01.05.2026 11:40
The green dot seen on smartphones is a security warning indicating that the camera or microphone is active; this system, which cannot be turned off, was developed to protect user privacy.
The green dot at the top of the screen, which smartphone users have frequently noticed recently, is not a simple notification but stands out as an important security indicator. This icon, seen on Android and iPhone models, indicates that the camera or microphone on the device is active.
INDICATES CAMERA AND MICROPHONE USAGE
The green dot activates especially when applications access the camera or microphone in the background. This allows users to instantly track which hardware on their device is active.
HOW DOES IT WORK ON ANDROID AND IPHONE?
On Android 12 and later versions, the green dot appears in the top bar when the camera is opened, a video call is started, or during video recording. It also alerts the user when background applications access the microphone or camera. On iPhones, a similar system is present in iOS 14 and later versions. When the camera and microphone are used together, a green dot appears; when only the microphone is active, an orange dot appears on the screen. Users can see which application has accessed via the Control Center.
IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF
It is not possible to completely disable this security indicator on Android and iOS operating systems. The system remains constantly active to protect user privacy. However, users can manually control camera and microphone access permissions for applications. Permissions can be adjusted on Android from Settings > Privacy or Apps menu, and on iPhone from Settings > Privacy and Security section.