Apple has introduced a small but meaningful change in iOS 27: iMessage users can now hide or replace the audio recording button that sits in the text entry field. The option comes after Justin Bieber went viral with a complaint about accidentally triggering voice recordings while texting, though Apple has not confirmed whether his post directly influenced the update.
In Settings > Apps > Messages > Show in Text Field, users can choose between Record Audio, Start Dictation, or None. If the selected button does not appear immediately, force-quitting the Messages app should apply the change. No functionality is lost by hiding the button: voice messages remain available through the + menu, and dictation can be accessed via the microphone icon under the keyboard.
Beyond this fix, iOS 27 brings several other iMessage improvements, including a new drawing app for sketches and handwritten notes, an AI tool that suggests words and automates tasks like adding items to Reminders, support for using one number across two iPhones, and improved RCS with the ability to edit and unsend messages. For Apple, the update is a practical response to a common user frustration, even if the exact catalyst remains unclear.