Use reactions in Google Meet

Important:

• Reactions aren't available in meetings with client-side encryption. Learn about Meet client-side encryption (CSE).
• Apple device users may unintentionally prompt reactions due to an update. Learn more.

You can use reactions in Meet to interact with other participants or hosts during a meeting through emoji reactions.

Reactions:

• Give meaningful feedback to hosts and speakers.
• Allow participants to give quick responses to content and reduce awkward pauses or disruptions.
• Identify how attendees feel and show which moments in the meeting participants like best or least.

Use reactions in Workspace or enterprise accounts

• Reactions are on by default, unless disabled by the admin or host.
• Admins and hosts can turn reactions off.
  • When admins or hosts turn off reactions, the icon is still visible but not clickable. When you hover over the panel, a message confirms that reactions aren't available.
• Admin: Under 'Admin control settings', you can turn reactions on or off for all participants. Learn how to manage Meet settings for admins.
• Host: You can also turn reactions on or off for that specific call.

Turn off reactions for all participants on the call

1. At the bottom right, click Host controls .
2. On the side, under 'Meeting moderation', turn on Host management .
3. Turn off Send reactions .

Why am I seeing reactions when I didn't click anything?

If you're using a Mac, iPhone or iPad, your device may have Apple reactions turned on by default on iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma. When reactions are turned on, emoji can appear on a video call when the participant uses a qualifying hand gesture in front of the camera.

To turn this feature on or off:

1. During a video call or meeting, open the control centre of your device (Mac, iPhone, iPad).
   • On an iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right edge.
   • On a Mac, select the video icon in the Mac menu bar.
2. Open the Video effects menu Select Reactions.

Why am I getting a 'Turn on reactions' pop-up on my Mac device?

This is a known issue that affects macOS devices, and we are investigating a fix. To close the pop-up, click X.

Send reactions during a meeting

Important: A host can move a viewer into a contributor and back to a viewer while on the web version or when using Picture-in-picture mode on the computer.

When participants send a reaction, the emoji may appear in two places:

• As a temporary badge in the top-left corner of the sender's tile.
• They scroll up from the bottom-left side of the screen.

To send an emoji reaction:

1. Join a Meet video meeting.
2. At the bottom, click Send a reaction . The reaction panel will open.
3. Select the reaction that you want to send.
   • To select an emoji from a wider range:
     • If available, select More emojis . 

Tip: To close the reaction panel, click Send a reaction .

Learn about the extended emoji reaction set

Important: The extended emoji set for reactions is available for the following Google Workspace editions:

• Business Standard
• Business Plus
• Enterprise Standard
• Enterprise Plus

You can use many different emoji to react throughout a meeting.

• The full emoji set is on by default for all eligible editions, unless an administrator or host disables it.
• Administrators and hosts can turn off the full set of emoji reactions.
• When administrators or hosts turn off the full emoji set:
  • The extended emoji reactions icon disappears.
  • This disables the feature for everyone on the call.
• To turn off the full emoji set, the administrators use the Admin control settings.
• Hosts can also turn the full emoji set on or off for a specific meeting.

Turn the full emoji set on or off as a host

1. At the bottom right, select Host controls .
2. On the right, under 'Meeting moderation', turn on Host management.
3. Under 'Send reactions', tick or untick the box next to 'Use the full set of emoji reactions'.

Choose a skin tone for your reactions in Meet

You can pick the skin tone of your reactions before you send them.

1. Hover over a reaction to bring up the skin tone picker next to the panel.
2. Select your emoji's skin tone.

Tip: You can't change the skin tone of some emoji.

Choose a skin tone and gender for your extended emoji reactions in Meet

1. Open the extended emoji set.
2. For an emoji that comes in different variants, at the bottom right corner of the emoji, click on the glyph .
3. Select your emoji's:
   • Skin tone
   • Gender

Tip: You can't change skin tone or gender for some emoji.

Group similar reactions by multiple participants with emoji balloons

When multiple participants send the same reaction, these reactions are combined in an emoji balloon that wiggles and expands with each added emoji. When you reach the maximum emoji threshold, the emoji balloon bursts.

Change reactions in Meet settings

When you turn off reactions, you only change your personal settings. You can turn off your emoji reactions before or during a call.

In settings, you can adjust the ability to:

• Get reactions from others
• Set animations
• Set notification sounds

To change your reaction settings:

1. Click More options Settings Reactions .
2. Turn on or off the setting that you want to adjust .

Adjust announce reactions with a screen reader

Select how you want to hear reactions:

1. Click More options Settings Reactions .
2. Click the drop-down arrow.
3. Select one of these options:
   • Don't announce reactions
   • Play a sound for all reactions
   • Announce all reactions
   • Announce all reactions with senders

Tip: To quickly adjust the setting without going to the Meet settings, press Shift + R.