There’s a little-known feature on iPhones that serves a vital privacy purpose. For years, it has gone under the radar but has recently caught the attention of users.
We’ll break down what these three little dots mean and why they matter to your iPhone security.
The three dots on your iPhone reveal important information about app usage
Apple’s iPhones have become a major part of our lives, offering a range of functions and features.
However, many iPhone users don’t know all the features their device offers. Among them is a feature that can help ease your security concerns.
In today’s digital world, many people wonder if their phones are listening to their conversations or tracking their activities. While it’s not always the case, there is a way to check when your phone’s microphone or camera is being used.
This feature comes in the form of three colored dots that appear at the top of your screen. These dots are a visual indicator of your phone’s activity.
The orange and green dots indicate microphone or camera usage
If you notice an orange or green dot at the top-right corner of your iPhone screen, it means an app is using your microphone or camera.
– Orange dot: This indicates that the microphone is in use by an app. If the “Differentiate Without Colour” setting is enabled, the orange dot may appear as a square.
– Green dot: This means either the camera or both the camera and microphone are being used by an app.
Both of these dots can help users feel more in control of their privacy. Apple’s website explains this feature in detail, emphasizing that these indicators appear on iPhones running iOS 14 or later.
The blue arrow indicates app location requests
In addition to the orange and green dots, a blue arrow may appear on your screen. This indicates that an app is requesting access to your location.
Apple’s Application Programming Interface (API) ensures that these visual indicators appear even if an app doesn’t inform you it’s using your microphone, camera, or location.
How to identify which app is using your microphone, camera, or location
Now that you know what these colored dots mean, you might wonder which app is responsible for the activity.
To find out, swipe down to open your iPhone’s Control Center. You’ll be able to see which app is currently using your microphone, camera, or location.
Iphone users appreciate the privacy feature, but some still have questions
This feature has received praise from many iPhone users on social media.
One Twitter user said: This talks more than anything about how Apple takes care of privacy.”
Others appreciate the added transparency.
However, some users remain confused.
One person questioned, “Why? I have no apps that have requested the use of the microphone!” Another user remarked that the feature gives them peace of mind, as they now know when their microphone or camera is being accessed.
Apple’s feature of the three colored dots is a simple yet effective way to protect your privacy. It provides transparency about what’s happening on your device, allowing users to feel more secure.