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.
Open an Instagram conversation.
An Instagram accountMessagesa conversation
You will see The thread, ready to react to.
React with an emoji.
React with an emoji, on the message
You will see The emoji appears for both of you.
Remove it if you change your mind.
Remove reaction, on the message
You will see It disappears on both sides.
If something is off
- There is no react control
- The conversation 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. Open the same react control and choose Remove reaction. The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
Where is the react option on a phone?
In the More sheet on the message. On a computer it is the react control on the message itself.
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 conversations 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: Open an Instagram conversation.
Where: The Instagram account, then Messages, then the conversation.
Link: https://app.commentwatchdog.com/en/inbox (Open the app)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (An Instagram conversation.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (The same on a phone.)
You should see: The thread, with each message ready to be reacted to.
Step 2 of 3: React with an emoji.
Where: The react control on a message, or in the More sheet on a phone. Pick the emoji.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (React with an emoji, on a message.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (React with an emoji, in the More sheet.)
You should see: The emoji appears on the message for both of you.
Step 3 of 3: Remove it if you change your mind.
Where: The same control, then Remove reaction.
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig.en.webp (The same control removes it.)
Screenshot: https://commentwatchdog.com/media/shots/messages-ig-phone.en.webp (The same item removes it.)
You should see: The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
If something is off
Problem: There is no react control
Fix: The conversation is a Messenger one. Reactions are available on Instagram conversations.
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. Open the same react control and choose Remove reaction. The emoji disappears from the message on both sides.
Question: Where is the react option on a phone?
Answer: In the More sheet on the message. On a computer it is the react control on the message itself.
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