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Google Meet Gets a Fun Upgrade: Access the Full Emoji Library—But iPhone Users Must Wait!
Siddhi Jain | November 12, 2025 10:15 PM CST

Google Meet has rolled out one of its most exciting updates yet — users can now access the entire emoji library during meetings. What started as a limited feature with just nine basic reactions has now expanded to hundreds of emojis, making virtual meetings more engaging, expressive, and fun. However, there’s a slight catch — Apple users will have to wait a little longer before they can fully enjoy this new feature.

What’s New in Google Meet?

According to a recent announcement on the Google Workspace blog, Meet users can now use a complete set of emojis to react during live meetings. This means participants can express a wide range of emotions, from excitement and laughter to appreciation and surprise, all through expressive icons.

Until now, Google Meet only offered nine default emojis — including thumbs up, thumbs down, heart, and applause. But with this major update, the platform now supports hundreds of emojis, giving users more creative freedom to communicate visually during calls.

The new feature aims to make virtual meetings more interactive, lively, and human-like, especially for teams working remotely or in hybrid setups.

How the New Emoji Feature Works

The expanded emoji reactions feature will be enabled by default for all users once it rolls out. Participants can choose from a wide range of emojis directly from the reaction menu while a meeting is in progress.

However, admins and meeting hosts have full control over this functionality.

  • Admins can enable or disable emoji reactions for entire domains, specific groups, or organizational units (OUs).

  • Similarly, hosts and co-hosts can turn off reactions during live sessions if they prefer a distraction-free environment.

This flexibility ensures that organizations can maintain the right balance between engagement and professionalism during virtual discussions.

Who Can Access It?

The update is currently being rolled out to select Google Workspace editions, including:

  • Business Standard

  • Business Plus

  • Enterprise Standard

  • Enterprise Plus

Google confirmed that the rollout will be completed within the next 15 days for all supported accounts.

However, there are a few limitations. Users joining through Google Meet hardware devices — such as conference room systems — will not be able to send emojis. They can, however, view reactions sent by others during the meeting.

Similarly, participants watching a livestreamed meeting can only see emoji reactions but won’t be able to send them. Those using Companion Mode, on the other hand, will have full access to the complete emoji set and can freely send reactions.

What About iPhone and iPad Users?

While Android and web users can enjoy this upgrade right away, iOS users will need to wait a bit longer. Currently, users on iPhone and iPad can only view the extended emojis used by others but cannot send them yet.

Google has confirmed that the update for iOS devices is in the works and will be rolled out in an upcoming release. Once launched, Apple users will get the same emoji-rich experience as Android and web users.

Why This Update Matters

Google Meet has been continuously upgrading its features to stay competitive against platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. By offering a wider emoji range, the company aims to make online communication more personal and dynamic — something that’s often missing in virtual settings.

The inclusion of the full emoji library allows participants to react instantly and add emotional context to meetings, which can enhance teamwork and engagement.

Final Takeaway

With this latest update, Google Meet takes a big step toward making online meetings more expressive and enjoyable. The full emoji library lets users communicate more naturally and adds a touch of fun to otherwise formal video calls.

While Android and web users can start using the new emojis right away, iOS users will have to be a little patient. Once the update reaches all platforms, every Google Meet user will be able to share reactions that truly reflect their emotions — making every meeting a little more vibrant and interactive.


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