Meaning of orange and green dots on the iPhone in iOS 14

Orange and green dots on iOS 14 is here, and it brings with it a means of upgrades for your Apple handset. There are gadgets, a new app drawer, and even the potential to finally change your default browser or email client.

One of the more downplayed features, however, has to do with the little orange and green dots that can pop up on the top of your device’s screen, with the latter likely leading to some confusion when it pops up when unlocking your phone.

Here’s what each dot means, and why they’re crucial.

What does the orange dot mean?

The orange dot is a new way of notifying the user that their microphone is in use, and is recording what’s going on.

That means if you see the dot, you could be dictating something, or using Siri. If you’re not doing anything that requires the microphone on, it could be that a deceitful app is recording in the background without your approval.

By pulling down the control center from the top of your screen, you can spot the erring app – and likely uninstall it if that’s an obstacle for you.

What does the green dot mean?

You can see the green dot in the top right corner of iOS 14

The Green Dot is incredibly alike, except it’s used to know when your camera is in use, hence why you’ll see it when unlocking your phone with Face ID.

You’ll also see it when using video call apps like FaceTime or WhatsApp, as well as if you’re self-taking a picture.

The dot will also pop up if your rear camera is in use, which means you’ll be able to keep an eye on the camera’s usage from both the front and rear, meaning no apps can inquire and see what you see.

Again, if you see the dot without looking forward to it, then it’s worth opening the control center sifting through your open apps to find the culprit.

Apple has always placed a great deal of significance on privacy, and if you’re wondering which apps have the approval to use your microphone or camera, there’s a handy way to find out before installing them.

Each app in the App Store is now essential (as of iOS 14) to present its privacy policy, either as a part of the listing on the objectives or as an outward link. If you’re troubled about what an app means for your privacy, be sure to scroll down to the “Privacy Policy” section to ensure everything is to your taste before clicking install.