12 Signs A Guy Is Confused About His Feelings For You 

Sometimes, it’s not easy to tell where a guy stands regarding his feelings. 

He might act like he’s into you, but then his behavior leaves you questioning things. 

It’s common for people to feel unsure when emotions are involved, and that confusion can show up in how they act toward you.

A guy who’s not fully clear on his feelings might give off mixed signals. He could be affectionate one day and distant the next, leaving you wondering what he really wants. 

This kind of back-and-forth can be confusing, but it often comes down to him trying to sort out what he feels inside.

It’s important to recognize when someone is struggling with their emotions. 

Understanding those little signs can give you a better sense of what’s happening and why his actions may not always match his words.

1. He Gives Mixed Signals

One moment, he’s super affectionate and attentive, and the next, he seems distant or hard to read. 

This back-and-forth behavior often leaves you wondering where you stand. When someone’s unsure of their feelings, their actions can reflect that confusion. 

It’s not that they don’t care, but their emotions might feel a little all over the place, which causes them to switch between hot and cold behavior.

You might notice that one day he texts you non-stop, and the next day, it feels like pulling teeth to get a reply. That inconsistency usually points to someone struggling to sort through what they truly feel. 

He might be trying to figure out his emotions while still enjoying spending time with you, making things feel like a rollercoaster.

2. He Sends Compliments, But Withholds Commitment

He loves telling you how amazing you are—maybe he often says you’re beautiful or that he feels comfortable around you. 

Compliments like these show he clearly values you. But when it comes to defining the relationship or talking about the future, he might dodge the conversation or keep things vague.

His compliments are real, but the hesitation to commit could be a sign that he’s still working through his emotions. 

He might feel the connection but not be ready to take it to the next level, leaving you in that space between being friends and something more.

3. He Spends Time With You But Avoids Deeper Conversations

He’s always down to hang out, whether it’s grabbing a bite to eat or watching a movie together. 

However, when it comes to talking about feelings, he may shy away or change the subject. This could mean he enjoys being around you but isn’t ready to confront his own emotions yet.

Being confused about feelings can make someone uncomfortable with more serious conversations. Maybe he’s avoiding those talks because he’s not entirely sure where his heart is at, even though he clearly enjoys your company.

4. He Acts Jealous But Doesn’t Make a Move

Seeing you with other people might spark jealousy in him. He might seem protective or act differently when other guys show interest in you. 

While that jealousy shows he cares, it doesn’t always mean he’s ready to fully express his feelings or act on them.

The tricky part here is that he’s letting his emotions show through in small ways, but not stepping up to make anything official. 

This behavior often points to internal conflict—he might not fully understand his own feelings yet, so he’s stuck in limbo between wanting you for himself and not knowing what to do about it.

5. He Asks for Your Opinion About Relationships But Never Directly About Yours

He might casually bring up relationship topics, asking what you think about dating, commitment, or even love. 

This could be his way of trying to figure out his own feelings without directly addressing what’s going on between the two of you. It’s a subtle way of testing the waters without getting too personal.

However, by never asking directly about your relationship, he’s showing that he might not be ready to have that conversation yet. 

Talking about relationships in a general sense can feel safer for him, especially when he’s still confused about his own feelings.

6. He’s Always There for You but Acts Platonically

He’s there when you need him—whether you need someone to talk to or someone to help you move—but he keeps things in a friendly zone. 

That close connection can be confusing because his actions show he cares deeply about you, yet he’s not taking things into romantic territory.

This behavior suggests that he’s unsure if he wants more. He might value your friendship so much that he’s afraid to ruin it by admitting his romantic feelings, or he might not be sure if what he feels is more than just friendship. 

Either way, his confusion is likely keeping him from taking the next step.

7. He Talks About the Future But Doesn’t Include You in It

Sometimes, he might talk about his plans for the future—career goals, where he wants to live, or what he’s excited about in life. 

But when he’s unsure about his feelings, he may not include you in those future plans. 

It’s not that he doesn’t want you there, but more that he hasn’t figured out how you fit into his big picture just yet.

He might care about you a lot but still be trying to figure out if you’re someone he can see himself with long-term. 

His uncertainty about his feelings often comes through in this way, showing that he’s still thinking things over.

8. He Gets Close, Then Pulls Away

One minute, he might be super close—maybe he’s sharing personal details, showing affection, or making plans with you. 

But suddenly, he pulls back. This can be frustrating, leaving you unsure about where things are headed. He may be feeling something strong but then second-guesses it, leading to this push-and-pull dynamic.

His hesitation to stay consistent often comes from his own uncertainty. Sometimes, getting too close makes him nervous if he hasn’t fully figured out his feelings. 

So, instead of moving forward, he takes a step back, trying to process everything.

9. He Keeps Conversations Light But Flirty

Chatting with him can feel fun and engaging, with plenty of playful teasing and flirty remarks. 

He may enjoy flirting with you, but when deeper, more meaningful conversations come up, he could shy away. 

He keeps things light because digging into serious topics might make him face feelings he isn’t ready to admit yet.

While the flirting shows attraction, keeping it light suggests he might be confused about taking it to a more serious level. He’s comfortable in the fun zone but unsure if he’s ready to go beyond that.

10. He Tells You He’s “Not Ready for a Relationship”

He might straight-up tell you he’s not ready for a relationship, which can be a big sign of confusion. 

On the surface, it sounds clear-cut, but often, it’s more complicated. He could feel something for you but isn’t sure if he’s ready for the commitment that comes with a relationship.

When a guy says this, he might be protecting himself or you from getting hurt if he’s unsure of where things are going. His feelings could be real, but his readiness to act on them is still shaky. It’s important to pay attention to actions, not just words.

13. He Asks for Space but Still Stays in Touch

Sometimes, he may ask for space or say he needs time to think, yet he continues to text or check in on you. It’s a sign that while he feels confused, he doesn’t want to fully let go. 

That need for space could be his way of trying to figure out his emotions without cutting off contact completely.

The mixed message can feel confusing on your end, too. On one hand, he’s asking for time to himself, but on the other, he still seems interested in staying connected. 

That can signal he’s torn between taking a break and wanting to keep you in his life while he sorts through everything.

His behavior might change, but it won’t be drastic. He’ll still want to know how you’re doing, but there’s a hesitance to move forward, making things feel stuck in limbo. This pattern shows he’s likely still working on understanding his feelings.

11. He Gets Defensive About His Feelings

Bringing up emotions or trying to get him to talk about how he feels might lead to a defensive reaction. 

Instead of opening up, he might get a bit short or brush off the conversation. That defensiveness usually happens because he hasn’t fully processed what he’s feeling yet, and talking about it feels too overwhelming.

It’s not that he doesn’t care—it’s more about his struggle to explain where he’s at emotionally. 

Getting defensive might just be his way of protecting himself from diving too deep into a conversation he’s not ready for. He could also be scared of saying the wrong thing, which makes him shut down instead of being vulnerable.

A guy in this state of confusion might act like nothing’s wrong or try to change the subject, but his defensiveness can reveal that he’s still trying to work through his thoughts and emotions on his own terms.

12. He Sends You Late-Night Texts but Keeps Things Casual During the Day

He might send you sweet or flirty messages late at night, showing a more emotional or vulnerable side when it’s just the two of you over text. 

But during the day, things could feel more casual or distant. That shift between day and night often happens because he feels safer expressing certain feelings in a more relaxed or low-pressure setting.

Late-night conversations tend to bring out more honest feelings, which might make him more comfortable sharing deeper thoughts. 

However, the fact that things shift back to casual during the day shows he’s not fully ready to be open about his emotions consistently.

It can feel confusing when things are warm and open one minute and more distant the next. 

That flip-flopping behavior points to someone who’s still figuring out how to handle their feelings and when to express them.