iPhone users may sometimes see an orange dot, an orange square, or a green dot on the status bar of their phone, but what does that mean? iOS is known to be a privacy-oriented platform that includes a slew of features to keep users safe and secured. In Jan. 2023, Apple rolled out iOS 16.3 with an innovative security feature that helps users better protect their Apple ID account from unauthorized access. The update enables the use of hardware devices called Security Keys as an additional layer of protection for a user's Apple ID account.
As explained by Apple, the green and orange indicators on the iPhone status bar were introduced with iOS 14 as a privacy feature that alerts users when the device's camera and microphone are in use. While an orange dot indicates that the microphone on the device is being used by an app, the green dot signals that either the camera or the camera and the microphone are currently in use. It's an important feature that gives users more control over their privacy.
Green And Orange Dots Are Privacy Features On The iPhone
The indicator can sometimes also appear as an orange square if the 'Differentiate Without Color' option is switched on. This is an accessibility feature meant for users with color blindness who may not be able to distinguish between different colors. To enable the 'Differentiate Without Color' option, go to Settings, select 'Accessibility,' and then choose 'Display & Text Size.' Here, users can turn on the toggle next to 'Differentiate Without Color' to enable the feature on their device.
Apple also makes it easy for users to see which app is accessing the camera or mic. To do that, simply access the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen when a green or orange dot appears. The name of the app that is accessing the camera and/or the mic will now appear at the top of the Control Center. The feature is a great addition to iOS to help users ensure that no app can access the camera or microphone in an iPhone without consent.
The green and orange dots on Android smartphones work similarly to how the green dot works on devices running Android 12 and above. Much like iPhones running iOS 14 and above, the green dot on Android lets users know when the phone's camera or microphone is being used by an app. The indicator appears in the form of a tiny green dot in the top-right corner of the display and is activated when an app accesses the camera or the mic, either in the foreground or the background.
Source: Apple