Ever noticed those little orange and green ‘warning lights’ that sometimes appear at the top of your iPhone’s display? Let’s look at what they mean, how they’re changing, and what you can do if you see one expectedly.
Status indicators
Since iOS 14, your iPhone uses visual indicators to help users identify when an app is using the microphone or camera. This can be really useful as both a reminder and as a warning if something is recording in the background without your knowledge.
Since iOS 14, an orange dot appears when your iPhone’s microphone is in use. This can happen when recording a voice memo, using Siri, or engaging in a phone call. A common misconception is that this dot means your audio is being recorded, but its purpose is simply to let you know the mic is currently on.
Meanwhile, a green dot appears when an app is using the camera, which includes both taking photos and participating in video calls. If an app accesses both the camera and microphone simultaneously, only the green dot will appear – you won’t see both colors.
The placement of these indicators depends on the device context. Previously, they were positioned at the top right of the screen near the battery and signal icons. These indicators sometimes appear near the center of the status bar and sometimes on the far right, depending on context.
Visibility changes
From iOS 18.4 onwards, the design of these dots is slightly different. They will tuck alongside the Dynamic Island on compatible iPhones, and the dots are now accompanied by a black background to make them stand out more.
The purpose and meaning of the dots has not changes, however. Orange still means mic usage and green still means camera usage.
Unexpected recording
If you notice an orange or green dot unexpectedly, you can check which app is using the microphone or camera by opening Control Center. (Swipe down from the top right of your display). At the top, you will see the name of the app currently accessing these features. Tap it for a more detailed breakdown of current and recent usage from various apps.
If you suspect an app is accessing the mic or camera without a valid reason, you can close it by swiping up from the bottom of the screen to access the app switcher and swiping the app away. You might wish to change the privacy settings for that particular app, too.
Manage your permissions
To manage access to the microphone and camera, you can review all active app permissions. In the Settings app, navigate to Privacy & Security to control which apps can use these features. Head to the Microphone or Camera section, and you can toggle access for individual apps.