diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/chat/ChatActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/chat/ChatActivity.kt
index 949e97231fe..37675da7832 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/chat/ChatActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/chat/ChatActivity.kt
@@ -3975,6 +3975,10 @@ class ChatActivity :
     }
 
     override fun onClickReaction(chatMessage: ChatMessage, emoji: String) {
+        if (!participantPermissions.hasReactPermission()) {
+            Snackbar.make(binding.root, R.string.reaction_forbidden, Snackbar.LENGTH_LONG).show()
+            return
+        }
         VibrationUtils.vibrateShort(context)
         if (chatMessage.reactionsSelf?.contains(emoji) == true) {
             chatViewModel.deleteReaction(roomToken, chatMessage, emoji)
@@ -3993,7 +3997,7 @@ class ChatActivity :
             roomToken,
             chatMessage,
             conversationUser,
-            participantPermissions.hasChatPermission(),
+            participantPermissions.hasReactPermission(),
             ncApi
         ).show()
     }
@@ -4028,6 +4032,7 @@ class ChatActivity :
                 currentConversation,
                 isShowMessageDeletionButton(message),
                 participantPermissions.hasChatPermission(),
+                participantPermissions.hasReactPermission(),
                 spreedCapabilities
             ).show()
         }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/MessageActionsDialog.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/MessageActionsDialog.kt
index 7f9c07c178a..6a03d67bdb3 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/MessageActionsDialog.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/MessageActionsDialog.kt
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ class MessageActionsDialog(
     private val currentConversation: ConversationModel?,
     private val showMessageDeletionButton: Boolean,
     private val hasChatPermission: Boolean,
+    private val hasReactPermission: Boolean,
     private val spreedCapabilities: SpreedCapability
 ) : BottomSheetDialog(chatActivity) {
 
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ class MessageActionsDialog(
 
         viewThemeUtils.material.colorBottomSheetBackground(dialogMessageActionsBinding.root)
         viewThemeUtils.material.colorBottomSheetDragHandle(dialogMessageActionsBinding.bottomSheetDragHandle)
-        initEmojiBar(hasChatPermission)
+        initEmojiBar(hasReactPermission)
         initMenuItemCopy(!message.isDeleted)
         initMenuItems(networkMonitor.isOnline.value)
     }
@@ -264,9 +265,10 @@ class MessageActionsDialog(
         }
     }
 
-    private fun initEmojiBar(hasChatPermission: Boolean) {
+    private fun initEmojiBar(hasReactPermission: Boolean) {
         if (hasSpreedFeatureCapability(spreedCapabilities, SpreedFeatures.REACTIONS) &&
-            isPermitted(hasChatPermission) &&
+            hasReactPermission &&
+            isConversationWritable() &&
             isReactableMessageType(message)
         ) {
             val recentEmojiManager = RecentEmojiManager(context, MAX_RECENTS)
@@ -353,9 +355,8 @@ class MessageActionsDialog(
         }
     }
 
-    private fun isPermitted(hasChatPermission: Boolean): Boolean =
-        hasChatPermission &&
-            ConversationEnums.ConversationReadOnlyState.CONVERSATION_READ_ONLY !=
+    private fun isConversationWritable(): Boolean =
+        ConversationEnums.ConversationReadOnlyState.CONVERSATION_READ_ONLY !=
             currentConversation?.conversationReadOnlyState
 
     private fun isReactableMessageType(message: ChatMessage): Boolean =
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/ShowReactionsDialog.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/ShowReactionsDialog.kt
index 4c9c727af90..bd2370a5318 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/ShowReactionsDialog.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/ui/dialog/ShowReactionsDialog.kt
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class ShowReactionsDialog(
     private val roomToken: String,
     private val chatMessage: ChatMessage,
     private val user: User?,
-    private val hasChatPermission: Boolean,
+    private val hasReactPermission: Boolean,
     private val ncApi: NcApi
 ) : BottomSheetDialog(activity),
     ReactionItemClickListener {
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ class ShowReactionsDialog(
     }
 
     override fun onClick(reactionItem: ReactionItem) {
-        if (hasChatPermission && reactionItem.reactionVoter.actorId?.equals(user?.userId) == true) {
+        if (hasReactPermission && reactionItem.reactionVoter.actorId?.equals(user?.userId) == true) {
             deleteReaction(chatMessage, reactionItem.reaction!!)
             adapter?.list?.remove(reactionItem)
             dismiss()
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/CapabilitiesUtil.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/CapabilitiesUtil.kt
index ac21acb5663..67b2e9a4a40 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/CapabilitiesUtil.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/CapabilitiesUtil.kt
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@ enum class SpreedFeatures(val value: String) {
     IMPORTANT_CONVERSATIONS("important-conversations"),
     THREADS("threads"),
     PINNED_MESSAGES("pinned-messages"),
-    SCHEDULED_MESSAGES("scheduled-messages")
+    SCHEDULED_MESSAGES("scheduled-messages"),
+    REACT_PERMISSION("react-permission")
 }
 
 @Suppress("TooManyFunctions")
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissions.kt b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissions.kt
index 4e57300f951..536d99281ed 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissions.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissions.kt
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ class ParticipantPermissions(
     private val canPublishVideo = (conversation.permissions and PUBLISH_VIDEO) == PUBLISH_VIDEO
     val canPublishScreen = (conversation.permissions and PUBLISH_SCREEN) == PUBLISH_SCREEN
     private val hasChatPermission = (conversation.permissions and CHAT) == CHAT
+    private val hasReactPermission = (conversation.permissions and REACT) == REACT
 
     private fun hasConversationPermissions(): Boolean =
         CapabilitiesUtil.hasSpreedFeatureCapability(
@@ -70,6 +71,15 @@ class ParticipantPermissions(
         return true
     }
 
+    fun hasReactPermission(): Boolean {
+        if (CapabilitiesUtil.hasSpreedFeatureCapability(spreedCapabilities, SpreedFeatures.REACT_PERMISSION)) {
+            // Server supports separate react permission - check REACT bit
+            return hasReactPermission
+        }
+        // Older server without react-permission capability - fall back to chat permission
+        return hasChatPermission()
+    }
+
     companion object {
 
         val TAG = ParticipantPermissions::class.simpleName
@@ -82,5 +92,6 @@ class ParticipantPermissions(
         const val PUBLISH_VIDEO = 32
         const val PUBLISH_SCREEN = 64
         const val CHAT = 128
+        const val REACT = 256
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 8dd0ea77f50..7b7d68a75ce 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -550,6 +550,7 @@ How to translate with transifex:
     <string name="read_storage_no_permission">Sharing files from storage is not possible without permissions</string>
     <string name="open_in_files_app">Open in Files app</string>
     <string name="send_to_forbidden">You are not allowed to share content to this chat</string>
+    <string name="reaction_forbidden">You are not allowed to add or remove reactions in this conversation</string>
 
     <string name="typing_is_typing">is typing …</string>
     <string name="typing_are_typing">are typing …</string>
diff --git a/app/src/test/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissionsTest.kt b/app/src/test/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissionsTest.kt
index 76b08b68a82..d66f51f4404 100644
--- a/app/src/test/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissionsTest.kt
+++ b/app/src/test/java/com/nextcloud/talk/utils/ParticipantPermissionsTest.kt
@@ -47,6 +47,101 @@ class ParticipantPermissionsTest : TestCase() {
         assertTrue(attendeePermissions.canPublishVideo())
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun test_reactPermissionWithReactCapability() {
+        val spreedCapability = SpreedCapability()
+        // Server with react-permission also supports chat-permission
+        spreedCapability.features = listOf("chat-permission", "react-permission")
+        val conversation = createConversation()
+
+        // With react-permission capability, only REACT bit matters
+        conversation.permissions = ParticipantPermissions.REACT or
+            ParticipantPermissions.CUSTOM
+
+        val user = User()
+        user.id = 1
+
+        val attendeePermissions =
+            ParticipantPermissions(
+                spreedCapability,
+                ConversationModel.mapToConversationModel(conversation, user)
+            )
+
+        assertTrue(attendeePermissions.hasReactPermission())
+        assertFalse(attendeePermissions.hasChatPermission())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun test_reactPermissionDeniedWithReactCapability() {
+        val spreedCapability = SpreedCapability()
+        // Server with react-permission also supports chat-permission
+        spreedCapability.features = listOf("chat-permission", "react-permission")
+        val conversation = createConversation()
+
+        // With react-permission capability, only CHAT but no REACT - should NOT allow reactions
+        conversation.permissions = ParticipantPermissions.CHAT or
+            ParticipantPermissions.CUSTOM
+
+        val user = User()
+        user.id = 1
+
+        val attendeePermissions =
+            ParticipantPermissions(
+                spreedCapability,
+                ConversationModel.mapToConversationModel(conversation, user)
+            )
+
+        assertFalse(attendeePermissions.hasReactPermission())
+        assertTrue(attendeePermissions.hasChatPermission())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun test_reactPermissionFallbackToChatOnOlderServer() {
+        val spreedCapability = SpreedCapability()
+        // Older server without react-permission capability but with chat-permission
+        spreedCapability.features = listOf("chat-permission")
+        val conversation = createConversation()
+
+        // Only CHAT permission set - should allow reactions as fallback for older servers
+        conversation.permissions = ParticipantPermissions.CHAT or
+            ParticipantPermissions.CUSTOM
+
+        val user = User()
+        user.id = 1
+
+        val attendeePermissions =
+            ParticipantPermissions(
+                spreedCapability,
+                ConversationModel.mapToConversationModel(conversation, user)
+            )
+
+        assertTrue(attendeePermissions.hasReactPermission())
+        assertTrue(attendeePermissions.hasChatPermission())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun test_reactPermissionDeniedOnOlderServerWithoutChatPermission() {
+        val spreedCapability = SpreedCapability()
+        // Older server without react-permission capability but with chat-permission
+        spreedCapability.features = listOf("chat-permission")
+        val conversation = createConversation()
+
+        // No CHAT permission - should deny reactions on older servers
+        conversation.permissions = ParticipantPermissions.CUSTOM
+
+        val user = User()
+        user.id = 1
+
+        val attendeePermissions =
+            ParticipantPermissions(
+                spreedCapability,
+                ConversationModel.mapToConversationModel(conversation, user)
+            )
+
+        assertFalse(attendeePermissions.hasReactPermission())
+        assertFalse(attendeePermissions.hasChatPermission())
+    }
+
     private fun createConversation() =
         Conversation(
             token = "test",