What is The Orange

If you’ve ever noticed a small orange dot in the top-right corner of your iPhone screen, don’t worry—it’s not a sign of hacking or spying. Introduced with iOS 14 in 2020, the dot is a privacy feature from Apple designed to let users know when their microphone is in use. If you see a green dot instead, that means your camera—or both your camera and microphone—are active. This visual cue is part of Apple’s efforts to increase transparency about how apps use sensitive hardware.

In most cases, seeing the orange dot while using apps like FaceTime, Instagram, or WhatsApp is totally normal. However, if the dot appears when no app should be using your mic, it’s worth checking. You can swipe down from the top-right corner to identify the app, then manage microphone access under Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. For those with color vision issues, the dot can be changed to a square via Accessibility settings. Overall, the orange dot is a helpful privacy tool that keeps you informed and in control of your device, not something to be feared.