How to React to Messages on Instagram

4 minutes read

Emojis are a way to express your feelings in any chat conversation you are having with friends or family. Instagram allows for use of emoji in conversations making you able to express your emotions when chatting. Here are the steps on how to react to messages on Instagram using custom emoji.

React to Messages on Instagram App

To react to messages on Instagram App:

1. Open your Instagram DM then open the message chat you would like to react to.
2. Press and hold the message and a pop up with an emoji list will appear from which you can choose the one you want. Tap and hold an emoji for about 2 seconds to amplify its reaction.
3. If you can’t see the emoji you’d like to use, click on the ‘+’ icon on the far left of the pop up to see more emojis and select your preferred one.
4. To remove a reaction, tap and hold the message then select ‘Tap to remove’ from the pop up.

Note:

1. You have to be on the latest version of the Instagram App because some earlier versions don’t support emoji reactions. Either uninstall and reinstall your Instagram App or Update it to the latest version by visiting the Google Play Store for Android users or Apple App Store for iOS users.
2. You have to link your Instagram account with Facebook Messenger. To confirm if your account is linked:
   1. Tap on the Profile icon on the bottom left of the Instagram App Home Screen.
   2. Tap on the Hamburger icon with the three stripes symbol on the top right of your screen.
   3. Tap on ‘Settings’,
   4. Tap on ‘Accounts Center’. If linked to Facebook Messenger, your Facebook Account will appear under ‘Accounts & profiles’ section.

To use the default heart emoji:

1. Open your Instagram DM then open the message chat you would like to react to.
2. Double-tap on the message you’d like to react to and it will apply the default heart emoji reaction.
3. To remove a reaction, tap and hold the message then select ‘Tap to remove’ from the pop up.

Why can’t I see Emoji Reactions on Instagram App?

If you can’t react to messages on Instagram, update the Instagram App to the latest version. If you are on Android, go to Google Play Store and search for Instagram then select the official Instagram App. If you are not on the latest version, you will see an ‘Update’ button for which you can select to update. For iOS users, go to Apple App Store and update. After update is complete, open the app and you will see the emoji reactions.

How to Customize Instagram Emoji Reactions

To personalize Instagram emoji reactions list:

1. Tap and hold on a chat message.
2. From the emoji list that pops on your screen, Tap on the plus ‘+’ icon on the far left.
3. On the page that opens, Tap ‘Customize’.
4. Tap the emoji you’d like to replace in the default list of emojis to highlight it.
5. Tap the emoji you’d like to replace with from the list of all emojis. You can replace the other emojis to customize the list as per your preference.
6. Press the ‘Tick’ button when done to Save the changes.

How to Change the Default Heart Emoji

To change the default heart emoji used when double-tapping on a chat message in the DM:

1. Hold your finger on a chat message.
2. From the set of emoji on the pop up, select ‘+’ icon on the far left.
3. Select ‘Customize’ from the pop up.
4. Select the emoji you’d like to use in place of the heart emoji.
5. Press the ‘Tick’ button to Save the changes.

Now when you double-tap the chat message, the newly selected emoji will appear instead of the default heart emoji. You can always follow the steps to restore the heart emoji or change to another emoji of your choice.

How to React to Instagram Messages on PC or Mac

Whether you are using a Mac or PC, you can use custom emoji to react to DMs on Instagram Web. To react to a chat message on Instagram Web:

1. Select the Smiley icon next the message and it will pop up a list of emojis.
2. Select the emoji you want to use and it will be applied to the message.
3. To remove the reaction, click on the emoji below the chat message and a pop up will appear, then choose ‘Select to remove’.

Conclusion

I hope you managed to work on your Instagram reactions and were able to react to messages on Instagram using custom emojis. Read more on Instagram through our article on how to hide messages on Instagram.