How to like a message in an Instagram DM
By Kushagra Kumar, founder of Shre. Updated 1 July 2026.
Instagram lets you quickly react to a message in a DM with a heart or an emoji, which is handy when you want to acknowledge something without typing.
This guide shows how to like and react to DM messages step by step.
To like a message in an Instagram DM, double tap the message to add a heart, or press and hold the message and choose an emoji reaction. The sender sees the reaction attached to that message.
Double tap to like a message
The fastest way to like a message is a double tap. Open the conversation, find the message, and quickly tap it twice. A small heart appears on that message. This is the DM version of liking a post, and it is a quick way to say you saw and appreciated something without sending a reply.
React with other emojis
You are not limited to a heart. Press and hold the message and a row of emoji reactions appears.
- Press and hold the message you want to react to
- Choose from the quick emoji row that appears
- Tap the plus or more option to pick any emoji
The reaction sits on the message so the other person can see how you responded.
Remove or change a reaction
Changed your mind? Tap the reaction on the message, or press and hold again, and you can remove it or choose a different emoji. Reactions are easy to undo, so there is no harm in trying one. The other person sees the updated reaction the next time they view the chat.
When to react instead of reply
Reactions are a light touch. They work well to acknowledge a message, agree, or show appreciation without starting a longer exchange. For anything that needs an actual answer, a typed reply is clearer. Using reactions for the small stuff keeps your conversations quick and friendly.
Handling reactions at scale
If you run a busy account, reacting to and replying to every message by hand is a lot. Shre is an Instagram AutoDM platform that sends a DM automatically when someone comments a keyword on your posts or Reels, so routine responses happen instantly while you focus on the conversations that need a personal touch. It runs on Instagram's official Graph API. See auto reply.
Frequently asked questions
How do I like a message in an Instagram DM?
Double tap the message to add a heart, or press and hold it and pick an emoji reaction. The reaction appears attached to that message for the other person to see.
Can I use emojis other than a heart to react?
Yes. Press and hold the message to see a row of quick emojis, and tap the more option to choose any emoji you want.
Does the other person know I liked their message?
Yes. The reaction appears on the message in the chat, so the sender can see that you liked or reacted to it.
How do I remove a reaction from a DM?
Tap the reaction on the message or press and hold it again, then remove it or choose a different emoji. Reactions can be changed or undone anytime.
Related
Source and reference: Instagram Platform, Meta for Developers. Shre sends messages through the official Instagram Graph API within Instagram's rules.