time, he can’t help but look at you and admire you (from a safe distance).

He just needs more time and reassurance to gather the courage to finally talk to you face-to-face instead of hiding his affection by pretending that he’s not noticing you. The truth is, he can neither stop looking at you nor stop thinking about you!

RELATED: 25 Signs He’s Scared Of How Much He Likes You (Without Realizing It)

His face lights up every time you enter the room

If you want to know whether a shy guy likes you, you need to pay attention to his body language and all those little things he does subconsciously – that’s where the most powerful signs of chemistry are hiding.

He likes you so much that he can’t help but smile every time he sees you. It might be a shy smile but it’s definitely one of the telltale signs a shy guy likes you A LOT!

He will also start acting differently when he sees you.

He won’t know who he is or where he is headed but his smile will radiate all the happiness he feels from within because he’s so overwhelmed with emotions by simply seeing you.

And if he’s with his good friends, pay close attention to whether they’re teasing him because the chances are that they have also noticed that he’s acting differently in your presence.

He opens his mouth to talk to you but the words are unable to come out

This is the most flattering sign of all. It means that you leave him speechless. He gets so intimidated by your presence that he’s unable to produce a meaningful word, let alone engage in small talk.

He might be dying on the inside to prove that he’s a nice guy and how much he cares about you but the words are simply unable to come out.

He’s worried that he’ll only mess things up, so his mind subconsciously chooses silence as an alternative to talking. His mind and words freeze in the moment.

And that’s why he treats you differently than he does others. He either manages to stutter a hello and smile charmingly or goes completely mute on you.

Either way, don’t laugh at him for doing that as he’s probably just very, very nervous around you because he likes you that much!

Related: How To Tell If A Man Is Attracted To You?

When he finally speaks, his sentences might not make much sense

Introverts and shy guys get very self-conscious around someone they like, which is no surprise because they see a goddess in you, and who wouldn’t be intimidated by that?

That is why when he finally speaks, he might stutter and he might produce inarticulate sentences that will sound like plain mumbling. He might even be tongue-tied. Anyway, this is a good sign.

If he does this, then you know he’s totally crazy about you! And don’t worry, it will not stay like this forever.

Remember to go easy on him and things will significantly improve once he gets to know you better and starts feeling more relaxed around you.

If you want to make it easier for him, you can pretend that you’re also a little bit shy, just to laugh it off and create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Whatever you decide to do, just don’t be too direct and dominant because this will only make it worse.

He’s clumsy

One of the biggest signs a shy guy likes you is when he starts being extra clumsy around you.

It’s because his mind goes completely blank when he sees you. He is just unable to act like his true self when you are in mere proximity.

So he trips and he falls. He spills coffee, juice, water, or basically anything else that can be spilt.

He hurts himself by bumping into things that are in his way. He’s so clumsy that it makes him so damn cute. (I bet he’s even cuter now that you know that you are the main cause of his clumsiness.)

And do you know what’s even cuter?

When a shy girl likes a shy guy, they both indulge in clumsy sessions and create that mysterious and exciting atmosphere where you can expect anything to happen.

If that’s the case with you, don’t worry that you’ll look weird because the only possible outcome of the situation is ‘cuteness overload’.

He listens to you even when nobody else does

How to know if a shy guy likes you? If he’s a damn good listener, then you know he’s crazy about you!

Sometimes in larger groups, not everyone’s voice is heard but he will never leave you talking to a wall.

He will silence all the other voices in the room and he will listen to yours, though he might not even be facing you or he might pretend like his mind is elsewhere.

He also might respond instantly so you know he’s paying attention. He will never ignore you, under any circumstances.

You could talk about your love life, Zodiac signs, or your high school romances, he will listen to you carefully regardless of the topic at hand.

Your thoughts are relevant and he wants to get to know you better!

Your friends will become his friends

He finds it much easier to talk to people who are important to you than actually talk to you, so he will probably want to befriend your friends.

He will get close to them mainly to be close to you but also because he likes them. He doesn’t like being around people who give him a bad vibe.

He won’t only do it for you. He has a hard enough time dealing with his shy nature to be around people who make it worse.

Being friends with your friends is a great way to spend time with you without having to actually ask you out on a proper date.

He also wants them to like him because they might put in a good word. He knows that they are close to your heart and that their opinions matter.

Once he’s comfortable around you, he will start confiding in you

Being open isn’t one of his strong suits. He’s afraid that you might not like what he has to tell you, that you’ll judge his personality, behavior and similar.

That’s exactly why he’ll need more time to tell you everything about him and how he feels about you.

Opening up and trusting you with his secrets will scare him and it will be a ‘mission impossible’ for a longer period of time.

So if he managed to get to this point, make sure he knows you value that. Keep in mind that it’s not easy to be vulnerable to anybody really.

By letting you into his world, he’s showing you how much he cares about you and how much he’s head over heels in love with you.

He gets jealous of other men engaging in conversation with you

He would prefer if you didn’t talk about any other man, let alone give them your attention. That’s also one of the true signs a shy guy likes you a lot.

It’s not that dangerous kind of jealousy that makes him want to trap you in a dungeon; this type of jealousy is more related to his lack of confidence.

So he gets jealous of another man who is bursting with confidence and has no problems talking to you or asking you out.

He keeps these thoughts and feelings inside but you will notice how his behavior changes when you mention another man.

He will instinctively change his expression and try to change the topic. He is aware of his poor communication skills but it’s not something that is easy to change.

So, don’t make him jealous on purpose as it will make things worse. If things just happen then that’s OK.

But if he sees you are purposely provoking his jealousy, his attitude and his overall impression of you will change.

He wants to be familiar with your likes and dislikes

He wants to know if you have some shared interests so you could bond more easily. He will probably want to hear your thoughts about everything.

He might ask you what kind of movies you like generally, your preferences of music, sports and nature, your hobbies and anything he likes and thinks you would also like from that list.

If you share most of the things on the list, he will be happy because to him that means that you can have a great time together.

After he’s collected all of the info about your likes and dislikes, he will continue creating your imaginary profile in his head.

He will take it a step further and start imagining that you’re doing all those things together until he finally gathers the courage to ask you out. He’ll fall in love with you sooner than you expect it.

(So, instead of waiting for him, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if you casually asked him to see a movie or do some other activity you both like.)

The Internet is his communication safe zone

Being behind a screen gives him more confidence so he doesn’t hesitate to reach you from there. The Internet provides him with the sense of safety he requires to be more comfortable.

He will have an easier time texting with you online than talking face-to-face in person.

You might even predict this will happen because spending time behind a screen is totally in his character.

But don’t get scared. He won’t text 24/7 because he doesn’t want to come off as boring. His main goal is to communicate with you and not suffocate you.

His friends tease him about crushing on you

Remember those scenes from movies where the rest of the crew are teasing a shy guy about his crush who is in the near vicinity? The same thing might happen to you.

His best friends will purposely tease him so you can hear them. They know he doesn’t have the nerve to do it himself so they consider it like giving him a little push in the right direction.

Even though it might make you both uncomfortable, at the end of the day you will realize that there is a lot of truth in those harmless words.

They mean well, even though that makes him go even quieter or say something silly in order to defend himself. He will be blushing like a cute little boy.

He is highly protective of you

One of the top signs a shy guy likes you is him going out of his way to protect you. He would guard you and watch your back even if it meant exiting his comfort zone.

He won’t allow anybody to pick on you and he is more tolerant of the things people do to him than he is about the things they do to you.

Just because he’s quiet and keeps his thoughts to himself doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know how to speak up when he has to.

He acts as one of your protective guy friends even though he’s secretly dying to be something more to you.

He does this unconsciously but it shows how much he cares and that he will be there for you no matter what! (Please, don’t friend-zone him.)

Your word is sacred

He basically agrees with everything you have to say. The thing with shy guys is that they’re convinced if their preferences resemble other people’s preferences, they will be liked for it in return.

He really wants to show you that he’s on the same page as you are, so he goes a bit overboard in doing so.

For example, if you say you like Grey’s Anatomy, he will say he likes it too and if you say you like Ed Sheeran, he will say he has his songs on repeat.

If you say you like traveling, he will count the places he has visited and then tell you those he still hopes to see. You get the gist; everything you like, he likes.

He has a hard time locking eyes with you

He’s just too shy to look you straight in the eyes, so his gaze always goes downward. Yup, that’s also one of the signs that a shy guy likes you and that he wants to kiss you.

It almost makes him seem untrustworthy but it’s all because he’s self-conscious around you. His body language will give him away.

He won’t be able to stand still and he will constantly move his feet or fidget his fingers and he will lean toward you and then pull back again.

He will try to calm himself but he probably won’t succeed. It’s normal that he’s this nervous.

For starters, it’s in his nature. And the other thing is he’s feeling uncomfortable because he puts you on a pedestal and he is unsure of himself.

He might even feel unworthy of you (until you prove him otherwise).

He remembers every single thing you ever said or did

His infatuation with you can make him look like he’s obsessing over you but in reality, he’s just paying close attention because he likes you more than words can say.

It would probably surprise you to know that he knows something you said a long time ago even though you yourself don’t remember saying it.

There’s no doubt that he will remember your favorite book, kind of chocolate, restaurants or TV shows even if you don’t recall ever telling him.

It’s clear that he’s interested in you and he has an eye for detail. It’s one of the most obvious signs that he likes you!

Despite all the affection, he’s reluctant to make a move

This is the most frustrating of all the signs. Wouldn’t it be easier if he just got up the courage to ask you out?

It would be easier for a regular everyday guy but for him, it’s an issue, so bear with him. Have patience because he doesn’t just look mysterious, he is indeed mysterious and full of surprises.

I promise you that he’ll sweep you off your feet if he is given a chance! His behavior also leaves you reluctant because you don’t know if you’re misreading the signs.

Does he like you or not? Is he only trying to be friendly or is there more to it?

It’s really getting on your nerves but at the same time, at least you’re sure you like him. You see in him something nobody else does, something that he doesn’t even see himself.

Maybe the best approach here would be for you to ask him out anyway, so you would at least know where you stand. It doesn’t have to be anything major, it could just be a casual coffee for starters.

Also, make sure to check the tips and tricks that will help him open up to you! (You’ll find them below.)

How Do Shy Guys Flirt?

The truth is, shy guys don’t flirt that much but when they do, they do it in a subtle way like showering you with likes, being at your service and trying hard to impress you.

Here are a few examples of how shy guys flirt:

He’s there to be at your service

It’s not that you want him to be or that you ever asked him for anything but he always goes out of his way to please you.

He always singles you out from the rest. He never goes above and beyond for anybody else but you.

He brings you coffee. He remembers your favorite cupcakes, so he secretly leaves them at your work desk or in front of your front door. If you say you need help with something, he’s already on it.

His imagination runs wild so he does all kinds of small things and pays attention to the little details to display his affection.

And that is when you start asking yourself: Does he like you? You’re not sure whether he’s just being helpful and friendly or if there’s more to it.

Well, know that he definitely likes you A LOT and he would rather show it than tell it.

It comes easier to him and there’s a certain amount of charm in that. And remember, actions speak louder than words ever will!

He’s interested in your mind

The way you think impresses him. He keeps asking you a lot of questions about this and that.

Your conversations go from simple chatting to brain-picking topics in a matter of moments. He’s interested to hear your opinions about things relevant to his life and your opinion means the world to him.

He wants to grow and expand his horizons with you. He values different perspectives and he’s genuinely interested in what other people have to say.

He’s in a constant search of improvement even though he never makes it obvious. He also wants to know where you stand on certain topics, like if you share similar core values and interests.

Asking questions is his way of making sure that you are compatible. Also, it’s his way of impressing you with his intelligence by asking you lots of thought provoking questions.

So if you notice that he’s all of a sudden asking you tons of questions and trying hard to keep a conversation going, you know that he’s totally into you!

He will make an effort to do social things

Being a shy guy, socializing isn’t really his thing but if it means seeing you, he will do it anyways. He has a tight circle of close friends and he’s making an effort to spread that circle because of you.

You know that a shy guy is crazy about you when he’s ready to do all these social things that have become the norm: going out for a drink, going to the cinema, hanging out together with your friends, or similar.

You have to keep in mind that socializing is the last thing he wants to do with anyone, let alone with someone he’s really crazy about. (It’s more awkward and there’s more pressure when it comes to impressing you).

And if he, despite all of that, decides to spend time with you outside his comfort zone (behind a screen or at his place), you know that he really likes you. He would do anything for you if it means being in your presence!

He will shower you with likes

He probably combed your social accounts from beginning to end. So he will probably accidentally or purposely like some photo you posted three years ago or something even older.

It means that he’s totally interested in you, your past and everything about you and social networks help him explore things about you.

He will also like anything you post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or any other social network because he just likes everything about you.

It’s also his way of showing support by liking posts that could even be solely female-oriented. It can be a bit weird or even a bit over the top but pressing the like button is all he can do to show you his intentions, at least for now.

After all, for a shy guy, it’s ten times easier to press the like button than to tell you that he likes you in person, or God forbid flirt with you in person.

He will try way too hard to impress you

If a guy likes you, he’ll give his best to impress you. A shy guy will do it even if it means that he will probably look dumb while doing so. A shy guy knows that any sort of communication is better than none.

His monologues will sound rehearsed and that’s because they probably are but who can blame him for that, right? The poor guy is trying and doing his best to get it out in his own way.

He will use corny jokes, exaggerate while retelling a story or something similar just to catch and keep your interest.

You can see exactly what he is doing; he is doing everything in his power to impress you because he really likes you. He likes you a lot!

He might even change his appearance

A shy guy would do anything to make you notice him so he might start dressing differently or change his hairstyle.

He will listen closely when you speak, even with your female friends, so you might have mentioned that something looks good or he noticed your likes on social media.

Whatever it is, make sure to pay him a compliment, as it will boost his self-esteem. You have to appreciate his efforts to look his best. (After all, it’s for your eyes only.)

How To Help Him Open Up To You

If the majority of the signs above are telling you that your special, shy guy likes you, then it’s time to do something about it, right?

We’ve already established that it’s really difficult to read the signs and all the mixed signals he’s sending. It’s even more difficult to be patient and know the right ways to deal with him.

But not all hope is lost! The following tips and tricks will help you to get him open up to you in no time!

Arm yourself with patience

I already said it but I can’t stress it enough. It’s not about who gets the girl first, it’s about who treats the woman right.

A shy guy has more potential to be a better boyfriend because he is more attentive and he’s willing to invest in you.

The loudest guy in the room will get your attention more easily but it’s a risky business giving him your heart.

As I said at the beginning, he is more concerned with what you can do for him than in equality or the mutual efforts put into the relationship.

To make the waiting process easier on you, keep your eyes on the prize because you are aware of how precious your shy guy is. He will be worth the wait!

Pay attention to the signs

You have carefully studied all the signs in these words that a shy guy likes you and if you’re able to find your situation in them, then you’re on the right track. I bet those mixed signals have started to make a lot more sense.

Maybe you discovered some more signs that are not mentioned here or maybe you’ll discover them in the near future as time progresses.

All in all, whenever you feel confused and like you’re going crazy from all that mystery and those confusing emotions, try to focus just on the signs.

If it will help, create a list of all the signs that you’ve noticed him displaying.

So, whenever you need reassurance about where you stand, just remind yourself of all those signs which will make it easier for you to breathe.

This will always remind you why he does the things he does and it will save you from unnecessary overthinking.

A smile will mean a lot

If you want to make your special shy guy’s day, the only thing you need to do is smile. A smile is a universal sign of positive vibrations, love and good intentions.

A simple smile has the strength to make a person feel ten times better in a second and to forget everything that bothers them.

So, gift him with a smile from time to time. It won’t take much from you but it will mean everything to him.

He might also be looking for signs from you and a smile is sure to boost his self-esteem. Be grateful because you have someone whose day you can make better with just a simple smile.

Let him know you’re listening

Given that shy guys have difficulties opening up and talking about anything, it’s our holy duty to encourage them a little bit.

So, always pay attention to his words when he speaks! He might not say a lot but if he has your full attention, he might be encouraged to talk more.

He doesn’t want to come off as annoying or someone you don’t like talking to, which is why he thinks about every single word before he says it aloud.

Unfortunately, his nerves and anxious thoughts might even make those words come out wrong but know that his intentions are nothing but pure.

If you just keep listening to him and make sure to give him the time and space to talk to you, the real conversation will come naturally sooner than you expected!

Avoid playing hard to get

When we get frustrated over a guy and his mixed signals, it comes naturally to us to start playing hard to get and ignore him.

We’re convinced that it is the only way to make him want us more and to make him chase us. While this might work with other regular guys, with a shy guy it will only create a countereffect.

If you ignore a shy guy, it will make him pull even further away. Remember, he is not a player.

Ignoring him won’t make him chase you, it will do the opposite. He’s completely different from anybody you have ever met.

Go easy on him and don’t be scared to show subtle signs that you are into him. It will make him move quicker!

Form a friendship

Ask his opinion about this and that or ask him to hang out casually with friends.

The first few times, you can take somebody along, your friend or a mutual friend, to make things a little less tense or uncomfortable.

Create a safe environment where he feels at home, as it will make him feel more relaxed and you will be able to catch glimpses of the man he truly is underneath all the shyness.

The moment he starts feeling comfortable and relaxed in your company, he will start showing his beautiful true colors and you will see that he was totally worth all the effort and wait!

Ask him out yourself

You have nothing to lose. The worst-case scenario is him telling you, “No.”

He will make up some excuse because he wasn’t ready for such a question and then you will both go on with your lives until he gathers up the courage and asks you out in a week or two, with an explanation as to why he couldn’t go earlier.

And even if he doesn’t do that, you will sleep better knowing that you tried and that his shyness got the better of him.

Now, the best-case scenario is that you will fall into the romance of your life and that’s definitely worth the risk!

Don’t try to change him

He’s perfect the way he is. Your mission is not to fix him, he just needs a bit of support and encouragement from your side to make a move (if you don’t do it for him).

He’s aware that him being so self-conscious and not the best communicator are his greatest flaws. He has to work on them himself.

If he already started giving you any of the above signs, know that he has the potential to reach the goal of being more confident and getting the girl he likes.

All he needs is some space and time, so make sure to always give him that.

Over time, he will start feeling more confident and you will discover a true gem that was hidden in his shyness all this time.

Show affection

If you want to create the wind beneath his wings that will make him fly into your arms, make sure to show him affection and demonstrate in a subtle way that you like him.

This will help him make the first move.

Surprise him by giving him something he was talking about or something he’s so passionate about. Compliment him whenever you have the opportunity to do so.

Touch him subtly while talking to him and laugh at his jokes. All of these gestures will show him that you’re listening to him and that you’re genuinely interested in him.

It will make him feel appreciated, wanted and respected, which is exactly what a shy guy needs in order to start the process of turning into a unique butterfly.

Keep his trust

This is probably some of the best dating advice when it comes to shy guys:

If a shy guy tells you something in confidence, never betray his trust by retelling all of it to your friends or other people!

Every relationship expert out there would tell you the same. Keep in mind that he values honesty over everything and he will be glad to know that his secrets are safe with you.

So if he has told you something in confidence, don’t spread it around and avoid mentioning it to anybody. He needs to know that he can rely on you.

If you betray his trust, he will never be ready to open up again to you out of the fear that you’ll share his thoughts with the rest of the world just like you did the last time.

Always keep his trust no matter what and he’ll appreciate you and like you even more!

See also: 15 Signs An Autistic Guy Likes You (+Tips For Dating Him)

Final Thoughts

I sincerely hope you got your answer to ‘How to tell if a shy guy likes you?’ and that you understand better all those signs a shy guy likes you.

If you read it carefully, you must’ve caught the fact that he has more good things to bring to the table.

His flaws don’t define him. He’s aware of them and doing his best to grow and be more than his shyness.

Maybe there is a reason for his shyness, maybe life has treated him unfairly. Maybe he opened up and trusted people one too many times even when he shouldn’t have done so.

He was probably a bit shy even to begin with but if his trust or his heart was broken before, it made it even harder for him to trust others. It made it harder for him to get close to somebody or to allow himself to feel something for somebody.

There are a lot of maybes and what-ifs when it comes to him. He’s a real jigsaw puzzle. But when he finally sees that he can trust you, that puzzle will gradually start solving itself on its own. And you will probably like him even more!