What does the orange dot mean on iPhone?

It is small, inconspicuous and yet has a useful function: Some iPhone users have probably already wondered what the little orange dot on their display means. We'll explain to you what the ad is all about.

Since iOS 14, users have occasionally noticed a small orange dot on their iPhone. It flashes every now and then in the top right above the status symbols. Of course, it doesn't just appear like that, but has a specific – and extremely useful – task.

What does the orange dot mean on iPhone?

Similar to the other symbols in the status bar, the orange dot on the display also has its job. The status display shows that the microphone is being used by an app on the iPhone. The same indicator is also available again in green. It means that either just the camera or the camera and microphone are in use.

However, the dots don't just light up when you access your iPhone camera yourself. Even if apps like WhatsApp, Instagram and Co. want to trigger image or sound recordings, the orange or green symbol appears on the display.

The advantage: As soon as the dot lights up, you immediately know that the camera or sound is currently activated. If you don't want this or haven't triggered it yourself, you can adjust the relevant access settings or switch off functions.

Orange dot can indicate criminal offenses

The feature is particularly helpful for cyber espionage. If you don't currently have any apps open and you notice one of the two points, this could be an indication that third parties are listening or watching without permission.

In this case, it is advisable to contact the developer of the respective app. This is a clear sign that there are problems with the security of the application.

To make the display accessible, Apple designed the orange dot so that it can also be displayed as a square. To do this, users can go to “Settings” on the “Accessibility“access. About the tab “Display & text size“ you can then “Differentiate without colors” choose.

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