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

This started happening when I did the iOS 9 update on my iPhone 5S, then I upgraded to the 6s and it does the same thing. The subject field toggle works for me but we will see if it comes back.

I downloaded the latest upgrade from Apple. It appears as though it fixed the problem.

Thanks for solution to this problem, quicker than turning phone off then on! Like everyone else I too have this frustrating problem since upgrading.They did send another upgrade a week after ios 9.0 which I thought was the 'fixer' but alas no. Thanks again

Thank you! It worked!

Its Not Woked for Me.

Suggest Some Other

Try going to Settings/Messages, make sure iMessages are turned on/enabled, then scroll down to the Raise to Listen feature & turn it off. Also the latest iOS 9.0.2 upgrade may fix this issue.

I upgraded to ios 9.0.2 still have the same problem, *** apple?

Stevedel98

Ddid you try turning off the Raise to Listen feature? I haven't had it pop up up again at all.

My quicker fix was to click the button twice, close imessage then start it back up. I also disabled the Raise to Listen feature. Perhaps that will prevent it from coming back.

to junejan20

Yes, turning off the raise to listen worked.....

Having turned the message count on as suggested, the annoying 0:00 blog went. Nowhere did I see anything like a character counter however. A bug for sure, but dead for now. Thanks 🙂

I have figured out what was turning it on (on my phone anyway) if i accidently clicked the signal strength instead of the return to messages at the top left of a text message screen. Since i got sick of turning my phone off and on to get rid of the "grey bar 0.00" i tried the turn ON character count and have tried to get the grey box up by clicking on the signal strength and nothing! it appears all is well ... for now anyway!

too crazy but this helped me too!!!!! hope it doesn't return! Thanks all!

Same, strange thing. It came up as I was texting and cached the phone from dropping out of my hand. I followed what was recommended by U guys and it works, its gone now. ???

Thanks very much.