While using iMessage in the Messages app on your iPhone, you can use the Message Reaction feature to better express yourself with your contacts. While this makes group chats or collaborating on projects with your contacts fun, it can force you to type text if the reactions don’t work.
Some users report that they cannot use the message reaction feature in the Messages app. So if you are one of them too, here are the best fixes for message reactions not working for iMessage on iPhone.
1. Enable autoplay message effects
The message reactions you notice while using iMessage is one of the many message effects on your iPhone. In order for the Message Reactions feature to work properly, you need to verify that the Autoplay Message Effects option is enabled.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down to tap Accessibility.
Step 3: Tap on Motion.
Step 4: Turn on the switch next to “Autoplay Message Effects”.
Step 5: Close Settings and open Messages app to check if the problem is solved.
2. Disable 3D Touch
3D Touch was announced with the launch of the iPhone 6S. This feature allowed users to access some basic options and settings from different apps. While using Message Reactions, you are actually using 3D Touch in the Messages app. With the introduction of the newer iPhone models, 3D Touch has been renamed to Haptic Touch.
It is recommended to disable 3D touch and haptic touch functionality to resolve this issue. Here’s how you can try.
For iPhones with 3D Touch
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down to tap Accessibility.
Step 3: Tap Touch.
Step 4: Tap on “3D & Haptic Touch”.
Step 5: Turn off the switch next to 3D Touch to disable the feature.
Step 6: Scroll down and select Slow in the Touch Duration section.
Step 7: Close the Settings app and open Messages to check if the issue is resolved.
For iPhones with haptic touch
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down to tap Accessibility.
Step 3: Tap Touch.
Step 4: Tap on Haptic Touch.
Step 5: Choose Slow in the Touch Duration section.
Step 6: Close the Settings app and open the Messages app to check if the issue is resolved.
3. Force quit and restart the Messages app
If the problem persists, you can force quit and restart the Messages app. This solution mostly works when an app has stopped working on your iPhone.
Step 1: On your iPhone’s home screen, swipe up and hold to reveal the background app windows.
Step 2: Swipe right and look for Messages app. Then tap on it to select the app card and swipe up to remove it.
Step 3: Restart the Messages app and check if the problem is solved.
4. Uncheck Reduce Motion
Your iPhone has some motion effects to create depth perception on your home screen and when using apps like Messages. But sometimes the bubble or screen effects don’t work properly because of this feature. So, you can try disabling motion effects if the message reactions in iMessage still don’t work.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
Step 3: Tap on Motion.
Step 4: Turn off the switch next to Reduce Motion.
Step 5: Close the Settings app and open the Messages app to check if the issue is resolved.
5. Re-enable iMessage service
You can disable and re-enable iMessage on your iPhone if the problem persists. This will re-download all your iMessage data to your iPhone.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2 Scroll down to tap Messages.
Step 3: Turn off the switch next to iMessage to disable the service.
Step 4: Wait a few seconds. Then toggle the switch again to enable iMessage.
Step 5: After all your messages are downloaded, check if the problem is solved.
6. Update the Messages app
The last resort is to update the version of the Messages app on your iPhone. To do this, you need to update the iOS version if you have delayed installing a major update.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Scroll down to tap General.
Step 3: Tap Software update.
Step 4: If an update is available, download and install it.
Step 5: When your iPhone installs and restarts, restart the Messages app and check if the problem is solved.
Respond to iMessages
These solutions will help you get back to responding to your iMessages sent by your contacts. But sometimes you may not be able to send an iMessage on your iPhone. If you ever encountered this problem, you can refer to our post that suggests the best fixes for iMessage not sending to a contact on iPhone.
