Despite dating apps, swiping right, and making follow-up plans, the age-old question, “Is he into me?” remains a mystery. While women may be notoriously complex, understanding men is actually quite simple.

You know he really likes you when:

1. He Makes Plans A determined guy who knows what he wants will make an effort to hang out. Whether it’s a text, phone call, Facebook message, or just stopping by, if he’s asking to meet up, it’s because he wants to.
2. He’s Persistent There’s a fine line between creepy and persistent, but a guy who’s truly into you won’t give up after a couple of tries. When someone genuinely catches his eye, he won’t settle for anything less.
3. He Talks to You Like a Friend A guy who likes you wants to know all about you, not just at 2 am. He wants to learn about your interests, your favorite music, and your lifestyle. He’s interested in you as a whole person, not just for the night.
4. He Keeps the Conversation Going If he’s genuinely interested, he’ll engage in meaningful conversations, not just send one-word replies. A guy who likes you will hold a conversation and keep it interesting.
5. He Commits to the Future If he buys tickets to a concert next month or invites you to a friend’s party, he’s signaling he wants to keep you around. Ask him to future events—if he can’t commit, he might not see the relationship lasting.
6. He Pays Attention When You Talk A guy who’s into you isn’t preoccupied with who’s walking in the door. He makes eye contact, engages in conversation, and tries to make you laugh, though occasional glances at the TV are normal.
7. He Fights with You Not all-out brawls, but if he never pushes back on your opinions, it could mean he doesn’t care. Address something he did that upset you—if he doesn’t want to talk about it, he might not care about your feelings.
8. He Shares His Passion with You If he wants to show you his world, it’s because he wants you to experience what makes him happiest. Truly opening up can be one of the hardest things for guys to do.
9. He Surprises You A guy who really likes you pays attention to your likes and dislikes. If he picks up your favorite snack or surprises you with concert tickets, it shows he’s willing to put in the effort because he cares.
10. He’s in a Good Mood Around You When you spend time with someone you care about, you feel happy and relaxed. If he’s constantly down when you’re together, it might mean he’d rather be elsewhere, and you may need to rethink the relationship.
11. He Goes Out of His Way There’s no one more determined than a guy who knows what he wants, even long after the initial thrill has faded. Life is messy, but a guy who likes you will make moves, not excuses, to make it work.
12. He Tells You Sometimes, people do go out on a limb and just tell you they enjoy your company. When he does, it confirms his feelings for you.

If you recognize these signs in someone you’re dating, quit worrying about what selfies he’s liking on Instagram and focus on showing him you really like him, too.