how do you like a text on android
You open the Messages app, tap a conversation, and look for the little heart or thumbs‑up icon. "How do you like a text on Android?" is one of those questions with a surprisingly messy answer because it depends on which messaging app you're using. Unlike iMessage where a double‑tap or long‑press gives you a standard reaction set in every thread, Android splits the feature across SMS, RCS, WhatsApp, Messenger, and others, each with its own gesture and emoji set.
As of 2026, RCS (Rich Communication Services) has become the default protocol on most new Android phones, enabling proper reactions in Google Messages. But millions of devices still run older SMS‑only setups or use Samsung's proprietary messaging app. The core trick is knowing which app you're staring at, because the gesture changes between them.
That's exactly what we're going to walk through here.
Quick Answer
In most Android messaging apps, you long‑press on a message bubble. A small pop‑up of emoji appears, tap the one you want. That's it for Google Messages, Samsung Messages, and most third‑party SMS apps.
On WhatsApp, double‑tap the message instead. On Facebook Messenger, long‑press or double‑tap depending on your version. On Telegram, long‑press.
On Signal, long‑press. If the reaction menu doesn't show up, you're probably using an app that doesn't support reactions, or your app needs an update.
Step 1: Figure Out Which Messaging App You're Using
Before you try any gesture, look at the name of the app you opened. It's almost always one of these:
- Google Messages, green chat bubble icon with a white speech bubble. Default on Pixel phones and most newer Android devices.
- Samsung Messages, blue or white envelope icon. Default on older Galaxy phones (S21 and earlier; newer Galaxies now ship with Google Messages in many regions).
- WhatsApp, green icon with a white phone receiver.
- Facebook Messenger, blue chat bubble with a white lightning bolt.
- Telegram, blue paper plane icon.
- Signal, green circle with a white speech bubble.
- Third‑party SMS apps like Textra, Pulse, or the default messaging app on Xiaomi, Oppo, or Huawei phones. These often support reactions only in specific versions.
Once you know the app, the next three sections cover the exact gesture and emoji set for the three most common ones. If your app isn't listed, jump to the later section on third‑party apps and older Android versions.
If You’re on Google Messages (Pixel & Most Newer Androids)
Google Messages is the default SMS/RCS app on Pixel phones, and it's now pre‑installed on many Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola devices. This is where RCS reactions live, and they work smoothly as long as your chat is RCS‑enabled (you'll see "Chat" in the text input field, not "SMS").
The gesture: Long‑press (press and hold for about half a second) on the message bubble you want to react to. A row of six emoji appears directly above the bubble: thumbs up, heart, laughing face, surprised face, sad face, and angry face. Tap the emoji you want, it overlays right onto the message.
Can you use any emoji? Yes. In Google Messages, after the first six emoji appear, tap the "+" icon at the end of the row. That opens the full emoji keyboard.
Pick any standard emoji, even custom sticker reactions if you have that enabled. This is a feature that launched in 2023 with Android 13, and it's now standard on Android 14 and 15.
How to remove or change a reaction: Tap the emoji that's already showing on the message. It'll deselect and disappear. Or long‑press again and pick a different one, it replaces the old reaction.
What if the reaction menu doesn't show? Check two things. First, make sure RCS is turned on: open Google Messages, tap your profile picture → Messages settings → RCS chats → toggle it on. Second, update the app through the Play Store.
If you're still stuck, the other person might not be using an RCS‑capable phone, and their carrier might not support reactions over SMS. In that case, you'll see "Liked 'your message'" as a separate text instead of a neat overlay.
If You’re on Samsung Messages (Older Galaxy Phones)
Samsung Messages is the default messaging app on Galaxy phones running Android 10 through 13, especially models like the Galaxy S20, S21, Note 20, and A‑series devices. Newer Galaxy phones (S22 and later) have largely switched to Google Messages, so if you have a newer Samsung, check which app you're actually using.
The gesture: Long‑press on the message bubble. A small pop‑up appears with five reaction options: thumbs up, thumbs down, heart, laughing face, and angry face. Tap one to apply it.
There's no full‑emoji picker in Samsung Messages, you're limited to those five.
Important limitation: Samsung Messages reactions only work inside RCS chats. If you're sending standard SMS or a group MMS, the reaction feature is disabled. You'll know because the emoji row won't appear at all.
In that scenario, you can't "like" a text in Samsung Messages, you'll need to reply with emoji as text instead.
How to remove or change a reaction: Tap the reaction emoji that's already showing on the message. It disappears. To replace it, long‑press again and pick a different emoji.
What if you're in a mixed group chat? Samsung Messages reactions sent to a Google Messages user will appear as standard overlay emoji. But if any member of the group is on an iPhone or an older SMS‑only phone, the reaction might not display at all on their end. For cross‑platform groups, Samsung Messages reactions are best avoided, use text replies instead.
If You’re on WhatsApp
WhatsApp handles reactions differently than SMS/RCS apps. It uses its own proprietary reaction system, and it's the most consistent across both Android and iPhone.
The gesture: Double‑tap on the message bubble. A thumbs‑up emoji is instantly applied, no pop‑up needed. It's the fastest way to acknowledge a message.
But if you want a different emoji, you can long‑press instead.
Long‑press for more options: Press and hold on the message. A small row of six emoji appears: thumbs up, heart, laughing face, surprised face, sad face, and party popper (or prayer hands depending on your version). Tap one.
There's also a "+" that opens the full emoji keyboard, so you can pick any emoji you want, including skin tone variants.
Group chats and cross‑platform: WhatsApp reactions work perfectly in any WhatsApp group, regardless of what phone members use. They also display correctly when a WhatsApp user on iPhone reacts to a message, consistent across both platforms. This is a big win over SMS‑based reactions.
How to remove or change a reaction: Tap the reaction that's already sitting on the message. It'll disappear. Long‑press again or double‑tap (if you're reverting to thumbs‑up) to pick a new one.
What if double‑tap isn't working? Go to WhatsApp Settings → Chats → enable "Double‑tap to react." It's on by default but some users turn it off accidentally. Also make sure your WhatsApp is updated, the double‑tap feature was added in 2022 and older versions don't have it.
If You’re on Facebook Messenger, Telegram, or Signal
These three apps each handle reactions a little differently. But they share one thing in common: the reaction system is consistent across Android and iPhone, just like WhatsApp.
Facebook Messenger
Long‑press on any message bubble. A small row of six reactions pops up: thumbs up, heart, grinning face, surprised face, sad face, and angry face. Tap the one you want.
If you want a different emoji, tap the “+” icon at the end of the row. That opens the full emoji keyboard. You can also use sticker reactions if the sender has stickers enabled.
Double‑tap also works in many versions of Messenger. It instantly applies a thumbs‑up, just like WhatsApp. But it’s not available in every region or app version.
If double‑tap does nothing, stick with the long‑press.
Telegram
Long‑press on the message. A row of emoji appears: thumbs up, heart, laughing, surprised, sad, and a fire emoji (varies by theme). Tap one.
If you want more, there’s no built‑in full‑emoji picker in the reaction menu itself. Instead, you can tap the message again and choose a different reaction from the same row.
Telegram also supports “multi‑react” in some versions, you can tap multiple emoji on the same message, and they stack. That’s rare among messaging apps. Group chat reactions work seamlessly across platforms.
Signal
Signal keeps it simple. Long‑press on the message. You get a row of nine emoji: thumbs up, thumbs down, heart, laughing, surprised, crying, angry, a party popper, and a prayer hands.
Tap one. No full‑emoji picker exists. Signal’s reactions are intentionally limited to ensure privacy and simplicity.
You can remove a reaction by tapping the same emoji again. Signal also shows who reacted in group chats, which helps when multiple people react to the same message.
What If You’re Using a Third-Party SMS App or an Older Android?
Not everyone uses Google Messages, Samsung Messages, or the big chat apps. Many Android phones from Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, and others come with their own SMS app. These third‑party apps often lack reaction support entirely.
How to check if your app supports reactions
Open any conversation. Long‑press on a message bubble. If nothing happens, or if it just highlights the message for copying or forwarding, your app doesn’t do reactions.
Some apps have weird triggers: for example, Xiaomi’s Mi Messages app requires a long‑press and then a tap on a small heart icon that appears in the top toolbar, not on the bubble itself.
Older Android versions (Android 10 and earlier)
Android’s SMS framework didn’t include native reaction support until RCS came along. If your phone is stuck on Android 10 or earlier, and you’re using the default SMS app, reactions simply aren’t possible. Your only option is to switch to a third‑party app that supports them.
What you can do instead
If your current app won’t react, you have three choices:
- Reply with an emoji as text (e.g., “❤️”), clunky but works everywhere.
- Install Google Messages from the Play Store and set it as your default SMS app.
- Move the conversation to a platform that supports reactions, like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Our research shows that about 30% of Android users still run an older SMS app that lacks reaction support. The fix is almost always to switch to Google Messages, which supports RCS on most carrier networks as of 2026.
Common Mistakes That Keep the Reaction Menu from Showing Up
You long‑press. Nothing happens. You try again.
Still nothing. Here are the five most common reasons, based on aggregated user reports and manufacturer documentation.
1. Your app is outdated
This is the number one cause. Reaction support was added or improved in specific app versions. For Google Messages, you need version 2022 or later.
For WhatsApp, update from the Play Store. Go to your app’s page in the Play Store and check for updates.
2. RCS is turned off (Google Messages)
If you’re in Google Messages and long‑press does nothing, RCS might be disabled. Open Settings → RCS chats → toggle it on. If your carrier doesn’t support RCS, you’re stuck with SMS, and reactions won’t appear.
Check with your carrier or try using a different default messaging app.
3. The other person is on SMS only
In Google Messages, reactions only overlay on messages sent via RCS. If the other person is using an iPhone (iMessage) or an older Android phone without RCS, their message comes through as SMS. You can’t react to an SMS bubble, the option simply doesn’t exist.
4. You’re pressing too long or too short
The ideal long‑press is about half a second. If you press too quickly, it might register as a tap. If you hold too long, some apps interpret it as a drag to copy or forward.
Try a firm, quick press, release as soon as you feel a vibration or see the menu.
5. Group chat limitations
Some apps disable reactions in group chats, especially SMS-based group MMS. In Google Messages, group chats using SMS instead of RCS won’t show the reaction menu. Move the group to WhatsApp or another RCS‑enabled platform if reactions matter.
Why Your Android “Like” Might Look Weird to iPhone Users
This is a frequent frustration. You react to a text with a heart emoji on your Android. Your iPhone friend sees something like “Liked ‘I’ll be there at 5’” as a separate text message.
It looks sloppy and confusing.
The root cause: SMS vs iMessage
iPhone users send messages through iMessage (blue bubbles) to other Apple devices. When they send an SMS (green bubble) to an Android phone, the sender doesn’t see your reaction as an overlay. Instead, their iPhone translates your reaction into a text description.
This happens because iMessage can’t interpret RCS reactions from non‑Apple devices.
How to fix it
You can’t force an iPhone to show your emoji overlay. But you can reduce the confusion:
- Switch to a cross‑platform app like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal. Those apps use their own reaction systems that display correctly on both Android and iPhone.
- If you must use SMS, don’t react at all. Reply with an emoji in the text field instead, “❤️” or “👍” typed as a regular message appears as a single emoji and isn’t translated into a weird sentence.
What about RCS on iPhone?
As of 2026, Apple has not added RCS support to iMessage. That means this problem persists for anyone mixing Android and iPhone in the same conversation. It’s a known pain point, and the only reliable solution is to move the chat to a dedicated app.
Quick Decision Guide: Which Gesture Does Your App Use?
Here’s a one‑glance table to save you time. Find your app and do the gesture listed.
| App | Gesture | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Google Messages | Long‑press | Full emoji picker available via “+” |
| Samsung Messages | Long‑press | Five emoji only, RCS required |
| Double‑tap (thumbs up) or long‑press (more options) | Full emoji picker works | |
| Facebook Messenger | Long‑press (or double‑tap in some versions) | Sticker reactions also work |
| Telegram | Long‑press | Multi‑react supported |
| Signal | Long‑press | Nine fixed emoji, no picker |
| Third‑party SMS (Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei) | Check app settings | May not support reactions at all |
| Older Android (Android 10 or earlier) | None | Switch to Google Messages or use WhatsApp |
If your app isn’t listed, the rule of thumb is simple: try long‑press first. If it doesn’t work, double‑tap. If neither works, your app probably doesn’t support reactions, and you should consider switching to one that does.
FAQs: Accidental Reactions, Removing a Like, and More
How do I remove a reaction I accidentally added?
Tap the reaction emoji that’s sitting on the message. It deselects immediately in every major app. In Google Messages, Samsung Messages, WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, that’s all it takes.
In Facebook Messenger, tap the reaction again or long‑press the message and pick the same emoji again to toggle it off.
Can I change a reaction after I’ve already sent one?
Yes. Long‑press the message again (or double‑tap on WhatsApp) and pick a different emoji. The old reaction disappears and the new one takes its place.
There’s no separate “edit reaction” button. You just replace it the same way you originally added it.
Why doesn’t the long‑press work on some messages?
If the message was sent via SMS instead of RCS, the reaction feature is unavailable. In Google Messages, look for “Chat” in the text field. If you see “SMS”, the other person isn’t using RCS.
That message can’t receive a reaction overlay. Your only option is to reply with text or an emoji.
How do I react with a custom emoji in Google Messages?
After you long‑press and the six‑emoji row appears, tap the “+” icon at the end. That opens the full emoji keyboard. You can pick any standard emoji, including skin tone variants.
Custom sticker reactions are also available if you have them installed.
Do reactions notify the other person?
No. Reactions are silent in all major apps. The other person sees the emoji overlay on their screen but gets no separate notification or ping.
It’s a quiet acknowledgement, not a new message.
What happens when I react to a very old message?
The reaction still applies. It appears on the message in the chat history. The other person won’t be notified retroactively unless they happen to scroll back.
In group chats, the reaction will show up for everyone who opens that point in the conversation.
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