First of all, why would you want to? There are many reasons.
It’s reasonable to leave the past in the past, but sometimes people just can’t. You might want to get in touch because you regret making up or find closure by talking things over. You might simply be curious about what she is doing now.
To find an ex online, you can do an impromptu background check or use Facebook or Google.
This article goes into each possibility in more detail.
Do an online background check
An online background check combs social networks and public records to bring up accurate, reliable, and helpful data about any search target. Among the things you can find are the following:
- Any pseudonyms or aliases she may be using
- Her new address
- If she has gotten married
- Her email and current phone numbers
- Photos from social media or news sources
- Social media profiles
- A criminal record
Keep in mind the information depends on the provider. The best ones have uncluttered websites, convenient mobile apps for searches on the go, and several ways to search, including by full name, email, or phone number.
Finally, the best sites will generate clear reports that are easy to navigate and understand.
This form of people search is getting more and more popular. It’s fast, affordable, and effective.
Of course, it’s not the only way you can find an ex.
If you don’t get anything doing a search by name, add a city or state to it. Make sure you are spelling everything correctly. This will help narrow down the search. You can also try searching by email or phone number.
If you’ve emailed her in the past, search for her in your email contacts.
Look up her family members
If you can recall any of her relatives’ names, try looking them up on Facebook as well. She will probably be friends with family members if she’s on Facebook.
If she has a relative with an uncommon name, but hers is common, you’ll have better luck getting to her through the relative. Men don’t typically change their last names after getting married, so searching for her father, brother, or uncle is a good bet.
You might recall her friends’ or family members’ names by looking at high school yearbooks or alumni groups.
Do you remember a workplace of hers or where she went to school? You can look up the company or school on Facebook. She might have posted in a school alumni group or might be a member of one.
Look up her friends
If you can find a friend or two of hers on Facebook, send them a friend request and ask if they know what she’s up to now. You might have mutual friends. If so, you’ll find the social medium’s “mutual friends” feature very useful.
The network uses it to match you with a name. She’ll be on the list if you have any mutual friends. Under “people you may know,” the right-hand column will have a list of people on which you might find her.
You can also look through friend lists for her name. If she’s still in touch with them, you will find her name.
You can also try googling her name with the word “Facebook,” as in “Sarah Smith Facebook.” If her name is that common, you won’t get far. Any information you can remember will help.
Keep in mind changes may have occurred since you were together. She might have changed her last name if she has gotten married. You can include her place of birth or the name of the school in your search.
Now what?
Assuming you’ve been able to track her down, what’s next? It’s likely you will reach out, but think about what you want out of the situation. If you’re out to get revenge or you think the contact will not be desired, don’t pursue it.
If you are currently in a relationship, consider whether your spouse or girlfriend will appreciate you trying to get in touch with an ex.
On the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with reconnecting if your reasons to do so are neutral or positive. Just be clear on what they are.