Google Brings Emoji Reactions to All Workspace Users on Gmail
January 9, 2026
Google is expanding its emoji reaction feature for Gmail, making it accessible to all Workspace users starting February 9th. Originally introduced as an opt-in feature last April, emoji reactions allow users to respond quickly to emails using simple emoji icons, enhancing communication without cluttering inboxes.
The reactions are accessed via a subtle smiley face icon next to the Forward button. Clicking this icon reveals a variety of emoji options, such as thumbs-up, heart, or clapping, which can replace traditional written responses. When a recipient uses emoji reactions, they appear at the bottom of the email thread for Gmail users, and in the inbox view as updates to the conversation.
Recipients using other email providers or who have disabled emoji reactions will receive a notification stating that a reaction was made via Gmail. Additionally, when multiple users react to an email, Gmail displays the total number of reactions and highlights which emoji was used. Users can hover over reactions to see who responded with each emoji.
It’s worth noting that emoji reactions have some limitations. They aren’t available for emails sent to group email addresses, emails with more than 20 recipients, or if you've already sent more than 20 reactions to a specific message—likely to prevent spammy behaviors.
Though some users may find emoji reactions a quick and convenient way to acknowledge emails, others might be hesitant about replacing traditional responses with emojis. For now, it remains to be seen how widely this feature will be adopted in everyday communication.
Image: Google
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