Will Mike and Will End Up Together in Stranger Things? A Guide to Byler

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Learn why Stranger Things fans ship Byler

Co-authored by Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: December 5, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is Byler?

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Why Fans Ship Byler

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Why It Will Happen

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Why It Won’t

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Byler Fanfic

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The final season of Stranger Things is finally here, and with its arrival comes many fan theories, like whether or not Will Byers and Mike Wheeler will get together. But why are fans so invested in this ship? And how did it come about? We’ll answer all your questions by explaining what Byler is, why fans ship it, and why people think Will and Mike will (or won’t) get together by the end of season 5. Warning: Spoilers for all seasons of Stranger Things ahead.

What does “Byler” mean in Stranger Things?

“Byler” refers to the ship name of Will Byers and Mike Wheeler from Stranger Things. Fans want these lifelong friends to get together because they have a deep, emotional connection, and Will has obvious feelings for Mike. However, it is currently unclear whether the two will end up in a romantic relationship.

Section 1 of 5:

What is Byler?

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Byler is the ship name for Stranger Things characters Will Byers and Mike Wheeler. Many fans want Mike Wheeler and Will Byers to end up in a romantic relationship, and they refer to that potential relationship as “Byler,” which combines the names Byers and Wheeler. The release of season 5 has fans debating whether or not the relationship will actually happen, or become “canon.”^{[1]
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- Mike and Will are best friends. Will is canonically gay, while so far, Mike is assumed to be straight. He is in a relationship with Eleven, which has caused some tension with Will.
- Some fans strongly believe that Byler will be “endgame,” meaning they will be together when the show concludes. Because the second half of the season has not been released yet, it is still unconfirmed what will happen.

Section 2 of 5:

Why Fans Ship Byler

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Will has a crush on Mike. While Will has not come out and said he’s gay, his orientation has been heavily implied throughout the series, especially in later seasons. His romantic feelings for Mike have been strongly hinted at, as Will often stares longingly at him. Many fans ship Byler because of Will’s feelings for Mike; they don’t want him to have his heart broken or feelings unrequited.^{[2]
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- What do you think of Will’s feelings for Mike? Discuss your thoughts in our “Is Will from Stranger Things gay?” forum!
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The two have a deep, emotional connection. Mike and Will are best friends, so they often have emotional, vulnerable conversations together. Mike also displays consistent concern for Will, and many fans think their relationship is more developed than the relationship between Mike and Eleven, his love interest.
- For example, in season 1, Mike is extremely worried when Will goes missing and even says, “I’m the only one that cares about Will!”
- In season 2, Will and Mike have a vulnerable conversation about Will’s “episodes” in which he finds himself in the Upside Down. Mike says, “Hey, well, if we’re both going crazy, then we’ll go crazy together, right?”
- While attempting to bring Will’s memories back later that season, Mike tells him about their first meeting on the first day of kindergarten, and how asking Will to be his friend is the best thing he’s ever done.

Section 3 of 5:

Why Fans Think Byler Will Be Canon

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Stranger Things actors and creators have hinted at the relationship. Because Mike and Will’s relationship plays a key role in the show (romantic or not), those involved with the show are often asked about the two in interviews. For example, in an interview with Variety, Noah Schnapp, who plays Will, said, “I mean, it’s pretty clear this season that Will has feelings for Mike. They’ve been intentionally pulling that out over the past few seasons.”^{[3]
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- The Duffer Brothers have also confirmed that Will will “take center stage” and that his emotional arc will play a key role in the final season. Fans suspect this will be in relation to his feelings for Mike.
Early interpretations of season 5 content suggest that Mike and Eleven’s relationship will become strained due to the high stakes of the final battle. Those who believe Byler will be canon think Mike and Eleven will drift apart, making room for Will and Mike to get together.
In season 5, Will sees Robin kissing her girlfriend and asks how to tell if someone wants to date. Robin says the signs will be obvious, and Will asks, “How obvious?” while thinking of Mike. Later, Mike and Will share a playful moment, and Robin pulls Will aside to tell him how she came to accept herself. Fans suspect this is leading up to a confession from Will.^{[4]
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Fans suspect Mike is dealing with internalized homophobia. Some fans speculate that while Will’s feelings seem to be unrequited, Mike is actually dealing with internalized homophobia, and have analyzed many scenes to prove their theory. When Mike acts negatively or defensively toward Will, they believe he is pushing Will away because he’s scared of his own feelings.^{[5]
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- For example, when Mike says, “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls,” during their argument in “The Case of the Missing Lifeguard,” many fans view this as internalized homophobia.
- During their reunion at the airport in “Vecna’s Curse,” Mike brushes Will off when he goes for a hug. Fans think this is odd because they’re on good terms and Mike doesn’t have a problem hugging his other male friends. They suspect Mike realized something had changed between him and Will during their final conversation before Will leaves Hawkins.

Section 4 of 5:

Why Fans Think Byler Won’t Happen

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A producer “confirmed” that Byler won’t happen. In a TikTok video posted by @olivia.and.aurora, Stranger Things producer Gavin J. Behrman’s daughter interviewed him on several Stranger Things theories. One comment said, “If Byler doesn’t happen, I’m going to sue you.” Behrman replied, “That’s risque. Byler? That’s weird. They’re just friends.”
- Some take Behrman at his word, while others believe he’s trying not to spoil anything for season 5.
Friendship is one of the key themes in Stranger Things. While many fans see Mike and Will’s deep connection as a sign they should be together, others argue that they simply have a deep, meaningful friendship. Putting them in a romantic relationship would then overshadow the importance of friendship.
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Some think the relationship would come out of left field. While it’s clear Will has feelings for Mike, Mike has never expressed obvious romantic feelings for Will, as he’s in a relationship with Eleven. Their relationship has been a central plot point since season 1, so some fans think it wouldn’t make sense for Mike and Will to get together this late in the series.
- Some argue that making Byler canon would feel like fan service, an attempt to satisfy popular demand, rather than a natural progression of the story.
- Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike, agrees; in an interview with Attitude Magazine, he said that a relationship between Mike and Will “wouldn’t feel that earned” if it happened at this point.^{[6]
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Many fans feel that a relationship with Mike would not provide a satisfactory conclusion to Will’s story arc. They argue that his journey is about self-acceptance and finding happiness rather than a romantic relationship with Mike. Co-creator Ross Duffer hints at this as well, saying, “Part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality—it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”^{[7]
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Section 5 of 5:

Where to Read Byler Fanfiction

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Whether or not Byler becomes canon, we’ll always have fanfiction! If you can’t get enough of your favorite Stranger Things ship, turn to sites like Archive of Our Own (AO3), Tumblr, and Wattpad to find original stories created by fans for fans. Who knows—maybe you’ll find the story that will provide the satisfying conclusion you’ve been waiting for!