Telegram Message Reactions: How to Use Them

Telegram message reactions let you quickly respond to any message with an emoji, without typing a reply. This guide shows you how to add, change, and remove reactions on both mobile and desktop, and how to customize the quick-reaction bar for your chats.

What You’ll Need

The Telegram app installed on your phone (iOS or Android) or desktop (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
An active Telegram account and an internet connection.
For custom reaction sets: a Telegram Premium subscription (or be in a chat where the admin has enabled free custom reactions).

Step-by-Step

Reacting to a Message

Open the chat that contains the message you want to react to.
On mobile: Double-tap the message bubble to instantly send the default quick reaction (usually a thumbs-up �). If you want a different emoji, tap once on the message to select it, then tap the smiley face icon that appears at the top of the screen (or the heart icon on some versions).
On desktop: Hover over the message and click the smiley face icon that appears on the right side of the message bubble. Alternatively, right-click the message and choose “Add Reaction” from the context menu.
Pick an emoji from the reaction panel that pops up. You can scroll through the default set or search for a specific emoji using the search bar.
Tap or click the emoji to send your reaction. It will appear below the message, next to any other reactions.

Changing or Removing Your Reaction

To change: Tap or click your existing reaction below the message. The reaction panel will open again. Choose a different emoji to replace it.
To remove: Tap or click your reaction again (the one you already sent). It will be removed immediately. Alternatively, open the reaction panel and tap the same emoji again to toggle it off.

Viewing All Reactions on a Message

Tap or click the reaction counter (e.g., “2”) below the message. A list of who reacted with which emoji will appear.
You can tap a specific emoji in that list to filter the people who used it.

Customizing Your Quick Reaction Bar

Go to Settings (hamburger menu on mobile, three lines on desktop).
Select Chat Settings (or just “Settings” on some platforms).
Tap Quick Reaction (or “Reactions” on desktop).
Choose your favorite emoji from the list. This becomes the emoji you get when you double-tap a message.
On mobile, you can also reorder the emojis in the reaction panel by tapping “Edit” and dragging them.

Using Custom Reactions (Premium or Admin-Enabled)

If you have Telegram Premium, you can use any emoji as a reaction by tapping the “+” button in the reaction panel and searching for the emoji you want.
If you are an admin of a group, you can enable custom reactions for all members: go to Group Info > Edit > Reactions, and select “Custom”. Then choose a set of emojis that members can use.
If you are not Premium but the group admin has enabled custom reactions, you can use those custom emojis for free.

Common Mistakes

Double-tapping too fast: On mobile, a double-tap sends the quick reaction instantly. If you meant to select the message for copying or forwarding, you might accidentally react instead. Wait a moment or use a single tap.
Not seeing reactions in older chats: Reactions are only available on messages sent after the feature was introduced (2022). Older messages may not have the reaction icon.
Assuming everyone sees the same emoji set: If you use a custom emoji that the recipient doesn’t have access to (e.g., a Premium-only emoji in a non-Premium chat), they may see a placeholder or the emoji may not display correctly.
Clicking the reaction counter instead of the emoji: Tapping the counter shows the list of who reacted; it doesn’t change your reaction. To change, tap your specific emoji below the message.

Tips

Use reactions to keep chats clean: Instead of sending “OK” or “Thanks” in a busy group, a quick thumbs-up or heart keeps the conversation focused.
Set a meaningful quick reaction: Choose an emoji you use often (like �� or 😂) so double-tapping is efficient.
Combine with message threading: In groups, you can react to a specific message and then reply to it in a thread, which is great for feedback.
On desktop, hover to see who reacted: Hovering over the reaction counter shows a tooltip with the names of people who used that reaction.
Use reactions for polls: You can react to a poll message to quickly show your choice without opening the poll.

Troubleshooting

Reaction icon not appearing: Make sure you have the latest version of Telegram. If you’re on an old version, update the app. Also, check if the chat is a “saved messages” chat (reactions work there too) or a secret chat (reactions are not available in secret chats).
Double-tap does nothing: On some Android keyboards, double-tap might be intercepted. Try single-tapping the message and using the smiley icon instead. Also, check your Quick Reaction setting—if it’s set to “None”, double-tap won’t do anything.
Reaction appears but then disappears: This can happen if your internet connection is unstable. Check your connection and try again.
Can’t use custom emoji reactions: If you don’t have Telegram Premium and the chat hasn’t enabled custom reactions, you’ll be limited to the default set. Ask the admin to enable custom reactions or consider upgrading.
Reaction count is wrong: Sometimes the counter may lag due to caching. Pull down to refresh the chat or restart the app to see the updated count.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I react to my own messages?

Yes, you can react to any message you’ve sent, just like you would react to someone else’s message.

Do reactions work in secret chats?

No, message reactions are not available in secret chats. This is a privacy limitation.

Can I see who reacted to a message?

Yes, tap the reaction counter below the message to see a list of people who reacted and which emoji they used.

How do I remove all reactions from a message I sent?

You can’t remove reactions from others, but you can remove your own reaction by tapping it again. If you’re an admin, you can delete the message entirely.

Are reactions available in channels?

Yes, channel admins can enable reactions for subscribers. Subscribers can then react to posts.

Can I use any emoji as a reaction for free?

Only if the chat admin has enabled custom reactions. Otherwise, you need Telegram Premium to use any emoji as a reaction.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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