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How to Get Message Reactions Working on a Samsung Galaxy

Message reactions on Galaxy phones depend on your messaging app, RCS availability, and whether everyone in the conversation meets the compatibility requirements.
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To react to a text on a Galaxy phone, first check which messaging app you’re using, then confirm that Google Messages is the default and that the conversation supports RCS. Reactions depend on app, carrier and region availability, and the other participants’ setup; they are not guaranteed in every conversation.

Check your Galaxy’s Android version and messaging app

  1. Find your Android version at Settings > About phone > Software information. Menu labels may differ slightly by device or software version.

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  2. Open your messaging app and check whether it is Samsung Messages or Google Messages. The app name and icon can help distinguish them.

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Samsung recommends Google Messages on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or newer. Samsung says Samsung Messages is no longer supported on those devices starting July 2026; it remains available and functional on devices running Android 11 or lower. Samsung’s guidance also says Samsung Messages is unavailable for download on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or newer. Policies and availability can change, so check Samsung’s current discontinuation guidance for your device and software.

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Set Google Messages as the default SMS app

If you have Google Messages installed but another app is handling texts, change the default SMS app:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Tap Apps > Choose default apps > SMS app.

  3. Select Google Messages.

Samsung documents this route in its default messaging app instructions. Names and locations can vary across Galaxy software versions. Samsung says newer Galaxy phones come with Google Messages preinstalled; you can install another available messaging app if needed.

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Confirm RCS is available for the conversation

Samsung and Google describe text-message reactions as an RCS feature. In Google Messages, open its settings and check RCS chats to see whether RCS is enabled. Also check whether the individual conversation is using RCS; having RCS enabled on your phone alone does not establish that every chat can use it.

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For the cross-platform arrangement Samsung and Google describe, all chat members need RCS enabled. Android participants need Google Messages, while iPhone participants need iOS 18 or later. RCS availability also varies by region and carrier, according to Samsung. See the Samsung and Google announcement for the stated compatibility conditions.

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Use the reaction control on the text

When the conversation supports RCS, use the reaction control shown for the text message in your current messaging-app interface. The exact gesture and controls can vary by app version and Galaxy device, so there is no single tap-by-tap sequence that applies universally. Samsung and Google’s announcement describes reactions for text messages, not photos or videos.

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If reactions are missing

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