A lot is expected to change in iOS 27 when it releases on September 14, 2026, especially with new Siri updates from Apple and changes made to support the iPhone Fold and its upcoming launch. And it looks like Apple has added a much-needed fix to Messages with iOS 27 that will make it easier to avoid accidentally sending recordings to your family and friends. In previous versions of iOS, users could press a small microphone button that appears in the text field.
By default, this is set to start recording audio so you can send voice notes to the person you’re texting. While voice notes can be handy for quickly communicating with someone, the position of the button within the text field itself made it extremely easy to accidentally hit it. Many users have complained about this feature online, including Justin Bieber.
While the button’s location is convenient, it means you have to be careful not to accidentally turn it on, as this risks sending unwanted voice notes to people and interrupting other media you’re listening to on the phone. Along with other changes Apple made with iOS 27, this Messages feature appears to be getting an overhaul, allowing you to turn it off completely.
How to Disable Audio Recording in iOS 27
To disable the voice record button in Messages on iOS 27, go to the Settings app on your phone, go to Apps, and select Messages to open the app-specific settings page. From there, select Show in text field. Tapping it will give you the choice of three different options: Record Audio, Start Dictation, or None. Changing it to None will completely remove the microphone, allowing you to text freely without worrying about hitting it.
However, this doesn’t actually disable the feature. You can still send an audio message by tapping the plus button next to the text field and choosing Audio. You can also continue to use dictation. Just make sure it’s enabled in your phone’s keyboard settings, then press the microphone button on the keyboard itself. To find out if your phone model will see these updates, check out the list of iPhones supporting iOS 27. The update should be available on devices as old as the iPhone 11 – at least with the base experience.
