WhatsApp may be the most popular messaging app, but Telegram fares much better when it comes to the variety of platforms it supports. Telegram has apps for Windows, MacOS, and Linux, as well as Android and iOS. And while Messages with RCS Chat has made its way to everything from flagships and the best budget phones, Telegram is a solid alternative for people who may own older phones that don’t support RCS Chat.
Telegram comes packed with a range of nifty features, from a built-in translator to the ability to add emoji reactions in personal and group chats. Emoji reactions give you an additional, non-verbal way of interacting with messages when typing a response isn’t necessary. Whether in personal or group chats, emoji reactions come in handy often, and here’s all you need to know about using reactions in Telegram for Android.
How to react to personal Telegram messages
There are two ways to react to the messages you receive in one-to-one chats.
Use the default emoji
Double-tap the message to react with your default emoji. It’s the thumbs-up emoji if you’re using reactions for the first time, but you can customize your default emoji.
You can also double-tap the message to remove your emoji reaction quickly.
Select a different emoji
Telegram lets you react with emojis other than your default one for one-off use. This is how it’s done:
- Single-tap the message to reveal the Options menu.
- Choose one of the seven common emojis to react with.
- Tap the arrow to reveal a larger emoji pool. Scroll down to find multiple paid emoji collections as part of Telegram Premium.
- Select the emoji of your choice to add it as a reaction.
Add animation to emojis
A little animation appears when you react to a message to make your chats a bit more fun, and each of those animations is different for all emoji. If you want to give a strong reaction to a message, tap and hold an emoji to make the animation much more striking for both the sender and the receiver.
You can’t double-tap to remove your emoji reaction when you use this method. Instead, use the same steps to find that emoji in its collection and tap it to undo the reaction.
How to select your default reaction emoji in Telegram
Default emoji allows you to react quickly to a message using the emoji you most often use. It could be a thumbs-up, heart, or anything else. This is where you’ll find the option:
- Tap the hamburger menu.
- From the app menu, go to Settings.
- Tap the option labeled Stickers and Emoji.
- Tap Quick Reaction.
- In the emoji list, choose the one you want to set as your default.
And that’s it. From now on, when you double-tap a message, your new default emoji is used for the reaction.
How to use reactions in Telegram groups?
Reactions work the same way in Telegram groups as in personal chats for the members. You can double-tap to use your default emoji, or you can choose any other emoji of your choice. However, Telegram group admins have additional control over how other participants can use emoji reactions in their group.
This is where you’ll find the option as an admin:
- Open the group chat you administer and tap the group name at the top.
- Tap the pencil icon to enter the Edit menu.
- Go to Reactions.
- Choose one of the three options:
- All reactions: Group members can use any emoji to react to group messages without restrictions.
- Some reactions: Participants can only react by using selected emojis. You can safelist the emoji using the toggle button against each.
- No reactions: Turns off emoji reactions for everyone.
- And that’s it.
Going premium with your messaging app
While the idea of paying for your messaging app isn’t new, Telegram has been doubling down on its paid tier that keeps its servers running and gets its users many exclusive perks. Telegram Premium tempts you with increased usage limits across the board, premium stickers, and some accessibility features like voice-to-text conversion. But you’ll have to figure out if paying a monthly fee for these extra benefits is worth it or if you’re fine with the free tier of Telegram.
