Are WhatsApp reactions not working for you?
As of May 2022, WhatsApp launched emoji reactions.
Emoji reactions are available on the latest version of the app.
You can use it by tapping and holding a message and selecting the emoji that you want to react with.
Currently, there are 6 different emojis that you can react with.
This includes the thumbs up, heart, laughing emoji, and more.
However, many users reported that the WhatsApp reactions aren’t working or showing up.
In this guide, you’ll learn why can’t you react to messages on WhatsApp and how to fix reactions not working.
Why can’t I react to messages on WhatsApp?
You can’t react to messages on WhatsApp because you haven’t updated the app to the latest version.
It can also mean that the reactions feature has not been rolled out to you yet.
According to WhatsApp, emoji reactions are available on the latest version of the app.
Hence, if you haven’t updated WhatsApp yet, you need to do so now.
If you’re using an iOS device, you can update WhatsApp by navigating to the App Store > profile icon > WhatsApp > update.
If you’ve already updated WhatsApp to the latest version but you still don’t have emoji reactions, it means that the feature is not rolled out to you yet.
Emoji reactions are a new WhatsApp feature, so only some users have it.
If you don’t have the feature, you need to wait until it’s rolled out to you.
How to fix WhatsApp reactions not working
To fix WhatsApp reactions not working, you can try updating or reinstalling WhatsApp.
If that fails, it means that the feature is not rolled out to you yet.
If that’s the case, you need to wait until you have the feature.
Updating WhatsApp to the latest version is the first thing that you should try.
This is because emoji reactions are not available on the older versions of WhatsApp.
You can also reinstall WhatsApp to get the latest version of the app.
By deleting and reinstalling WhatsApp, the app’s cache will be cleared as well.
That said, not everyone can react to messages yet because emoji reactions are still being tested.
1. Update or reinstall WhatsApp
The first way to fix WhatsApp reactions not working is to update WhatsApp.
According to WhatsApp, emoji reactions are available on the latest version of the app.
Hence, if you’re using an older version of WhatsApp, you won’t be able to react to messages with emojis.
To update WhatsApp on an iOS device, navigate to the App Store > profile icon > WhatsApp > update.
After you’ve updated the app, open it and you should have emoji reactions.
Alternatively, you can delete and reinstall WhatsApp.
By doing this, WhatsApp will be updated to the latest version.
In addition, the app’s cache will be cleared, which can fix certain bugs and glitches.
If you’ve already updated WhatsApp to the latest version but you still can’t react to messages with emojis, it means that the feature is not rolled out to you yet.
2. Wait until the reactions update is rolled out to you
Emoji reactions are a new WhatsApp feature, so not everyone has it.
According to Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook post, reactions started rolling out on May 5, 2022.
Before that, the feature was only available in some countries for beta testing.
Hence, it’s not available worldwide yet.
If you don’t have the feature, it means that it’s not rolled out to you yet.
You need to wait for a few days to get the feature.
WhatsApp isn’t the only app that has issues with its features.
Other apps by Meta like Instagram also have issues with certain features.
For example, not everyone can update the messaging feature on Instagram.
This is because the update is restricted in certain countries like Europe.
Currently, Facebook didn’t mention any country where emoji reactions are restricted.
Conclusion
Reactions are fun and reduce overload in groups.
This is because they allow people to share their opinion without sending new messages.
Along with emoji reactions, the WhatsApp team is building for organizations, businesses, and other groups.
Additionally, you can send larger files on WhatsApp (up to 2GB).
Previously, you can only send files up to 100MB.
If you’re sending larger files, it’s highly recommended that you use Wi-Fi.
A counter will also be displayed when you upload or download a file to know how long it takes.
Further reading
How to Know Who Viewed Your WhatsApp Profile or Status
