The quickest way to change your reaction emoji
Facebook Messenger lets you pick which emoji appears when you react to a message. By default, it shows a thumbs up, but you can change it to any emoji you want — a heart, laughing face, surprised face, or hundreds of others. The process takes about 10 seconds and works the same way on phones and computers.
To change your reaction emoji, open any conversation in Messenger, then long-press (on phone) or right-click (on computer) any message. A menu will appear with emoji options. The first emoji in that row is your current default reaction. Tap or click a different emoji, and that becomes your new default for all future reactions in Messenger.
Once you change it, every time you react to a message going forward, that new emoji will be the one that appears. You can change it again anytime the same way — there is no limit to how many times you switch.
Key Takeaways
- Your default reaction emoji is the first one that appears when you long-press or right-click a message in Messenger.
- Changing your default reaction takes one action: pick a different emoji from the menu that appears.
- The change applies to all conversations in Messenger, not just one chat.
- You can switch your default reaction emoji as often as you want, and the change takes effect when ready.
Where to find the reaction menu on your phone
On iPhone or Android, open Messenger and find any message in any conversation. Press and hold your finger on that message for about one second — do not tap and release, keep your finger down. A menu will pop up with several emoji options in a row.
The emoji on the far left is your current default. If you want to change it, tap any other emoji in that row. That emoji is now your default reaction. The next time you react to any message, that emoji will appear instead of the thumbs up.
If you do not see the emoji menu, make sure you are pressing and holding the message itself, not the sender's name or the timestamp. Some phones require a slightly longer press — if nothing happens after one second, hold for two seconds instead.
Where to find the reaction menu on a computer
On a desktop or laptop, open Messenger in your web browser or the Messenger app for Windows or Mac. Find any message in any conversation and move your mouse over it. A row of small icons will appear to the right of the message — one of them looks like a smiley face with a plus sign next to it.
Click that smiley-plus icon. A menu of emoji will appear. The first emoji shown is your current default reaction. Click any other emoji to make it your new default. That emoji will now appear whenever you react to messages.
If you do not see the icons appear when you hover over a message, try moving your mouse directly over the message text itself rather than the edges. On some computers, the icons only show when your cursor is in the right spot.
What happens when you change your default reaction
Changing your default reaction emoji does not affect any reactions you have already made. If you reacted to five messages with a thumbs up yesterday, those thumbs up stay there. Only new reactions you make from that point forward will use your new emoji.
Your default reaction is personal to you — other people in the conversation do not see it change, and it does not change what emoji they see when they react to your messages. Each person in a chat can have their own default reaction emoji.
If you change your default reaction and then change your mind, you can switch it back the same way. There is no setting to reset it or undo a change — you straightforward pick a different emoji the next time you want to use something else.
Why your default reaction matters
Your default reaction is the emoji that appears when you quickly react to a message without opening the full emoji menu. In a fast conversation, you might react to several messages in a row without thinking about which emoji you are using — your default is what shows up in those moments.
If you rarely use your default emoji, you can change it to one you actually use. For example, if you find yourself reacting with a heart or a laughing face most of the time, set one of those as your default so you do not have to open the menu every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different default reactions in different conversations?
No. Your default reaction emoji is the same across all conversations in Messenger. If you change it, it changes everywhere. However, you can still pick any emoji you want when you react — you only have to use your default if you want to.
What if I want to react with an emoji that is not in the quick menu?
Long-press or right-click the message as usual, but instead of picking from the row shown, look for a smiley face icon or a plus sign at the end of the emoji row. Tap or click that to open the full emoji keyboard, where you can search for or scroll through hundreds of emoji options.
Does changing my reaction emoji change what other people see?
No. When you react to someone else's message, they see the emoji you chose. When they react to your message, you see the emoji they chose. Your default reaction setting only affects which emoji appears when you react — it does not change what anyone else sees.
Can I remove my default reaction emoji entirely?
No. Messenger always requires a default reaction emoji. You can change it to any emoji you want, but you cannot delete it or leave the slot empty. If you want to use different emoji for different reactions, just pick whichever one you use most often as your default.