What emoji reactions do in Messenger

When you react to a message in Facebook Messenger, you're adding a quick emoji response without typing a reply. By default, Messenger shows you a heart, thumbs up, laughing face, surprised face, sad face, and angry face. You can change which emoji appears in that reaction menu, and you can also customize your own personal reaction — the one that shows up when you long-press a message.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you're on a phone or computer, and whether you're using the main Messenger app or Facebook's web version. This guide covers all four routes so you can find the one that matches what you're using right now.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone or Android, open a conversation, long-press any message, and tap the emoji icon to pick a different reaction from the menu.
  • You can customize your own default reaction by going to Settings in Messenger and choosing your preferred emoji under Reactions.
  • On a computer, right-click a message and select an emoji from the reaction menu that appears.
  • The reaction menu shows six emoji options, and you can swap out which emoji appears in each slot through your Messenger settings.
  • Your custom reaction setting applies across all your conversations, so changing it once affects every chat you're in.

Changing your reaction on iPhone

Open Facebook Messenger and find the conversation with the message you want to react to. Press and hold your finger on the message itself — not on the sender's name, but on the message text or image. After about a second, a menu will pop up with emoji options across the top.

Tap whichever emoji you want to use as your reaction. That emoji will now appear on the message, and anyone in the conversation can see it. If you want to change the reaction later, long-press the message again and pick a different emoji. The old reaction will disappear and the new one will take its place.

Changing your reaction on Android

The process on Android phones is nearly identical to iPhone. Open Messenger, find your message, and press and hold on it until the emoji menu appears. Tap your choice from the six emoji options shown.

If the emoji menu doesn't appear, make sure you're pressing on the message itself and holding long enough — usually one to two seconds. If you're still not seeing it, close Messenger completely and reopen it, then try again. Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to show the reaction menu properly.

Changing your reaction on a computer

On a desktop or laptop, open Messenger in your web browser or use the standalone Messenger app for Windows or Mac. Find the message you want to react to and hover your mouse over it. A row of emoji will appear to the right of the message.

Click whichever emoji you want. Your reaction will show up immediately on the message. To change it, hover over the message again and click a different emoji. The previous reaction will be replaced with the new one.

Setting your default reaction in Messenger settings

Your default reaction is the emoji that appears when you use the quickest method to react — usually a single tap or click without opening the full menu. You can change this in Messenger settings on both phone and computer.

On iPhone or Android, open Messenger and tap your profile picture in the top left corner. Scroll down and tap Reactions. You'll see the six emoji currently in your reaction menu. Tap the one you want to be your default — it will show a checkmark or highlight to confirm it's selected. On a computer, click the three horizontal lines (menu icon) in the top left, scroll to Preferences, then find Reactions and click the emoji you want as your default.

Customizing which emoji appear in your reaction menu

The six emoji that show up when you react to a message are set by Messenger, but you may be able to customize them depending on your app version. On newer versions of Messenger for iPhone and Android, go to your profile picture, tap Reactions, and look for an option to add or edit emoji. If you see a plus sign or edit button, tap it to swap out emoji you don't use for ones you prefer.

Not all accounts have this customization option yet — Messenger rolls out features gradually. If you don't see an edit option in your Reactions settings, your version doesn't support custom emoji menus yet. Check back in a few weeks, as the feature may become available to you later.

Troubleshooting reactions that won't appear

If you tap an emoji but the reaction doesn't show up on the message, the most common cause is a connection problem. Make sure you have a working internet connection — try loading another page or app to confirm. Then go back to Messenger and try reacting again.

If the reaction still doesn't appear, close Messenger completely and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to close the app. On Android, go to Settings, tap Apps, find Messenger, and tap Force Stop, then reopen it. On a computer, close the browser tab or app window and open Messenger again. Wait a few seconds for it to fully load before trying to react to a message.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see which emoji I reacted with?

Yes. Everyone in the conversation can see your reaction and who sent it. If you react with a thumbs up, everyone will see your name next to that thumbs up emoji on the message. You can remove a reaction by long-pressing the message again and tapping the same emoji a second time.

What's the difference between a reaction and a reply?

A reaction is a single emoji that appears on the message itself, taking up minimal space. A reply is a typed message that shows up as a separate message in the conversation thread. Reactions are faster for quick feedback, while replies let you write something longer.

If I change my default reaction, does it affect old reactions I already sent?

No. Changing your default reaction only affects new reactions you send going forward. Any emoji you've already reacted with on old messages will stay the same. Your old reactions won't change to match your new default.

Why can't I see the emoji menu when I try to react?

Make sure you're pressing or hovering directly on the message text or image, not on the sender's name or the time stamp. On phones, hold for a full second or two before releasing. If it still doesn't work, try closing and reopening Messenger, or check that your internet connection is working.

Can I use emoji that aren't in the default reaction menu?

The reaction menu is limited to the six emoji Messenger provides (or the custom set if your version supports customization). You can't add random emoji from your keyboard. If you want to use a different emoji, send a regular typed message instead of a reaction.