There’s trouble in paradise? Wondering how to make your girlfriend smile? Your girlfriend is mad at you and you don’t know why? You texted your friends, “My girlfriend is mad at me, help!”, but nothing worked. Don’t worry, we can help you figure out what to do when your girlfriend is mad at you. But before we discuss how to make it up to your girlfriend, here are some possible reasons why she’s mad. See if any of these are relevant to your situation.
“My Girlfriend is Mad at Me” – 5 Possible Reasons
While there are many reasons why your girlfriend might be mad at you, we’ve picked out some common reasons to make it easier for you to deal with. Once you have at least a general idea of the problem, you can think of ways to comfort your girlfriend or what to say to make her feel special and trust you.
1. You may have done something to upset her
The most likely answer to the question “I don’t understand why my girlfriend is mad at me” is that you did something to upset her. You may have said or done something that hurt her, or you may have forgotten an important appointment. Try to think back to if something went wrong on your end.
2. Her love language is not being met
There are 5 types of love languages, and most people prefer one over the other. They are:
- Physical contact
- Words of Affirmation
- Good times.
- Service Behavior
- Accepting Gifts
It’s possible that your girlfriend’s love language is not being met, meaning that you’re not loving her the way she wants you to. To figure out how to make it up to your girlfriend, first figure out what her love language is.
Related: 20 Best Relaxing Gifts for Her to Relieve Stress
3. She feels stressed/overwhelmed
It’s also possible that she’s not targeting you specifically. She may have too much on her plate, which is causing her temper to flare and her overall mood to get upset. This is more likely if she’s a professional woman who recently changed jobs or got a promotion.
4. She feels distant from you
As strange as it sounds, sometimes girlfriends, myself included, get mad at their partners when they miss them. She may be going through mixed emotions like depression, loneliness, or even insecurity. So, check if the two of you have been spending quality time together lately. Also check if she is always the one taking the initiative, or if you are making enough effort.
5. She has a strong sexual desire
Most girls experience mood swings before and during their period. This means they feel sad, angry, frustrated, or suddenly upset for no apparent reason. But how can you make it up to your girlfriend if it wasn’t your fault in the first place? You don’t have to worry, we have the answer for that too. Just scroll down.
20 effective ways to teach you how to make up with your girlfriend
Now that you’ve figured out the “why” part, let’s move on to the next question. What to do if your girlfriend is mad at you? Maybe you need a list of gifts to apologize to your girlfriend or find the right words to make her feel special and trust you. Or maybe you need to take the puppy eyes approach and come up with some cute ways to apologize via text message. Don’t worry, we got you covered. Here are some ideas on how to make it up to your girlfriend:
1. Have a discussion
As they say, communication is key. So sit down with your girlfriend and have an open and honest conversation about what went wrong. Here are the main points you should discuss:
- How is she feeling at this moment?
- What triggers these emotions?
- How can you make her feel better?
Once you understand her point of view, it will be easier for you to resolve the situation.
2. Sincere apology
If she’s mad at you for something you said or did, you should first apologize sincerely. Just saying “I’m sorry” isn’t enough. Here are some tips on how to apologize to a girl you’ve hurt:
- First admit what you are sorry about
- Express your regret for the action and how it made her feel.
- Explain your point of view (but don’t make excuses).
- Promise her that this behavior will not happen again.
Related reading: 12 cute ways to say sorry after a fight
3. Assure her it won’t happen again
When you’re looking for ways to apologize to the girl you’ve hurt, make sure you assure her that whatever happened will never happen again. This is very important to ensure that the issue is resolved completely and doesn’t lead to another argument.
4. Compliment her
Here are 101 steps on how to make it up to your girlfriend. Compliment her! And be specific. Generic compliments like “You’re beautiful” don’t sound genuine. One Reddit user explained how to come up with sweet things to say to your girlfriend, “Girls love attention. What do you notice about her, the way she talks, the way she raises her hands, the way she gets along with animals?”
“What do you like about her? Compliment her! Praise from the heart is more valuable.
5. Make dinner for her
They say the way to a man’s (ok, that means a woman; let’s be honest, it applies to everyone—who doesn’t love good food?) heart is through his stomach. So if you’re wondering how to make it up to your girlfriend, you can’t go wrong with cooking. If you make her favorite meals, that’s even better because it shows that you know her well. And if your girlfriend loves to show her love by serving her, that goes double.
6. Hugs and kisses
Nothing can calm her down better than a hug and a kiss, especially if she’s a girl who likes physical contact. But make sure you ask her permission, as she may not like physical contact when she’s angry.
7. Plan a date
If your girlfriend is mad at you for not making time for her, what better way to make amends than by scheduling a date? Scheduled dates will let your girl know:
- You know her well enough to know she’s sad and why.
- You care deeply and take the time to do the right thing
- Best of all, you plan the entire date so she doesn’t have to make any decisions
8. A thoughtful gift
If you’ve read this and are thinking “but I don’t know what to get her”, trust me, you know it. If you put your mind to it, you can come up with a lot of gifts to say sorry to your girlfriend. Here are some ideas:
- Remember those dresses she said were cute the last time you went shopping but didn’t buy? Buy it.
- Or her favorite color of nail polish/lipstick
- Is she artistic? Then art supplies will surely make her eyes light up!
- Can she read? Choose a book she likes and buy her one. Or
Related Reading: Online Gifts for Her – Gift Ideas for Women She Will Love
9. Help her share some things
What to do when your girlfriend gets mad at you because she’s overwhelmed or stressed out? Take over some tasks. If you live together, review the division of chores. Is it fair, or could you take on more chores? If you live separately, see if you can help with some outside tasks, such as setting up bill payments, doing taxes, commuting, grocery shopping, etc.
10. Provide relaxing massage
While you may not always be able to help her get work done, you can give her a massage to help her relax and relieve stress. Plus, this helps build intimacy and strengthen the bond between you.
11. Let her enjoy some time to herself
Another great way to help her relax is to give her some “me time” where she can unwind at her own pace by watching her favorite show, listening to some music, or taking a bath. If you can help her prepare for the activity (putting together a playlist or taking a bath) ahead of time, that’s even better.

12. Book a spa appointment
If the above points are not enough to relieve stress, then a spa appointment will surely relax her. Surprise her with a spa appointment, either individually or as a couple, depending on your relationship dynamics.
13. Plan a vacation
This may seem a little redundant, and of course, you don’t have to go on vacation every time you have a fight. But if you’re already planning a vacation, it might be a good time to change your scenery and reconnect after a fight.
Related: Traveling as a Couple: Tips for Preparing for an Adventure Vacation as a Couple
14. Plan activities together
If the daily routine for both of you has been “work, eat, sleep, repeat” for a while, find a new activity to try together. This is especially helpful for people who enjoy quality time.
Here are some ideas:
- Taking a new class (like dance or pottery)
- Explore parts of the city you haven’t visited yet
- Try new cuisine
- Go to an escape room
15. Make sweet gestures
If she’s feeling distant from you and you’re at a loss for words on how to reassure your girlfriend of your love for her, a small romantic gesture can go a long way. You could send her flowers, make her a card, or write her a poem or love letter. You don’t have to be Shakespeare, a few heartfelt lines of poetry will do the trick. Just make a list of sweet things to say to your girlfriend and write it in her journal or post it on the fridge. It’s sure to make her smile. This Reddit post offers some great ideas, like:
- Tell her how much you appreciate her and how she makes your life better.
- Send her a song that reminds you of her.
- Send her some memes. Girls love memes.
- Tell her you love her. Tell her why, why is always important.
16. Spontaneous slow dance
This is one of those cliché romantic ideas that always works. Just put on her favorite song, hold out your hand, ask “Can I dance with you, lady?” and watch her heart flutter.
17. Bring her some snacks
It’s a universal solution. Whether she’s upset, hungry, stressed, or hormonally imbalanced, a snack or sweet treat is sure to make her feel better.
18. Make an “I love you because” list
This is an extended form of a love letter. List all the things you love about her. Be specific and include some details. Here are some things you can include in your “I love you because” list:
- Appearance (eye color, hairstyle, fashion sense, specific clothing)
- Intelligence (intelligence, emotional abilities, any skills she possesses)
- Habits (the way your hair curls or jumps up and down when you’re excited)
19. Try texting
As dating norms evolve, cheesy text messages are slowly replacing love letters. If you’re one of those couples who prefers texting, come up with some cute ways to apologize in a text message, and make sure to add plenty of emojis.
20. Make her smile
As a boyfriend, you probably know how to make your girlfriend happy. Do something silly, tell a joke, you know, all those cute things that will make her say, “You’re an idiot” with love in her heart.

Infographic on what to do if your girlfriend is mad at you
Girls are simple. They don’t always need some big gesture or expensive gifts. There are many small actions you can choose to make your girl feel special. Take a look at the infographic below to quickly understand how to make peace with your girlfriend.

Key Points
- Communication is key. Sit down and talk to your girlfriend and ask her what’s wrong.
- Sincere apology
- Learn her love language and choose a method that makes her feel better
- Sweet gestures can go a long way: write a love letter, a poem, or a cute text
- Snacks or home-cooked meals may cheer her up
Final Thoughts
To summarize, there are many reasons why your girlfriend might be mad at you. Talk to her and see how you can make it up to your girlfriend. If it was something you did, apologize and send her a gift or a gesture. If it was a love language mismatch, find ways to love her and let her know that you want to be loved. Schedule some quality time to strengthen your relationship. Small gestures can go a long way, too. The point is to remind her that you love her and care about her.
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