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How to Reply to a Specific Message on WhatsApp

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Find the message you want to reply to

    In a chat with many messages, locate the specific one you want to respond to.

  2. Swipe right on the message (or long-press it)

    Swipe right on the message, or long-press it and choose "Reply" from the menu that appears.

  3. Check the quoted preview above the text field

    The original message appears quoted just above where you type, so you can confirm you are replying to the right one before sending.

  4. Type your reply and send it

    Type your response and send it -- it appears with the original message quoted above it, so it is clear which message you were answering.

  5. Why it matters

    In a group chat where several people are talking about different things at once, the reply feature makes it clear exactly which message you are responding to, avoiding confusion.

When it is unclear who a reply is meant for in a group

In a busy group chat with multiple conversations happening at once, it is easy to lose track of who is replying to what. Using the reply feature keeps the original message quoted alongside your response, so there is no ambiguity.

It works the same way on desktop

The WhatsApp desktop app has the same feature -- hover over a message, click the reply icon, and it works exactly the way it does on mobile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the other person get a different kind of notification for a reply?

The notification itself looks the same as any other message, but inside the chat, the reply appears with the original message quoted above it so the context is always clear.

Can I use this feature on the desktop app too?

Yes, hovering over a message on WhatsApp Desktop and clicking the reply icon works the same way as the mobile version.