Only a few people were able to send message reactions after installing specific updates of WhatsApp beta for Android (WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.8.3 and WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.9.4) and WhatsApp beta for iOS (WhatsApp beta for iOS 22.9.0.71) in recent weeks. This is most likely because WhatsApp wanted to make sure the functionality was running properly and without any complications.
Mark Zuckerberg said on Facebook a few hours ago that message reactions would be available today, and it is: starting today, WhatsApp is rolling out the feature to everyone on Android, iOS, and desktop!
Message replies now include six emojis: Like, Love, Laugh, Surprised, Sad, and Thanks.
Reactions are accessible for chats and groups, and you can react to a message by selecting one emoji by tapping and holding a message bubble. When you tap the reaction symbol on any incoming or departing message, a reaction info section appears, listing all users who reacted to the message with the emoji they used.
You’ll get a push notification whenever someone replies to one of your messages; this is enabled by default, but you can turn it off by going to your WhatsApp notification settings.
Today, more people are getting access to the feature, but it will take up to 7 days for everyone to get access. If you don’t have a beta version, don’t panic; the feature is compatible with stable builds as well. As a result, be sure to use an updated version of WhatsApp by going to the App Store, TestFlight, or Play Store to increase your chances of receiving the feature today!
Note that this is simply the initial version of message reactions; a second version is being developed that will allow users to respond to messages with any emoji, and it will be released in a future update along with additional improvements.
