Unlike iPhones, which have a green dot and an orange dot to differentiate features, Android phones use one icon to signal them all.
| Dot Color | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Green dot (Android) | An app is using the microphone or camera |
| Green dot (iPhone) | Camera is in use |
| Orange dot (iPhone) | Microphone is in use |
If your phone has a green dot in the corner, then one of the apps that you currently have open is using the microphone or camera on your device.
When Is This Normal?
| Situation | Normal? |
|---|---|
| You have the camera app open | ✅ Yes |
| You are on a video call | ✅ Yes |
| You are using a voice recorder | ✅ Yes |
| You are using a navigation app (microphone for voice commands) | ✅ Yes |
| You do not remember giving the app permission | ⚠️ Possibly concerning |
While this is not a problem if you currently have the camera open, it might alarm you if you do not remember giving your open apps access to the camera or microphone.
What Should You Do If You See the Green Dot?
According to Samsung, you can figure out which app is using your camera or microphone in four quick steps.
Step-by-Step Guide
