On a Samsung Galaxy, message reactions depend on the app you use and whether the conversation is RCS or SMS/MMS. In Google Messages, touch and hold a message, then choose an emoji. That menu does not mean every reaction works for every message: Google documents different limits for SMS/MMS, while RCS availability depends on your device, carrier, and whether everyone in the conversation has RCS enabled.
How to react to a message in Google Messages
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Open the conversation in Google Messages.
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Touch and hold the message you want to react to.
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Choose an emoji from the reaction row.
To change your reaction, touch and hold the message and choose another emoji. To remove your reaction, touch and hold it again and tap the highlighted reaction. In a group chat, tap the cluster of reactions to see who added them. Google’s instructions are at Use expressive features in Google Messages.
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Google Messages may show quick actions when you press and hold different kinds of content, including images, videos, links, files, locations, and contact cards. Seeing the menu is not proof that a reaction is supported in the same way for that content or that it will work across messaging protocols. In particular, Google’s SMS/MMS guidance limits reactions to text messages, not photos or videos received through MMS.
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Google Messages
Samsung’s current guidance points Galaxy users toward Google Messages. Samsung India says Samsung Messages is not preinstalled on Galaxy S25 smartphones and identifies Google Messages as an option; it also notes that Samsung Messages availability varies by phone model and software version. See Samsung’s guide to the Messages app on Galaxy devices.
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Samsung Messages
Samsung’s US support page says Samsung Messages will be discontinued on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or newer starting July 6, 2026, and directs users to switch to Google Messages. This is a dated transition statement with a specific software scope—not proof that every Samsung Messages installation on every older Galaxy device disappeared at once. If you still use Samsung Messages, check the guidance for your region, device, and software version. The US notice is on Samsung’s group-text messaging support page.
RCS and SMS/MMS reactions are not the same
| Conversation type | What affects reactions | Important limits |
|---|---|---|
| RCS | Device and carrier support, RCS setup, and RCS being enabled for everyone in the conversation | If a participant does not have RCS enabled, the conversation may use SMS/MMS instead, depending on settings and conditions. |
| SMS/MMS | Google’s listed country availability and the type of message content | Google lists the feature for the United States, France, Canada, and Australia, and says SMS/MMS reactions apply to text—not photos or videos received through MMS. |
RCS, or Rich Communication Services, supports richer messaging features such as reactions, read receipts, typing indicators, and high-resolution media. It can use Wi-Fi or mobile data, but availability depends on the device and carrier. Google says all participants must have RCS enabled for RCS chat features to be used. Its current explanations are in Learn about RCS messaging and the RCS chats FAQ.
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The SMS/MMS country and content limits above are the ones Google states on its expressive-features help page; check that page for current availability because it may change. Protocol behavior and app support can also vary by software, carrier, and region.
Why can’t I react to a message on my Samsung Galaxy?
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Confirm which app you opened. Check whether the conversation is in Google Messages or Samsung Messages. The available controls and current support can differ.
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Try the gesture in Google Messages. Touch and hold the message. If no reaction row appears, check that the app is up to date and confirm which app is set up for the conversation.
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Check whether the chat is RCS. In Google Messages, open the app settings and look for RCS chats to check its status. Google’s RCS setup and status guidance explains how to check availability. If the conversation is not using RCS, reaction behavior may follow SMS/MMS rules instead.
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For SMS/MMS, check country and content. Google lists SMS/MMS reactions in the United States, France, Canada, and Australia, and documents them for text rather than photos or videos received through MMS.
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Check the other participants’ RCS status. RCS chat features require all participants to have RCS enabled; otherwise the exchange may fall back to SMS/MMS depending on settings and conditions.
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Check device, carrier, and software support. Google and Samsung qualify availability by device, software, and carrier. Google’s help page documents the feature on Samsung Galaxy S20+ devices; that does not establish a universal minimum model for every reaction type, market, or app version.
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If you use Samsung Messages, check Samsung’s transition guidance. Its US notice covers Galaxy devices running Android 12 or newer starting July 6, 2026. Availability can differ for older devices and other markets.
What Samsung and Google say about Galaxy reactions
Samsung’s September 8, 2026 announcement says Galaxy users can use emoji and text reactions with RCS, while qualifying availability on compatible devices and software and through supported carriers. Read the Samsung announcement alongside Google’s app-specific instructions: neither establishes that every Galaxy, carrier, region, conversation, and message type supports identical reactions.
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