Google Messages users have been dealing with a frustrating bug over the past few weeks that completely breaks the popular Photomoji feature. Whether you’re on the stable channel or testing out the beta, there’s a high chance you’ve run into an annoying popup that simply reads: “Something happened with photomoji. Try restarting Messages.”
Based on multiple reports across Reddit and the official Google Support forums, the issue is widespread and isn’t tied to any specific device manufacturer. Complaints have been piling up from users rocking everything from the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and older Pixel models to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the OnePlus 12.
When the error occurs, it stubbornly prevents users from creating new custom Photomoji reactions. But for many, the headache doesn’t stop there. Attempting standard Android troubleshooting steps like clearing the app’s cache, toggling RCS chats off and on, or completely uninstalling and reinstalling Google Messages often causes the entire Photomoji tab to vanish completely. Adding insult to injury, users are reporting that these troubleshooting attempts also wipe out all of their previously saved custom reactions.
"I cleared cache, app data, uninstalled and then reinstalled the app, force closed, toggled RCS off/on after waiting a minute or so, rebooted etc. to no avail... As an aside, I lost every single one I ever created as well after clearing data." — User on the Google Support forums.
While a Google Product Expert recently acknowledged the complaints and asked users to submit feedback regarding their RCS status, the wait for a definitive patch has felt like an eternity for those who rely on the feature to spice up their conversations.
However, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Recent reports from early April indicate that Google is actively deploying a fix via the beta channel. Specifically, users who received the messages.android_20260403_00_RC00 update are confirming that the feature is back up and running.
For what it’s worth, I’m running the latest Google Messages beta build 20260403_00_RC00 on my phone, and I have the Photomoji function working well without any hitches or disappearing tabs.
If you are still stuck with broken or missing Photomojis on the stable version of the app, it looks like you’ll just need to hold out a little longer for this April beta patch to trickle down to the masses. Alternatively, if you’re tired of waiting, you can enroll in the Google Messages beta program via the Play Store to pull the update and get your custom reactions back today.
Hillary Keverenge
2660 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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