Since iOS 14, iPhone users have repeatedly seen a small red, orange or green dot in the top right corner. Basically, Apple wants to ensure user privacy with these points. But what exactly do the colored dots mean? And what does it mean when the time is suddenly highlighted in red or blue? We explain that to you in this tip.
What does the red or green point mean?
With the update to iOS 14, Apple wanted to further expand the privacy of iPhone and iPad users. For this purpose, the small dots were introduced to quickly inform users that the microphone or camera of the device is being used. In particular, the use of spy apps that record audio or video in the background without the knowledge of the user should be prevented.
If a small red or orange point is displayed in the top right , it means that an app is currently using the iPhone's microphone . This can happen directly in the app that you are currently using, but it can also be an app in the background. If the point is green , the camera is currently active of the iPhone. If you are not currently using the microphone or camera yourself, the dot indicates that your iPhone may be accessed without authorization..
The red or green point is displayed in the top right corner of the display In addition, the iPhone shows you which app is accessing the microphone or the camera. To do this, simply open the control center - there is the respective app and a camera or microphone symbol at the top. Even if the camera or microphone has not been used for some time, you can often still check here which app was last accessed.
In the control center you can see which app has accessed the microphone or the camera. What does a red or blue time mean?
For a long time there has been a display in Apple's operating system that indicates that an audio or location recording is currently being made. The time is highlighted in color, which is much more noticeable in contrast to the point described above.
If the time on your iPhone is highlighted in red , an app is currently actively recording an audio recording in the background. This can be the case, for example, with voice memos or a recording in Garage Band. If the time is highlighted in blue , an app is currently using your location permanently , for example when navigating a route in Google Maps..
If the audio from your microphone or your location is currently being recorded in the background, the time is highlighted in red or blue. By the way: If you tap on the colored time, you go directly to the app that is currently recording the sound or location.