Emoji reactions not available on Outlook desktop app.

Question

A couple of users on my tenant are not seeing the emoji reactions feature in their Outlook Classic.

Interestingly, some users on the same version do have the feature available. The affected users are receiving notifications when others react to their emails with emojis, but they don't have the option to react themselves. They are running the latest version of Microsoft 365 (build 2601) on the Current Channel.

All users have a Microsoft 365 Business Premium license with Exchange assigned, and reactions are only being attempted internally.

I've also confirmed there are no transport rules in place that would disable emoji reactions, since other users in the same environment can use the feature without issue.

Answer 1

Hi it-cloudadmin-58975821

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. 

First, I apologize for the delay in response.

Can you please provide the exact build version on the affected user? For example:

You can try update your Outlook to version 2602 build 19725.20126 which was released on Feb 24th to see if it fixes the issue.

For the affected user, can they react on Outlook Web?

I have tested and the only time when I do not have the reaction options is when I use another user mailbox (delegation) or a shared mailbox. Can you please have a check at that as well?

If the issue happens on the primary account, you can try:

• Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support (Choose Repair Online)
• Create an Outlook profile - Microsoft Support(This doesn't affect your data)
• Lastly, reinstall Classic Outlook app.

I look forward for your reply.

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Answer 2

The issue with emoji reactions not being available for some users in the Outlook desktop app, despite others having access to the feature, could be related to several factors. Here are some potential reasons and troubleshooting steps:

1. Feature Rollout: Sometimes, features are rolled out gradually. Ensure that the affected users are indeed on the same version and channel as those who can use the feature.
2. User Settings: Check if there are any user-specific settings or configurations that might be preventing the use of emoji reactions.
3. Registry Settings: Although you mentioned there are no transport rules affecting this, it might be worth checking if any registry settings related to presence or reactions are configured differently for the affected users. Registry keys can sometimes disable features for specific users.
4. Outlook Profile: Consider creating a new Outlook profile for the affected users. Sometimes, profile corruption can lead to features not functioning as expected.
5. Updates and Repair: Ensure that the Outlook application is fully updated. If the issue persists, a repair of the Office installation might resolve any underlying issues.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be beneficial to reach out to Microsoft support for further assistance, as they can provide more tailored help based on your tenant's specific configuration.

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References:

• Release notes for Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel
• Presence icons don't appear in Outlook