Apple has made an important change in iOS: the green and orange dots that appear next to Dynamic Island are not errors, but security indicators that warn when apps are using the camera or microphone. iOS introduced them back in version 14, while iOS 18 moved them to Dynamic Island for a clearer look and better visibility.
A green dot means an app is actively using the camera. Orange indicates that the microphone is in use. Since they are displayed on a dark background, they are easier to spot when they appear.
Green and orange dot: key security signals on iPhone
These indicators serve as an important protection against unauthorized access. If the dot appears when you don’t expect any app to use the camera or microphone, it’s a sign that the app is running in the background without your knowledge, which could be the result of a virus or misconfigured software. By pulling down the Control Center, you can always see which application activated the camera or microphone.
As for switching off, these points cannot be deactivated. However, permissions are fully controllable. By opening Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera/Microphone it’s possible to remove access to apps you don’t trust. This prevents the indicators from being activated at all while those applications are running.
Experts warn that these indicators can sometimes be the only sign that malware is running in the background. That’s why Apple recommends periodically checking permissions so that only trusted apps have access to the camera and microphone, writes ToI.