He said he wanted to hang but never made plans: what to do

Go back to the message where he said it. Did he mention something specific, like a day, a place, or a thing you both talked about? Or was it a generic line you could attach to any conversation? Generic lines are very common as warm sign-offs, and people often mean them in the moment without any follow-through in mind. Specific lines are more likely to have a plan behind them, even if he dropped the ball.

Also look at his side of the thread overall. Does he start conversations, ask you questions, and remember details from earlier? Or does he mostly respond to what you send? Someone who initiates and invests but still doesn't set a date is often disorganized rather than uninterested. Someone who only responds and never asks anything gives you a different read.

You're not trying to grade his intentions. You're trying to find out whether the plan can happen at all, and the only way to know is to put a concrete one in front of him.

A good reply does three things. First, it refers back to what he said so he knows you took it seriously and aren't starting a new topic. Second, it offers a specific time frame or option, so he has something to accept or change. Third, it makes yes easy and makes "no, how about another time" just as easy, so his answer is honest.

Keep the ask small. A drink on a weeknight, a walk, or a coffee is far easier to commit to than a full evening. A small ask also lets him say yes without feeling he's agreed to something big, and it gives you a clean next step if he does.

Avoid loading the message with feelings. You don't need to mention that he's been quiet, explain why you want to meet, or ask whether he's still interested. Those questions put him on the spot about his feelings, which is harder to answer than a scheduling question and usually gets a vague reply.

Timing matters more than most people expect. A message sent late at night reads as a mood, and it's easy for him to answer in a way that trails off. Send your plan in the middle of a normal day, when he's likely checking messages and thinking about his schedule.

Give him a reasonable window before you follow up. If you sent a clear plan and heard nothing for two or three days, one short nudge is fair. Keep it as easy as the first ask, with a new option or a simple check on whether the time still works. Don't send a long message explaining your feelings or asking for clarity.

If you've sent one concrete plan and one light follow-up with no real response, take that as your answer. Stop chasing. You can stay friendly if he texts you later, but you don't need to keep proposing dates to someone who doesn't follow through on them.