You Can Now Leave Video Messages in FaceTime

When you call someone and they go to voicemail, it’s frustrating, but you can always leave a message so they know what you called. However, when someone doesn’t answer your FaceTime call, that’s it: the call ends and you’re looking at your phone with no one to talk to.

It won’t be for a long time: in iOS 17 , Apple introduces video messages for FaceTime. As long as you and the other caller have iOS 17 on their iPhone, you can leave video voice messages for any missed FaceTime call in the future.

How to leave video messages in FaceTime

Currently, iOS 17 is still in beta testing. If you want to try out video voicemail as well as all the other new features, you need to install the iOS 17 public beta . However , think twice before installing it on your primary iPhone , as beta software is, by its nature, work in progress and potentially problematic.

Once you and your contact have iOS 17 installed, open FaceTime and make a video call. If they don’t answer or reject the call, you’ll see a Record Video option on the screen. Tap it and you can start recording a video message. Feel free to make them feel bad about missing your very important video call, especially if they declined it.

If you’re unhappy with your recording, that’s okay: you’ll have the option to record a re-shoot. When you’re happy with the recording, send a video message. (Please note that the Record Video button will not be available if your contact is using an older version of iOS, as both of you need to have iOS 17 installed for this feature to work.)

Once your contact receives the video message, they will have the option to save it to their photo library, which is a nice touch from Apple. You probably have a few voice messages from friends and family that you keep close at hand, and the voice video messages might be no different.

If you or the people you FaceTime with have an older iPhone that isn’t compatible with iOS 17 , you won’t be able to use this new feature. Instead, you can always drop a text message, take a video, or record a voice note so they know why you called.