The pulsing video icon on Messenger indicates that someone is trying to video call you. When a contact initiates a video call, the video camera icon next to their name in your messages will pulse with a green circle around it. This signals that they are requesting to switch your text chat over to a live video conversation.
Why Does the Video Icon Pulse?
The pulsing animation serves as a visual alert that someone wants to video chat. It is meant to catch your attention and prompt you to accept or decline the call. Some key reasons the icon pulses when a video call is incoming include:
- Notification – The pulsing draws your eye to the video icon so you notice the call request.
- Real-time interaction – The animation indicates another user’s live attempt to switch to video in real-time.
- Pending response – The pulsing continues until you accept or reject the video call request.
Without the pulsing icon, an incoming video call would be easy to miss within your regular message threads. The animation makes the notification obvious and persistent so you can respond accordingly.
Distinguishing Video Calls
Messenger uses the pulsing video icon to differentiate video calls from regular voice calls. For standard audio calls, the phone receiver icon will appear but it does not pulse. The animated effect is reserved to signal that a contact specifically wants to activate camera sharing for a face-to-face video chat.
How to Answer a Pulsing Video Call
When you see a pulsing video icon next to a contact’s name, you have two options to respond:
- Accept the video call – Tap the pulsing video icon to answer and begin the video chat. This will open your device’s camera so the other user can see you.
- Decline the video call – Tap the ‘X’ icon next to their video camera icon. This rejects the call and keeps your conversation in regular text messaging.
Once you accept or decline, the pulsing animation will stop. Selecting ‘Accept’ switches the conversation to live video, while selecting ‘Decline’ dismisses the request and keeps you in text chat. The video icon goes back to normal non-pulsing mode after you take action on the notification.
Answering or Declining
When deciding whether to answer a pulsing video call, consider if you are available for a live video conversation. If it is not a good time, don’t feel obligated to accept the call. You can always message the contact back later to explain.
Keep in mind declining or ignoring a video call does not block that person. It only rejects that specific call. They can still initiate another video call in your conversation later if you change your mind. Accepting is up to your availability and comfort with video chatting at that moment.
Troubleshooting Pulsing Video Icon Issues
In some cases, you may notice problems with the pulsing video icon. Here are some common issues and fixes:
Video Icon Not Pulsing on Call
If the video icon does not pulse when someone is calling, try these steps:
- Force quit and relaunch the Messenger app
- Check your notifications settings and make sure Messenger can send alerts
- Toggle Do Not Disturb mode on then off again
- Restart your device completely
This usually resolves any software glitches preventing the icon animation. Just make sure Messenger has notification access enabled.
Video Icon Pulsing But No Call
Sometimes the video icon pulses even though you have no incoming call. This can happen if:
- You missed or declined a previous video call
- A call glitched out or dropped
- It is a false alarm bug in the app
Check your message history for any missed calls. Force quit Messenger and restart it to reset the icon. If it still pulses with no actual call, uninstall and reinstall Messenger to fix software bugs.
Can’t Answer Pulsing Video Call
If the video icon is pulsing but you cannot answer the call, try:
- Closing extra apps running in the background
- Updating Messenger to the latest version
- Checking for app crashes or frozen screens
- Checking your internet connection status
- Switching wifi networks or toggling Airplane mode
- Doing a full reboot of your device
Connection issues, app crashes, or software bugs can prevent answering calls. Try restarting your device and Messenger app to resolve problems accepting pulsing video calls.
Getting More Help
Beyond basic troubleshooting, you can take a few more steps if the pulsing icon has ongoing problems:
- Update Device Software – Ensure your device OS is up to date, as the latest software improves Messenger compatibility.
- Update Messenger – Download the newest stable version of Messenger from your device’s app store.
- Check Service Status – Monitoring sites like Downdetector can reveal any larger outages.
- Contact Support – Reach out to Messenger’s customer service for additional support.
Staying updated and reporting tricky issues can help identify solutions. Enabling notifications and keeping background apps closed also improves performance.
Preventing Pulsing Icon Problems
You can take proactive measures to avoid pulsing icon difficulties:
- Close unused apps running in the background
- Update Messenger whenever new versions are available
- Grant notification access and keep alerts enabled
- Check for device OS and software updates regularly
- Ensure your device has enough storage space
- Connect to stable high-speed wifi whenever possible
- Restart your device and Messenger daily to clear glitches
Keeping your device and apps optimized prevents most icon animation issues. Quickly installing updates and regularly restarting also keeps things running smoothly.
Why Pulsing Video Calls are Important
The pulsing video icon may seem minor, but it serves an important role for Messenger. Some key benefits include:
- User Experience – Pulsing icons provide intuitive notifications that ensure calls aren’t missed.
- Engagement – Animated icons make users more likely to accept video chats from contacts.
- Accessibility – Visual pulsing accommodates different notification needs and disabilities.
- Development – Animations like pulsing icons take engineering to code properly.
While subtle, the pulsing effect delivers crucial user experience, engagement, and accessibility. It highlights Messenger’s ability to build polished, functional features.
Evolution of Messenger Notifications
Messenger’s notifications have expanded over time:
| Year | Notification Change |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Basic text notifications added |
| 2013 | In-app sounds added |
| 2015 | Display names in notifications |
| 2017 | Icons begin pulsing for calls |
| 2019 | Custom notification tones |
The pulsing animation improved awareness of incoming video chat requests. Messenger continues improving notifications to keep users connected.
User Dependence on Notifications
Notifications meet user expectations and dependencies. Key reliance factors include:
- Multi-tasking – Notifications allow focusing on other tasks during calls.
- Context – Icons provide context like who’s calling and if it’s audio or video.
- Convenience – Animations like pulsing eliminate having to actively monitor the app.
- Accessibility – Visual, audio, and haptic notifications suit different impairments.
Users depend on notifications working reliably. Pulsing icons build confidence that important calls won’t be overlooked.
The Bottom Line
A pulsing video icon next to a Messenger contact signals they are trying to start a video chat. The animation persists until you accept or decline the call. While a minor visual effect, the pulsing icon provides crucial notifications to prevent missing real-time interactions. It is an emblem of Messenger’s commitment to user experience and accessibility. When you see the pulsing indicator, be sure to check your notification settings and troubleshoot any issues responding. With the video icon in working order, you and your contacts can connect face-to-face at a moment’s notice thanks to Messenger’s video chat features.