What is the red dot on iPhone screen?

No, it simply indicates that your microphone is in use.

There is also a green light that appears if the camera is in use.

marsannam wrote:

Myself as well. I’d like to know why. Is the call being recorded?

No. In the black background, the orange dot appears red. It just means that the microphone is in use, which would be expected in a phone call. Nothing is being recorded.

This article from DailyMail.co.uk is interesting :

New iOS 14 feature warns you if someone is spying on you through your iPhone: Look out for the orange dot at the top of your screen

• Dot pops on an iPhone display as a warning that apps are watching and listening
• It's orange when microphone is in use and turns green when camera is in use too 
• iOS 14 users can also seen if an app has used the microphone or camera recently
• Apple is focused on strengthening iPhone user privacy with the new OS update

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8744423/iOS-14-update-displays-orange-dot-warn-listening-in.html

When the person said that the light indicates the mic is ”working”, they meant that it ”in use”, not that it is ”functioning”.

The purpose is for security by alerting the user that an app has access to your mic. For most apps that is expected, like making a phone call, but if you are on a banking or shopping app, that would be suspicious and warrant revoking access to the mic for that app or uninstalling it.

Malkoro3 wrote:

Red dot appears above phone signal when on a call how do I remove it I have just updated my IOS 14

As it is an indicator of the microphone in use, you would remove it by not using any app that utilizes the microphone. As to how you make or receive a phone call without using the microphone, we couldn’t say.

HaveNoSecretToHide wrote:

New iOS 14 feature warns you if someone is spying on you through your iPhone: Look out for the orange dot at the top of your screen

To say that it warns you if someone is "spying" on you is a little bit misleading. It's click-bait headlines like that that have encouraged people to think that the dot means someone one is recording them. In fact, the dot does not tell you if someone is spying on you. It tells you if the microphone (or camera if the dot is green) is active. In most cases, the use of the microphone is completely legitimate, e.g. Phone, Siri. Seeing the dot when there is no app that the user thinks should be using those functions could (but may not) mean that their privacy is at risk.

You don't. There is no setting to remove it. The only other option is not to use it as a phone, don't use any phone calls, no FaceTime, do not dictate anything, and whatever else uses the microphone.

I spoke with Apple, here is what they said. "The red light is to let you know that you are using your microphone. " I said he been using cell phones for years and never needed any indication that we were using our mic. before. " it is just part of the software upside". I said no y'all are most likely listening in on our conversation. She said " I guarantee you we are not listening to many one conversation ". Me" I don't believe that. All of a sudden we have to be reminded we are using our microphone.

I gave an answer below to Mauriciolpz if you're still interested. It is to alert you that an app has access to your mic.

Mauriciolzp10 wrote:

Thats is an assumption that thats is in fact what the color mean.

No, it really isn't an assumption. If you were to read the Apple issued documentation, you would see what it means.

Although I agree with you on redirecting to the Apple documentation, when I read comments like this it’s exactly what keeps me from typically posting here. Arrogance is just something I can’t tolerate. It wouldn’t have taken you more than 60 seconds to copy and paste a link to send documentation for that person in your reply instead of simply telling them what to do and saying goodbye in a very manner of fact way.

There are those who are technical wizards almost naturally and then those who didn’t have the benefit of growing up with computers (using that as the most generic term I can for modern IT technology…for instance people born before 1970). The former must understand that the latter – those who don’t have that knowledge, not necessarily by any fault of their own or any lack of action on their part, on the contrary by making a post here they have performed an action seeking help – need to be treated kindly and gently ... yet not like a child and not just giving answers to the obviously lazy people for free. However, this was a legitimate question with very scant legitimate documentation and, if you know where the documentation is, a link would help everyone because I’m having trouble finding (authoritative, Apple sourced and consistent amongst the same point release documents) it even now. (Hence, including the link without making mention to the fact that you did so).

In regard to the link provided at the top, here is a screenshot from it that shows or demonstrates what several people are asking. What is a red dot? Do you see that on the screenshot or that webpage?

Hi

how do i fix it please

I was in a conversation with my friend. I have an iPhone 8. (That's the smaller screenshot with the red dot.) He has an iPhone 8 plus. (His is the larger screenshot with the orange dot.) We were both speaking to each other on a regular phone call. We both took screenshots of our phones and texted them to each other to compare the color of the dots and to see if they were really different colors or if we were just perceiving them to be different. We both agreed that his was orange and mine was red.

Thats is an assumption that thats is in fact what the color mean. Although what is the objective, its purpose, what is the point of having those tiny red or green lights? What purpose do they serve to the iPhone users. Obliviously if a cam or mic dont work you will physically find out or be told by another person when making calls, or taking pictures.

I was wondering the same thing but on my 11Pro, and now I know.

But, here is a strange thing with the red dot. When the dot appears and I put my finger over the camera or just in front of the camera, the screen goes black and I can’t hear the call. This happens when I am on a FaceTime audio call. If I am on a regular call and the red light is on, when I cover the camera or just hold a finger up in front of it, the screen again goes black, but I can still hear the call. What the heck is deal with that? Very weird.