Weird gray oval with a timer (0:00) over my "compose" box in Messages

I couldn't find out what this weird oval was but turned it off by going to settings-messages, then turned on show subject field. I have now turned this off again & the oval hasn't come back, but I want to know what it was & how to make it go away a bit easier. Very annoying if you want to respond to a text quickly.

Thanks junejan20, this worked for me!

TThis happened to me and I followed the above advice and it worked. Thank.

Thank you. I would never thought to try this. Also thank you for sharing

Thanks it helped.

This also helped me but weirdly, that presumptive text thing has now moved from on top of message box to bottom...WHEN will I learn NOT to download anything sent to me to upgrade my ipad or iphone for a looooong time...it is way too frustrating to a novice (read old) user!!!

Thanks a lot. This made me crazy for a while

I just found an additional "fix" that was turning ON the character count which makes no sense because that should bring the counter on not off...

This started with the iOS 9 upgrade..I found a fix too...If I simply restart my phone it goes away for a day or two. When it comes back, I simply restart. I called Apple and they said you can plug your phone into your computer and reset your phone as a new device. This should permanently fix it but you will lose all data. Apple advised to wait for a bug fix that should be coming soon.

It sounds like that's Apple's solution to everything, I will wait for the bpug fixI think. in the meantime turning something on then off in message settings seems to work. Glad I could help.

Why is it so comforting to realize I am not the only doofus (not that any one else is a doofus, I speak only for this doof-I) who had this bizarre thing happen...and to know there are all those OTHER bizarre things out there...I shall make something and permanently attach it to the case for my Iphone and for my IPad...that says DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DOWNLOAD THE NEWEST IOS.....for anything...just wait grasshopper, til the buggy fixes are out chomping up the booboos!

Kritterkrisp wrote:

Why is it so comforting to realize I am not the only doofus (not that any one else is a doofus, I speak only for this doof-I) who had this bizarre thing happen...and to know there are all those OTHER bizarre things out there...I shall make something and permanently attach it to the case for my Iphone and for my IPad...that says DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DOWNLOAD THE NEWEST IOS.....for anything...just wait grasshopper, til the buggy fixes are out chomping up the booboos!

LIKE!!

thank you for posting....i cringe when I think of the millions of people dealing with this nuisance and not having the good sense to check online.

i salute you

Thank a lot

Got the same grey oval. Did a soft reset and it went away.