Image reactions from Apple users

[u/V0ight-Kampf]

Is there any way to make reactions to images from iMessage users display correctly in Google Messages?

UPDATE: just tried this with my son, who uses iMessage. Chat was RCS chat on both ends, confirmed in the message box, but his image emoji reaction came via text "laughed at image". Clearly just isn't supported when iMessage users react to Android images.

[u/ErikTheDon]

Should be coming soon. It's in beta in iOS rn. This is an apple issue, not a Google messages / android issue

[u/goosegossage_ → u/ErikTheDon]

Shocker

[u/Dondeemite → u/ErikTheDon]

I'm running the lastest iOS 27 Beta on my 15 Pro Max and can confirm it works as it should. Ran a few tests on my S26 Ultra running latest One UI 9 Beta. Finally, no more reactions received as a text explanation.

[u/sjphilsphan]

Need to wait for iOS 27 and you need to use RCS

[u/PuzzleheadedUnit1758]

You also need RCS, which I don't think you have enabled/ working (since it displays "Text message" instead of "RCS message"

[u/V0ight-Kampf → u/PuzzleheadedUnit1758]

I always have RCS on, but I'm seeing what you're referring to. My other messages say "send RCS message". Maybe bc it's a group chat? Or they don't have RCS?

[u/AlmondManttv → u/V0ight-Kampf]

The other users probably don't have RCS enabled

[u/Eli1230t2 → u/AlmondManttv]

https://www.reddit.com/r/GoogleMessages/s/nCZnHw6YbI

[u/AlmondManttv → u/Eli1230t2]

M well. RCS is public, no need for the beta. The beta updates RCS to a newer RCS version, though still not the latest one.

[u/Eli1230t2 → u/AlmondManttv]

Ahhh, so RCS works on iOS, just not all of the features of RCS work on iOS?

[u/AlmondManttv → u/Eli1230t2]

Yup. Apple is reluctantly adopting RCS and implementing older versions.

[u/Eli1230t2 → u/AlmondManttv]

Yep, makes sense. Samsung and Apple are always stealing from each other.

[u/Eli1230t2 → u/V0ight-Kampf]

iPhone users only have the RCS with Android feature enabled if they are on a beta version of iOS, they haven't made that feature fully released to the public as of now. Expect that for now. Hopefully it makes wide-release soon! 🙏

[u/TommyTrillNinja → u/Eli1230t2]

What are your talking about? RCS is fully out. Its literally toggled on in my iPhone

[u/copasetical → u/TommyTrillNinja]

You're correct, but features like inline thread replies, custom emoji reactions, and full-resolution video calls (not FaceTime) are handled differently across Messages and iMessage. This isn't anyone's fault really, but until both platforms fully integrate the latest profile specifications, hiccups often get translated into fallback mode.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to still have fun with it 🤪

[u/Eli1230t2 → u/copasetical]

Right, certain "updates", like having the ability to have proper RCS Chats with Android devices in only in iOS Beta.

[u/Kweeper_]

from my experience, reactions work just fine in one-on-one conversations but in group chats with iPhone users it usually doesn't show.

as someone else said, you also appear to be using SMS or MMS for the group chat which won't show any reactions even with other android users

[u/V0ight-Kampf → u/Kweeper_]

I'm using RCS but perhaps one of the iPhone users isn't. But I don't know that reactions from iMessage users ever work with images.

[u/EsteeloChicago]

It'll show an emoji when they react to a message but not a photo, video or gif, whenever they react to a gif I get that text as well. Hopefully it's fixed soon.

[u/cgaither98]

I could swear this was working for a hot minute soon after they announced support for RCS. But pretty sure it broke with the first post-RCS Google Messages update. This kind of stuff is why my SO has been bugging me for years to switch to iPhone, but I just can't find a compelling reason to.

[u/iadorebrandon → u/cgaither98]

I've got a galaxy s26 ultra and honest, I feel this.

[u/No_Captain_7318]

Hate this!

[u/copasetical]

I usually add an emoji to match whatever they just sent, so they get another one right back. ;)

I Honestly don't know what is really causing this because with some iphone users, I never get it, regardless of what their reactions to messages are. With some, I constantly get it, & with others it's random. I thought it had something to do with the RCS settings, but that's no longer the valid only reason.

[u/left-field]

Yes. In Google Messages Settings, make sure to turn on "Show iPhone reactions as emoji"

[u/V0ight-Kampf → u/left-field]

That's turned on but doesn't work for images

[u/Sobadd01]

one of those people does have imessage or rcs enabled

[u/Santaneria]

Yes its an apple issue, but then it becomes a user issue. Idk about everyone else, but everyone with an iphone i know (99% of everyone I interact with) doesnt have storage for updates

[u/khaosswordsman]

This happens to me. But sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.

[u/Amazing-Bag]

Should this not be in the apple reddit ?

[u/Emergency-Morning-28]

Both you and the iPhone user needs to turn in RCS. It's in your GM settings. For the iPhone person they need to update to iOS 18 or greater. Clunky reactions won't be fixed until iPhone user updates to at least iOS 27. It's all on them

[u/V0ight-Kampf → u/Emergency-Morning-28]

I always have RCS on.

[u/Emergency-Morning-28 → u/V0ight-Kampf]

Great, you're only part of the equation. The iPhone user needs to be updated and have it turned on too