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

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Pop culture commentator Corey Andrew explains why Stranger Things fans ship Byler

Co-authored by Corey Andrew and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: January 10, 2026 Fact Checked

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What is Byler?

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Is Byler canon?

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Why Fans Ship Byler

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Why They Don’t

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Reactions to the Finale

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Byler Fanfic

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The final season of Stranger Things is here at long last, 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 whether it became canon by the series finale, with the help of pop culture commentator Corey Andrew. Warning: Spoilers for all seasons of Stranger Things ahead.

What does “Byler” mean in Stranger Things?

Pop culture commentator Corey Andrew says “Byler” refers to the ship (i.e., fan-desired relationship) name of Will Byers and Mike Wheeler from Stranger Things (it's a combination of their last names). Fans wanted them to get together because they have a deep, emotional connection, but they are canonically just friends.

Section 1 of 6:

What is Byler?

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Byler is the ship name for Stranger Things characters Will Byers and Mike Wheeler. Andrew says “Byler” is a fusion of both Mike’s and Will’s last names, similar to how Brad and Angelina became Brangelina.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Corey Andrew
Pop Culture Commentator

Expert Interview} People use “Byler” to refer to their potential romantic relationship. Andrew explains that Will Byers is gay and has a crush on his best friend Mike Wheeler, and fans hoped the two friends would profess their love for each other before the show ends.^{[2]
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Corey Andrew
Pop Culture Commentator

Expert Interview} The release of season 5 had fans debating whether or not the relationship would actually happen, or become “canon.”^{[3]
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- Andrew also mentions the fan-created word “Bylership” being popular, which combines the words Wheeler + Byers + Relationship.^{[4]
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  Corey Andrew
  Pop Culture Commentator
  
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- Mike and Will are best friends. Will is canonically gay, while Mike is assumed to be straight. He is in a relationship with Eleven, which has caused some tension with Will.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Corey Andrew is a pop culture commentator based in New York City, New York. He co-hosts the popular celebrity gossip podcast "Naughty but Nice" with Rob Shuter.

Section 2 of 6:

Is Byler canon?

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No, Byler is not canon. While many fans hoped Will and Mike would get together by the end of the series, that didn’t happen. Will did, however, have the courage to come out to his friends, and Mike realizes Will has a crush on him. He and the others hug Will and let him know he’ll never lose them.
- After an 18-month time jump, Mike and Will play one last game of D&D together, and Mike tells Will that he imagines Will will travel far away from Hawkins and find a place of happiness and acceptance. A future Will is then shown with an unnamed boyfriend, proving that he’s moved on from his crush on Mike.
- While some fans were disappointed with this ending, it wasn’t really shocking. Before the release of season 5, Stranger Things producer Gavin J. Behrman appeared in a TikTok video posted by his daughter @olivia.and.aurora, where 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.”

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Why Fans Ship Byler

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Will has a crush on Mike. While Will didn’t come out until the end of season 5, his orientation was heavily implied throughout the series, especially in later seasons. His romantic feelings for Mike were strongly hinted at, as Will often stared 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.^{[5]
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- In season 5, Will also shares a thoughtful conversation with Robin about sexuality. It’s clear Will is thinking of Mike during this conversation. Later, Mike and Will share a playful moment, and Robin pulls Will aside to tell him how she came to accept herself. This was all leading up to Will’s confession later in the season.^{[6]
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- Even though Mike has been in a relationship with Eleven, many fans suspected they would break up in season 5, making room for Will and Mike to get together.
- 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.
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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.”^{[7]
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- Before the release of season 5, The Duffer Brothers also confirmed that Will would “take center stage” and that his emotional arc would play a key role in the final season. Fans suspected this would be in relation to his feelings for Mike.
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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 they 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.^{[8]
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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.

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Why Fans Don’t Ship Byler

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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 so 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.^{[9]
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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.”^{[10]
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Fan Reactions to the Stranger Things Finale

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Many Byler shippers were disappointed with the finale. A lot of Stranger Things fans were disappointed with the series finale for various reasons, but Byler shippers are upset because Byler didn’t become canon. Some even speculate that a “secret” final episode will drop, in which Will and Mike get together. There is no evidence this will happen, however.
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Other fans like Will and Mike’s conclusion. Other fans, whether they actively ship Byler or not, were satisfied with the conclusion. Since Mike had never expressed any romantic feelings for Will, it made sense that they remained just friends. Fans are proud of Will for coming into his own and learning to accept himself for who he truly is.

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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!