Languages & timezone

Why languages & timezone matter

SkillSwap connects you with real people for live 1:1 sessions. To make those conversations smooth and enjoyable, the platform uses your language preferences and timezone as key parts of the matching system.

Choosing accurate language options and the correct timezone ensures that:

• You only match with people you can comfortably communicate with
• Session times automatically adjust for both sides
• You never miss or miscalculate a session due to time differences

Where to update your languages & timezone

Open your profile settings on app.skillswap.io/profile and scroll to the section called Languages & Timezone.

Languages you speak

These are the languages you feel comfortable using during a live session. They directly influence who you match with and who sees your profile as a potential tutor or learner.

• Add only languages in which you can carry a normal conversation — even basic.

Why languages influence match score

SkillSwap prioritizes communication clarity. If you share at least one language with someone, your match score increases. If not, the platform will avoid pairing you, even if your skills align perfectly.

Timezone

Your timezone ensures that all dates, times and session reminders you see are correct. It also helps SkillSwap match you with people whose availability overlaps with yours.

How timezone works

• Set automatically from your device when you sign up — but you can change it manually anytime.
• When scheduling a session, SkillSwap converts times for both users automatically.
• If you travel, the platform adjusts your timezone when you next log in.

Why timezone affects match score

The closer your timezone is to another user, the higher the likelihood that your availability overlaps. That’s why the matching system weighs timezone proximity as a factor.

Examples

• If you live in Cyprus (GMT+2) and the other user is in the UK (GMT+0), scheduling still works perfectly — but overlap may be smaller.
• If both of you are in nearby regions (e.g., Greece, Cyprus, Israel), your availability usually aligns well.
• Large timezone differences (e.g., Europe ↔ USA) reduce match score unless both users have wide availability.

When to update your timezone

SkillSwap adjusts automatically, but you should update it if:

• You move to a different country for a longer stay
• You notice session times appearing incorrectly
• You’re using SkillSwap on a device with an outdated timezone setting

Next steps

Once you’ve set your languages and timezone correctly, explore:

• Notifications — to make sure you never miss a session.
• How matching works — to understand how languages and timezone impact match scores.