Emily Bennett
How To Respond to a Message on Discord
Figured out how to throw some emoji reactions on messages, and suddenly your replies feel way more expressive? Good. Sometimes reacting to messages isn’t as straightforward as clicking a button — especially if permissions get weird or you’re trying to do it on mobile and it doesn’t work. Plus, Discord keeps adding new features or changing menus, so it’s kinda frustrating. This guide covers the essentials and a few tips to get reactions working smoothly, whether you’re on desktop or mobile. By the end, you’ll be able to add reactions effortlessly, see who’s reacted, and even troubleshoot if stuff isn’t working right.
How to React to a Message on Discord
Reacting on Desktop: The typical way to do it
First, it helps to know what’s happening behind the scenes. When you hover over a message, Discord pops up an emoji icon. Clicking that opens a small emoji picker. If you’re quick, you’ll find your favorite emoji, but if not, you can dig into more options or search for emojis by name. Just be aware — some servers disable reactions on individual channels, or your permissions might be limited, so it’s worth checking those first.
- Hover over the message you want to react to. (If you’re on mobile, long-press instead.)
- Click the tiny emoji icon that appears on the right side of the message.
- Pick one from these quick options or click the smiley icon for a full emoji list. You can also use the search bar at the top of the emoji panel to find a specific emoji.
- Click on your chosen emoji, and voilà — reaction added.
Sometimes, the emoji panel can be laggy or not pop up at all, especially on slower machines or with outdated apps. If that’s the case, try refreshing Discord or restarting it. Also, make sure you’re logged in with a role that has permission to react.
Reacting on Mobile Devices
On mobile, it’s similar but a little more tactile. Long-press on the message, and a reaction menu pops up. From there, you can tap on the most-used emojis, or hit the smiley icon for a full list. Using the search bar is handy if you’re after a specific emoji. Keep in mind—sometimes long-pressing takes a second to register, or the reaction menu might not pop up if your permissions are limited.
- Long-press the message until reactions menu appears.
- Select an emoji from the quick list or tap the smiley icon for more choices.
- Tap your selection to add it to the message.
Sometimes on mobile, reactions might glitch or not show up immediately. Closing the app and opening it again usually helps. Or, check if you’ve got the latest version of Discord installed — because of course, mobile apps have their own quirks.
Adding Multiple Reactions & Removing Your Likes
Yes, lots of reactions are allowed per message. Just repeat the process — click the emoji icon again and pick another one. Each reaction sticks separately, so folks can see which emojis you’re using. If you change your mind, removing reactions is just as easy:
- Hover (or long-press) the message with your reaction.
- Click or tap on your emoji reaction.
- It will disappear, clearing your reaction from that message. Easy.
Be aware, some servers restrict who can add or remove reactions, especially for moderation or spam control.
Seeing Who’s Reacted To a Message
If you’re curious about who’s into the message, just hover or long-press the message, then click or tap on the small list of emojis underneath. A pop-up will show a list — and yeah, it’s kinda fun seeing which friends or bots have bombed the reaction buttons. Sometimes, if reactions are disabled, this won’t work, so double-check permissions.
Managing Reactions Permissions (for Server Admins)
If you’re managing a server, reactions can be toggled pretty easily:
- Go to Server Settings — click on the server name at the top left of Discord, then select Guild Settings or Server Settings.
- Navigate to Roles and pick the role you want to tweak.
- Scroll down to find Add Reactions permission and toggle it on or off. Remember, permission inheritance can get messy, so check if other roles override this setting.
Often, reactions are disabled because servers want to control how people respond or just keep chat clean. Make sure to test your permissions after changing — because sometimes permissions don’t update immediately or roles override each other.
Troubleshooting: Why Reacting Might Not Work
Been trying to react, but nothing happens? Typical causes:
- You don’t have permission to react in that channel or server. Check with the mod or admin if you’re not sure.
- The message was deleted or locked, so reactions can’t be added anymore.
- Your Discord app might be outdated. Go to your app store or Discord’s website to ensure you’re running the latest version.
- In some cases, a restart of the app fixes temporary glitches. On mobile, force-close and reopen. On desktop, try restarting Discord entirely.
And yeah, sometimes it’s just a quirk, so patience and a quick restart can solve weird issues.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
- If you’re using custom emojis (that your server has), you can react with those if permissions are enabled.
- Emojis shortcuts — typing `:` followed by emoji name — *might* work on some setups, but mostly you’ll want to select from the emoji list.
- Be aware of server rules—some communities restrict reactions or specific emojis, so respect those boundaries.
Wrap-up
Reactions are a simple way to keep conversations lively and expressive. Getting them to work isn’t too complicated once permissions are sorted out, and understanding how different platforms handle reactions can save a lot of frustration. On some setups, glitches happen — a restart or update often clears it up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use custom emojis for reactions?
Yes, if your server has custom emojis, you can select them from the emoji list when reacting.
What if I can’t see the reaction options?
Make sure you have permission to add reactions and that your Discord app is fully up to date. Sometimes, permissions get messed up, or the message is in a channel where reactions are disabled.
Can I disable reactions for my messages?
Most servers allow admins to block reactions in specific channels or for certain roles. Check the permissions under Server Settings > Roles > Permissions.
Summary
- Hover or long-press messages to find reactions options.
- Use the emoji panel or select custom emojis if available.
- Permissions influence whether you can add or remove reactions.
- If things get glitchy, restart Discord and check for updates.
End note
Hopefully, these tips get reactions working smoothly for anyone struggling. Of course, Discord’s interface can be a little finicky, but with some patience, it’s mostly straightforward. Just remember to check your permissions first — that’s usually the main culprit. Good luck emoji-reacting!