That tiny green dot appearing in the corner of your phone screen isn’t a glitch or a random notification—it’s actually your phone trying to tell you something important about your privacy. Both iPhone and Android devices now use this indicator to let you know when certain hardware is being accessed. Most of the time, it’s completely harmless. But sometimes, it’s worth paying attention to.

1. It Means An App Is Using Your Camera

Shutterstock

According to Apple Support, a green indicator on your iPhone means either the camera alone or the camera and microphone together are being used by an app. This feature was introduced with iOS 14 as a privacy measure, giving users real-time awareness of when their device’s sensors are active. The dot appears in the upper right corner of the screen, near your battery and signal icons.

On Android devices running version 12 or later, the green dot serves a similar purpose. It lights up whenever an app accesses your camera or microphone. The indicator works automatically in the background without requiring any setup from users—it’s built into the operating system as a standard privacy feature.

2. It’s Different From The Orange Dot On iPhones

Shutterstock

iPhone users actually have two privacy indicators to watch for. The green dot signals camera access, while an orange dot means an app is using only the microphone. If you’re on a video call where both are active, you’ll see just the green dot since it covers both scenarios.

Android phones handle this differently. According to security experts, Android devices use only the green dot indicator for both camera and microphone access, rather than separating them into two colors. When an app first accesses your sensors, you’ll briefly see a camera or microphone icon before it changes to the simple green dot.

3. You Can Find Out Which App Is Responsible

Shutterstock

Privacy experts recommend getting into the habit of checking your Control Center immediately whenever you see the green or orange dot appearing on your iPhone. Simply swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen, and you’ll see the name of the app currently using your camera or microphone displayed at the top. For older iPhones with a home button, swipe up from the bottom instead.

On Android, the process is similar. Swipe down from the top of your screen when you see the green dot, and you’ll see either a camera or a microphone icon. Tap on it to reveal which app is accessing your hardware. This identification system lets you catch potentially unwanted access in real-time.

4. It Can Appear For Completely Normal Reasons

Shutterstock

The green dot showing up doesn’t automatically mean something sinister is happening. It appears during expected activities like taking photos, recording videos, making video calls, or using FaceTime. It also lights up during less obvious but still legitimate uses—like scanning a QR code or interacting with Google Assistant.

Many people see the dot and immediately worry, but the most common explanation is simply that an app you used recently is still running in the background. You might have switched away from your camera app or video chat without fully closing it.

5. Background Apps Are Often The Culprit

Shutterstock

Security researchers note that people regularly switch between apps without closing them down when finished, which means the camera or microphone could be accessed by an app you didn’t realize was still running. A video conferencing app might still be active after you thought you ended the call, or a social media app might be accessing your camera even when you’re not actively taking photos.

If you see the dot appearing unexpectedly, close all your open apps and see if it disappears. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom and pause to see your open apps, then swipe them away. On Android, use your recent apps button to close running applications.

6. It Could Signal A Privacy Problem

Shutterstock

While most green dot appearances are harmless, there’s a more concerning possibility. According to cybersecurity experts, there could be a spyware app running in the background, accessing your microphone and camera to spy on you and steal your data. If the dot appears when you’re not actively using any app that should need camera access, it warrants investigation.

Signs of a genuine problem include the dot appearing constantly even when no apps are open, unfamiliar app names showing up when you check the Control Center, or the indicator lighting up repeatedly throughout the day for no apparent reason.

7. You Should Check App Permissions Regularly

Shutterstock

According to security guidance, you should be concerned if you see the green privacy indicator show up all the time, even when you aren’t particularly using any app—this means some application has continuous access to your microphone, camera, or both, and this is likely to be a malicious app that could be spying on you.

To review which apps have camera access on iPhone, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Camera. On Android, navigate to Settings, then Privacy, then Permission Manager, then Camera. From these menus, you can revoke access for any app that doesn’t need it.

8. Some Apps Request More Access Than They Need

Shutterstock

Not every app that asks for camera or microphone permission actually needs it. A weather app has no legitimate reason to access your camera. A calculator shouldn’t need your microphone. If you notice apps with unnecessary permissions, it’s worth questioning why and revoking that access.

Security experts recommend auditing your permissions periodically. Look at each app that has camera or microphone access and ask yourself whether it genuinely needs that capability to function. If the answer is no, turn off the permission.

9. The Indicator Can’t Be Turned Off

Shutterstock

Unlike most phone features, you cannot disable the green privacy indicator. Both Apple and Google built these indicators as permanent security features specifically because users need to be aware when their sensors are active. The dot will appear every time an app accesses your camera, regardless of your settings.

This is by design. If users could turn off the indicator, it would defeat the purpose—malicious apps could access your camera without any visual warning. The permanence of the feature is part of what makes it useful as a security tool.

10. Android 12 Added Quick Toggles For Extra Control

iStock

Android 12 and later versions give users the ability to completely cut off camera and microphone access for all apps at once. In your Quick Settings panel, you’ll find toggles labeled "Camera Access" and "Mic Access" that let you disable these features system-wide with a single tap.

This is useful when you want total privacy and don’t want any app or service accessing your sensors. It’s more comprehensive than managing individual app permissions and provides a quick way to ensure nothing can activate your hardware without you explicitly allowing it again.

11. Laptops Have Had This Feature For Years

Shutterstock

The green dot on phones mirrors a feature that laptops have included for much longer. Most laptop webcams have a physical LED light that turns on whenever the camera is active. This hardware-based indicator has helped users know when video calls are active or when an application might be accessing their webcam unexpectedly.

Apple explicitly modeled the iPhone’s green dot after the MacBook’s webcam indicator, bringing the same transparency to mobile devices. The digital version serves the same purpose as the physical LED—alerting you when recording hardware is in use.

12. A Factory Reset Is The Last Option

Shutterstock

If you’ve checked permissions, closed all apps, and still see the green dot appearing inexplicably, security professionals suggest a factory reset as a last resort. This erases everything on your device and removes any potentially malicious software that might have embedded itself deeply in your system.

Before taking this step, back up your important data. After the reset, only reinstall apps you trust and need. This approach is drastic but effective when you genuinely suspect your device has been compromised and other troubleshooting steps haven’t resolved the issue.