How to get iMessage like emoji reactions bar on Android

It’s surprising but it seems you can get the message-like emoji reactions bar on your Android device if you have the right tools and have enabled the right features. But importantly, you have luck on your side.

It seems Google has been pilot-testing emoji reactions, like the ones you find in iMessage, on its messaging app under RCS (Rich Communication Service) features. While multiple reports indicated Google will roll out the feature, there hasn’t been any indication as to when.

Are iMessage-like reactions available on Android?

Well, kind of. There have been multiple reports on Reddit where a few users have got the feature on their phones. They confirmed seeing “reactions” on their RCS conversations by sharing screenshots.

The users confirmed that they could react to a message, which includes thumbs-up, heart eyes, laughing, shocked, sad, angry, and thumbs down emojis. A long press is all you need to activate the Emoji reaction bar that gives a choice of seven emojis.

How to get emoji reaction bar on Android?

Although not available for all the users, you may get the emoji reaction bar on your Android with this trick. More than several users in the US on Reddit reported getting the feature today.

First off, install the Google Messages beta app. Join the beta program here and then click on on ‘BECOME A TESTER’ button.

Now, click or tap on the ‘download it on Google Play’ link to go to the Play Store listing of the Message Beta app.

Download the Google Messages beta app.

An alternate way to install the Google Messages beta app is to download the APK from here and install it yourself (use this guide).

Once you have got the Google Messages beta app installed, open it, and make it your default messaging app. Make sure you have enabled the Chat feature. If you are in luck, the feature might be enabled for you now. Open any thread in the Google Messages beta app, and then press and hold on any message.

get emoji reaction bar Android

If you still didn’t get the emoji reaction bar, you may restart your device once as this might help. Also, clearing the cache of the Messages beta app may also help, but none of these tricks guarantee success.

What’s the status right now?

As mentioned earlier more people are reporting having reactions being available on all of their RCS conversations. This is a clear case of Google rolling out a pilot test on more and more devices.

With that being said, Google is working hard on spreading the RCS chat across even more devices in order to compete with rival messaging apps. This could signal a bigger and wider rollout of the reactions option across more Android devices and honestly, it is about time we got our due.

You can expect the feature to become available for the users of the stable version of Google Messages app too pretty soon, although we can’t give you an expected release date for this.

How will RCS help?

RCS is a messaging service that will make text communication feel more premium and feature-rich like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, and more. This will help bring texting standards up to date with modern levels.

We are all sick and tired of the prehistoric SMS service that doesn’t reward users the benefit of ‘Read receipts’, GIFs and animated stickers, group messaging, and more that is associated with the above said messaging apps.

Also, SMSes are contingent on the phone picking up a signal and do not allow messages beyond 160 characters while RCS has no such limit and can function as long as you are within a WiFi range.

Of course, you will have to be in a geographical location that will allow you to access the app and be paired with particular tele providers.