Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages
Khamosh Pathak / How-To Geek

In Instagram Direct Message, you can double-tap a message to send a heart, and you can press and hold a message to see emoji reactions. Want to customize this? Here’s how to change emoji reactions in Instagram DM.

The ability to customize emoji reactions is part of Facebook’s cross-platform messaging feature in Instagram. This update lets you message your Facebook friends from Instagram and brings some Messenger features to Instagram.

RELATED: How to Message a Facebook Friend From Instagram

Update Instagram Messaging

If you haven’t updated already, you can do so from Instagram’s Settings menu. From your Instagram profile, tap the hamburger menu button in the top-right corner, and choose the “Settings” option. Here, tap the “Update Messaging” option.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

From the next screen, tap the “Update” button.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

Now, the Instagram DM icon at the top-right corner of the app will change to a Messenger icon. Once you have updated, you can customize emoji reactions from any Instagram conversation.

With the Facebook Messenger integration connected to Instagram direct messaging, tap the “Messenger” icon in the top-right corner of the Instagram app to see all conversations.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

Then, select a conversation.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

Here, press and hold a message to see emoji reactions.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

You can tap the “+” button to see all emojis or select an emoji to send it as an emoji reaction.

To change an emoji reaction, tap and hold on an emoji to enter the customization mode.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

You’ll see all the available emojis at the bottom. Browse or search for a particular emoji and then tap an emoji to add it to the quick response menu.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

You can then choose another emoji and repeat this process.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

You can customize all six quick-response emojis here, including the default heart emoji. Once you switch the heart emoji, the left-most emoji will become the default for the double-tap gesture.

If you want to go back to the original configuration, tap the “Reset” button. Once you’re done with the customization, tap the “Done” button.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages

You’ll now see the updated quick-response emojis in the pop-up. Select an emoji to send the reaction.

Instagram emoji reactions for direct messages


Want to use Instagram from your computer? All you need is Instagram on the Web!

RELATED: How to Use Instagram on the Web From Your Computer

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Why can't I react to Instagram messages with emojis?

Why can't I react to messages on the Instagram app? The most likely reason would be that your Instagram has not been updated to the latest version. So, to update your Instagram app, visit the App Store page. And to know how to enable emoji reactions on Instagram, visit the app's Settings and choose Update Messaging.

Why don't I have reactions on Instagram?

Utilize The 'Update Messaging' Feature We know that Instagram updates their app frequently. However, for some strange reason, certain messaging related features had to be updated separately. And if you haven't yet done so, this may be the reason why emoji reactions aren't available to you yet.