If you have already updated your Apple iPhone with the latest iOS 14 or iPad OS 14, you may have noticed something new pop up on the top right of the screen from time to time. Exactly above where the mobile network, Wi-Fi and battery indicators are. Those new things that you may occasionally see include an orange dot or a green dot. You do not worry, but those dots are meant to warn you about several app behavior on your phone, known or unknown.
With the new iOS 14 software update, Apple has integrated those notifications for when an app on the phone is accessing the microphone or the camera, front or back. Frequently, you may be using an app for video calls, posting a photo on social media and more, but there may be times when app may misbehave or there may be malicious apps trying to access your iPhone’s camera or microphone. This is going to give you an instant warning, that something is wrong.
What Is The Orange Dot On Iphone?
The orange dot is an indicator which an app is using your iPhone’s microphone. Those can be apps that you may be using at the time, such as Zoom for audio calls, WhatsApp for voice calls, or even recording something using the Voice Memos app. For your information, an orange indicator means the microphone is being used by an app on your iPhone, is what Apple says in the support documentation, and adds.
Besides orange dot, there is also green dot. Usually the green dot will appear once an app is accessing the camera on your phone. You may be creating a FaceTime video call, a Zoom video meeting, attempting to post something on Instagram or taking a photo. The case is, you will not be able to see the orange and green notification dots at the same time. If you are using your iPhone to record a video, for example, you will only see the green notification for camera access. A green indicator means that the camera or the camera and the microphone are being used by an app on your iPhone.
Those are integrations that must help you understand if an app installed on your iPhone is attempting to access the microphone or the phone’s camera without your approval. That will be a significant breach of privacy, and if it was not for those notification dots, there really will not be any way of knowing about app behavior, especially in the background. At this point, you are able to slide down the control panel screen by swiping down from near the top right of the iPhone screen to get the details on which app is attempting to access your phone’s camera or microphone. This is indeed a good way to know if an app is behaving suspiciously or attempting to snoop on you.
An Orange Dot Pop Up Since Upgrading To iOS 14
Since upgrading to iOS 14, you have already noticed a orange dot at the top right hand side of your iPhone. You are not alone, actually this is a new feature, so you do not worry about that. It is intentional doing by Apple. Apparently, Apple’s new iOS 14 operating system update comes with a great focus on security and privacy. As part of its new iPhone update, Apple has added an indicator light which tells you once an app is using your microphone and camera, and this comes in the form of an orange or green dot.
It sounds scary however seeing the dot at the top of the screen is not a reason to be alarmed in all cases. Several apps require to use your microphone (orange dot) or camera (green dot) in order to function your phone for instance, or a video conferencing app such as WhatsApp, Zoom, or Signal. Unfortunately, sometimes the developers of app may attempt to access your microphone or camera for nefarious purpose and the orange dot will pop op you if that is happening.
How To Control Who Has Access To Your Camera/Microphone In iOS 14?
Generally, to make sure apps are not accessing your microphone or camera once they do not need to be, easily you are able to see who has asked to access these. For this case, you are able to follow these easy steps below:
- At the first step, you are able to go to Settings.
- After that, you have to navigate Privacy.
- Then, choose microphone or camera.
- You are able to deny access to those who do not need it to function.
- Also, you are able to see which apps have used your microphone or camera in the Control Center.
So there you have it, the orange dot is a really useful tool provided by Apple to help you maintain security and privacy on your iPhone. Jake Moore, cybersecurity specialist at ESET said that like once a web cam is on, the new orange dot or green dot is often and be visual reminder as to what apps may be watching or listening to you that can help protect us.
The last word, we are going to conclude that the Apple’s new orange dot indicator light is surely a welcome update. It is one of security and privacy features added in iOS 14. Actually, there are still many more features added in iOS 14 that you are able to find. With iOS 14, Apple’s really reached the stakes, and when you know what their aim is, the new privacy features are actually really easy to use. Also, there are a few tips based on the features we have enabled since upgrading to iOS 14. This was the first privacy feature we used in iOS 14, as we was pretty excited about it. You are able to find that feature by going into your Settings -> Privacy and then navigate to Location Privacy.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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