Smartphone users have made texting their preferred form of communication due to its convenience and versatility. Texting allows users to communicate asynchronously and keep a record of their chats. Google’s RCS messaging standard includes new features, such as message reactions, which enables Android users to like text messages.
To use this feature, your phone and carrier must support RCS messaging. While most modern Android phones come with RCS messaging enabled out of the box, some phone OEMs may require you to enable RCS messaging in the app settings.
First, Enable RCS Support on Your Phone
The RCS messaging standard has brought added features like read receipts, typing indicators, and message reactions, making texting more interactive. Follow these steps to enable RCS messaging on your Google Pixel or Samsung smartphone:
- Open the Messages app on your Pixel phone and tap your Profile icon in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Messages Settings and turn on the toggle next to Enable Chat Features.
- If you have a Samsung device, open the default Samsung Messages app, tap the three-dot menu, and select Settings.
- Choose Chat Settings and enable the toggle next to Chat Features.
How to Like a Text Message on Your Phone
To like a text message on your Android smartphone:
- Open a message conversation thread in your Messages app.
- Press and hold a message to see a pop-up showing several message reactions.
- Select the thumbs-up reaction to like the message.
Change Your Text Message Reaction on Android
Users can choose from hundreds of supported emojis to add variety to their message reactions. To change your message reaction:
- Tap the reaction you sent and choose from the suggested reactions or tap the emoji+ button to access all the emojis.
- Select the emoji you want to send as a reaction, and your original reaction will be replaced by the new emoji.
Make the Jump from Text Messages to Video Calls
RCS messaging has brought added features to the default text messaging experience, bringing Android closer in functionality to apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. In addition to message reactions, users can now send photos and videos and receive read receipts. If you enjoyed this guide, check out our guide on how to make a video call on Android to expand your communication options.
