React to an Instagram message
You can acknowledge a message with an emoji instead of writing a reply.
On this page
Before you start
- Reactions are Instagram only.
- The customer sees it, as on Instagram.
- Removing it removes it for them too.
Find the smiley beside a message.
An Instagram chata messagethe smiley
You will see The smiley beside the message.
Pick the emoji.
The smileyan emoji
You will see The emoji appears for both of you.
Remove it if you change your mind.
The emoji under the messagethe x
You will see It disappears on both sides.
If something is off
- There is no smiley
- The chat is Messenger; reactions are Instagram only.
- The reaction did not appear
- Meta refused it, usually on an old or deleted message.
Common questions
Does the customer see the emoji reaction I add to their message?
Yes. A reaction is visible to the customer like any reaction on Instagram, and it appears on the message for both of you.
Can I undo a reaction on an Instagram message?
Yes. Press the emoji under the message, then the x at the end of the row, Remove reaction. The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
Where is the react option on a phone?
Beside each message: a small smiley, always visible. On a computer it appears when the pointer is over the message.
For agents: plain text of this guide · all guides
For agents
Guide: React to an Instagram message
This page: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/react-to-an-instagram-message
Topic: Messages
Time: about 2 minutes
Who can do it: Anyone on your team
Author: https://anantgupta.xyz (Anant Gupta, founder of CommentWatchDog)
Start in the app: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox
Result when done: You can acknowledge a message with an emoji instead of writing a reply.
Context: Instagram lets a page react to a message with an emoji. It is the quickest way to close a friendly exchange without another notification, and it is removed as easily as it is added.
Before you start
1. Reactions are an Instagram feature; Messenger chats do not have them here.
2. A reaction is visible to the customer, like any reaction on Instagram.
3. Removing a reaction removes it for them too.
Steps
Step 1 of 3: Find the smiley beside a message.
Where: In an Instagram chat, move the pointer over a message: a small smiley, React with an emoji, appears beside it. On a phone it is always there, beside each message.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox (Open the app)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-hover.en.webp (React with an emoji: the smiley beside a message, with the pointer over it.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (The smiley beside a message on a phone.)
You should see: The smiley, and beside it the translate icon.
Step 2 of 3: Pick the emoji.
Where: Press the smiley. A row of seven emoji opens above the message; press one.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-react.en.webp (The row of emoji, open above the message.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-react-phone.en.webp (The row of emoji on a phone.)
You should see: The emoji under the message, for both of you.
Step 3 of 3: Remove it if you change your mind.
Where: Press the emoji under the message. The same row opens with an x at its end, Remove reaction. A different emoji from the row replaces it instead.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (A reaction under a message: press it to change or remove it.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (The reaction under a message on a phone.)
You should see: The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
If something is off
Problem: There is no smiley
Fix: The chat is a Messenger one. Reactions are available on Instagram chats.
Problem: The reaction did not appear
Fix: Meta refused it, usually because the message is too old or was deleted.
Common questions
Question: Does the customer see the emoji reaction I add to their message?
Answer: Yes. A reaction is visible to the customer like any reaction on Instagram, and it appears on the message for both of you.
Question: Can I undo a reaction on an Instagram message?
Answer: Yes. Press the emoji under the message, then the x at the end of the row, Remove reaction. The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
Question: Where is the react option on a phone?
Answer: Beside each message: a small smiley, always visible. On a computer it appears when the pointer is over the message.
Related guides
Reply, attach a photo, send a GIF, record a voice note: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/reply-attach-a-photo-send-a-gif-record-a-voice-note
Where messages come from: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/where-messages-come-from
The 24-hour reply window: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/the-24-hour-reply-window
Plain text of this guide: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/messages/react-to-an-instagram-message.md
All guides for assistants: https://commentwatchdog.com/help/llms.txt