How to Like a Message on Instagram
By Kushagra Kumar, founder of Shre. Updated 1 July 2026.
Liking a message is one of the quickest ways to reply in an Instagram chat. A small heart appears on the message to show you have seen it and you approve, without typing a word. It is the same idea as reacting to a text.
This guide covers how to like a message with a double tap, how to pick a different reaction from the emoji picker, how to change or remove a reaction, and what that little heart actually means to the other person.
To like a message on Instagram, open the chat and double tap the message. A small heart appears on it. To use a different reaction, hold the message and pick an emoji from the reaction bar. Tap the reaction again to remove it.
How to like a message with a double tap
The fastest way to like a message is the double tap. Open the conversation in your Direct inbox, find the message you want to react to, and quickly tap it twice. A small heart appears in the corner of the message bubble.
This works on messages sent by the other person and on your own. The person you are chatting with sees the heart on that specific message, and in most versions they also get a notification that you reacted.
- Double tap works on text, photos, Reels shared to chat, and replies.
- The heart sits on the exact message you tapped, so it is clear what you liked.
- It is a quiet way to acknowledge a message without a full reply.
Use the reaction picker for other emoji
The heart is the default, but you are not limited to it. To choose a different reaction, press and hold the message instead of double tapping. A small bar of emoji appears above it, usually with a heart, a laughing face, a surprised face, a sad face, an angry face, and a thumbs up.
Tap the emoji you want and it attaches to the message. In many versions you can also tap a plus or more icon on that bar to open the full emoji keyboard and pick any reaction you like. Steps may vary by app version.
- Hold the message to open the reaction bar.
- Tap any emoji to react, or open the full picker for more choices.
- Reactions work in both one to one and group chats.
Change or remove a reaction
Changed your mind? Reactions are easy to swap or take back. To remove a reaction, hold the message again and tap the same emoji you used. It disappears from the message. To change it, hold the message and pick a different emoji instead.
You can only add one reaction per message at a time from your side, so choosing a new one replaces the old one. The other person's reaction to the same message stays separate from yours, so a thread can show a reaction from each of you.
What the heart and reactions mean
A reaction is a lightweight signal. A heart usually means agreement, thanks, or simple acknowledgement, while a laughing or thumbs up reaction carries its own everyday meaning, just like reacting to a text message. There is no hidden status beyond that.
Reacting is handy when a full reply is not needed, but it does not start a conversation. If you run a business account and want every message to get a real answer, a reaction is not enough on its own.
- Use reactions to acknowledge messages quickly and keep chats friendly.
- For customer messages, pair reactions with a real reply so nothing is missed.
- Set up an Instagram auto reply so every new chat gets an instant response.
Liking a comment works differently from liking a message. For that, see how to like a comment on Instagram.
Frequently asked questions
How do I like a message on Instagram?
Open the chat and double tap the message. A small heart appears on it to show you reacted. This works on both your messages and the other person's.
Can I react with an emoji other than the heart?
Yes. Press and hold the message to open the reaction bar, then tap any emoji. Many versions also let you open the full emoji picker for more options.
How do I remove a reaction from a message?
Hold the message again and tap the same reaction you added. It disappears. To change it, pick a different emoji instead, which replaces the first one.
Does the other person know I liked their message?
The reaction shows on the message so they can see it, and in most versions they also receive a notification that you reacted.
Related
Source and reference: Instagram Platform, Meta for Developers. Shre sends messages through the official Instagram Graph API within Instagram's rules.