To like a message on iPhone, open the conversation in Messages, double-tap or touch and hold the message bubble, then choose the thumbs-up Tapback. A reaction appears attached to that specific message. To remove your reaction, open its Tapback choices again and select the same highlighted reaction.
A Tapback is useful for acknowledging a plan or answering a simple question without sending another text bubble. It reacts to one message rather than marking the whole conversation as liked or read.
Before you react
Find the exact message you want to acknowledge. In a busy group conversation, check its sender and wording before choosing a reaction. Everyone in that conversation can see the reaction; it is not a private response to the sender.
The available choices depend on your iOS version. Older versions provide six familiar reactions: heart, thumbs up, thumbs down, laughter, exclamation marks, and a question mark. iOS 18 and later add broader emoji and sticker choices. Current labels and the picker arrangement can differ from older screenshots.
Apple's Tapback guide describes the current interaction and available reactions. You do not need to turn on a separate accessibility feature to use them.
Add a thumbs-up or another Tapback
- Open Messages on your iPhone.
- Open the conversation containing the message.
- Double-tap the message bubble, or touch and hold it until the reaction controls appear.
- Tap thumbs up to like the message, or choose another reaction.
- Check that the reaction appears beside the intended bubble.
On versions with the expanded picker, swipe through suggested reactions or use the emoji control to see more choices. Pick the reaction from that control rather than entering an emoji into the text field at the bottom of the conversation.
You can react to an earlier message; it does not have to be the most recent text. If a bubble contains a link or picture, aim for the message bubble itself. A press on an interactive preview may offer actions for the link or image instead.
In a group, several people can react to the same message. Tap the reactions associated with the bubble to inspect the participants where that view is available. Similar icons from different people are separate reactions.
Change or remove your reaction
You can have one Tapback on a particular message at a time. Choosing a different reaction changes your own Tapback rather than adding a second independent one.
- Find the bubble that has your reaction.
- Double-tap or touch and hold that bubble to reopen the Tapback controls.
- Choose a different reaction to replace yours, or tap the same highlighted reaction to remove it.
- Check the bubble again to confirm the result.
Removing your reaction does not remove another person's reaction. You also cannot assume a removal erases a notification the recipient has already seen. Treat reactions as visible communication and choose them with the same care as a short reply.
Tapbacks, emoji messages, and stickers
| What you want | Which feature to use |
|---|---|
| Acknowledge a particular bubble | A Tapback attached to that message. |
| Send an emoji as a new message | Enter the emoji in the compose field and send it. |
| Decorate a bubble with a movable sticker | Use the sticker drawer and attach a sticker. |
| Send the message to someone else | Use the message forwarding controls. |
If you prefer a separate emoji reply, see how to use emoji in an iPhone message. If the intended recipient is outside the conversation, forwarding the message shares its content; a Tapback does not do that.
Current Messages also supports stickers through plus > Stickers. You can drag a sticker onto a bubble; supported versions can offer an Attach Sticker action when you hold the message. This differs from selecting a sticker as a Tapback: a placed sticker can be positioned over content.
If a sticker covers text, double-tap the bubble to inspect the message. The Sticker Details controls manage placed stickers, but deletion behavior across devices depends on their software versions. Apple's sticker instructions explain those details. Use a simple thumbs-up when you only need to acknowledge a message.
What happens in green-bubble conversations?
Blue bubbles identify iMessage. Green bubbles can represent RCS or SMS/MMS, so green alone does not tell you exactly how a reaction will appear on the other phone.
Reaction display depends on the messaging service, carrier support, and the recipient's application and software. A recipient may see a recognizable attached reaction or a separate representation of it. Do not assume every Android phone, carrier, and messaging client handles every emoji or sticker identically.
If the meaning matters, send a short written reply such as “Yes, I'll be there” rather than relying on an unfamiliar reaction to carry the full answer. This is especially helpful when confirming a time, amount, or other detail.
Troubleshooting missing or incorrect reactions
I see Copy or More, but not the reaction I want
Check the top of the message action menu and the available picker controls. On older iOS releases, additional emoji and sticker reactions may not be available. Check your version in Settings > General > About, and use a standard reaction or a normal text reply if necessary.
The reaction is on the wrong message
Remove it from that bubble using the highlighted reaction, then react to the correct message. In a crowded thread, inspect the actual bubble's wording and sender before confirming.
I sent an emoji, but it is a new bubble
You used the compose field. To attach a reaction, interact with the existing message and select a Tapback. A standalone emoji message and an attached Tapback are different outputs.
Does reacting keep the conversation unread?
Reacting does not act as an unread reminder. If you need to return to the conversation later, use mark as unread. That reminder is separate from whether someone has already seen your reply or reaction.
Why did someone receive a notification?
Notification behavior depends on the recipient's settings and the conversation. A Tapback is not guaranteed to be silent. Removing or changing it later should not be treated as a way to retract something already seen.
After reacting, the practical check is simple: the chosen icon should appear attached to the intended message. If the recipient needs more detail than that icon conveys, follow it with a clear text reply. Our complete guide to text messaging on iPhone covers replies, group texts, and more.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.