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

At the bottom right, click Host controls .
On the side, under 'Meeting moderation', turn on Host management .
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:

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.
Open the Video effects menu select Reactions.

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.
At the bottom of the screen, where they scroll up.

To send an emoji reaction:

Join a Meet video meeting.
At the bottom, tap More controls .
- This will open a menu with reactions at the top.
Select the reaction that you want to send.

Tip: To close the reaction panel, tap on the screen away from the panel.

Choose a skin tone for your reactions in Meet

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

Tap More controls Settings .
Scroll down to 'Reactions' and tap the icon next to 'Skin tone'.
Select your emoji's skin tone.

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

Use announce reactions

To announce reactions when TalkBack or voice-over is turned on:

Join a Meet video meeting.
At the bottom, tap More controls .
- This will open a menu with reactions at the top.
In the reaction menu, tap Announce reactions .

Tip: Announce reactions is only available if TalkBack is turned on. Learn how to get started on Android with TalkBack.

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
Set emoji skin tone

To change your reaction settings:

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