If your video option has disappeared from your iPhone, you can get it back by ending the call or app that’s using your camera/microphone, updating your device, or restarting the iPhone.
While the iPhone has a lot of features, one of my favorites is that it can take outstanding videos. I have countless videos on my phone of my dog, sports games I’ve attended, and more. However, there may come a time when the option to take a video has simply disappeared.
This guide is going to take a closer look at this problem and go over why it happens and what you can do to get the video option back.
Key Takeaways
- The reasons why your video option may have disappeared include being on a call, another app using your microphone, an outdated iOS, or there is a strange bug occurring.
- In order to get it back, you need to close the call or app that is using your microphone, update your device, or restart your iPhone.
- If you can’t get the option back, or need to take a video immediately and have no time to try the methods, you can use the iPhone’s QuickTake function to take a video, instead.
Reasons the Video Option May Be Gone
Before we look at how to get your video option back, let’s go over a few reasons why it might be gone. Likely the most common reason for this issue is that you’re currently on a call.
If your phone’s microphone is already being used during a call, it can’t also be used to capture the audio in a video. As a result, if you’re actively on a phone call, you won’t see the option to record a video until the call has ended.
In a similar vein, if another app is using your camera or microphone, you may not be able to take videos, either.
Another reason for the video button being gone from your device is an outdated operating system. In some cases, phones that haven’t been updated in a while can experience weird issues and glitches, such as the video option disappearing.
Also, iPhones are complex devices, and there is a lot going on behind the scenes as you use the phone. As a result, there could simply be a strange bug or background software interaction taking place within your device that is causing this issue.
How to Get It Back
Now that you know why the video option could have disappeared, here are a few of the best ways to get it back. If the issue is caused by you currently being on a phone call or using another app that is utilizing the camera and/or microphone, end the call or close the app.
The next thing to try is to update the device. New software updates introduce a variety of bug fixes, which could potentially fix the issue you’re experiencing. Even if it doesn’t, keeping your device updated ensures you get necessary security updates and optimal performance.
To update your iPhone, go to General > Software Update, and then if an update is available, click Download and Install.
While most updates go pretty quickly, larger ones can take a little longer. Also, if your internet is poor or there are lots of devices currently using it, downloads may take a bit longer.
Another option is to try restarting your device. This closes all background processes and clears your memory, which lets your phone work from a clean slate and often corrects strange bugs that could have been occurring.
To restart your iPhone, the process differs slightly depending on the device you have. If you have an iPhone X or later, you restart it by pressing and holding both the power button and the volume button until the Power slider appears.
For those with an iPhone 8 or earlier, you just need to press and hold the side power button until the slider shows up on your screen.
Once the slide appears, simply drag it to the right and a few seconds later, the phone will turn off. After giving it a few seconds, you can turn the device back on by pressing and holding the power button until the Apple logo shows up on your screen.
Also, if you’re not able to get it back or want to capture a video instantly and don’t have time to try these methods immediately, there is a way to record a video without actually having the video option present.
It’s called QuickTake and to use the feature, simply open the camera app, and just press and hold the shutter button. It will turn red and begin recording video for as long as you continue holding the button down. When you release the button, the video recording will end.
Final Thoughts
Having your video option disappear can be an annoying experience, as it makes one of the best features of the iPhone unavailable.
I hope this guide and the information included in it have been able to help you learn why your video option has disappeared, and how you can get it back.
Is there something else you feel I should have included in this guide? If so, I’d love to hear about it in a comment below.
