Why does my iPhone screen have a red dot in iOS 14?

This is what the red dot means

Hi @ang194,

As part of the new IOS14 functionality, apple have released a feature call Recording Indicator.

Below is some helpful information:

Privacy is a fundamental human right and at the core of everything we do. That’s why with iOS 14, we’re giving you more control over the data you share and more transparency into how it’s used.

Recording Indicator:

An indicator appears at the top of your screen whenever an app is using your microphone or camera. And in Control Center, you can see if an app has used them recently.

You can find more information on the new functionality released under privacy at the below link:

IOS-14 - Apple

Privacy - Features - Apple

In addition to your secondary question, please find below a link to the Find My - Offical Support page that talks about finding devices and sharing locations with friends and family.

Find-My - Offical Apple Support

Hope this helps to resolve your enquiry.

Good Luck.

#IOS14

#Privacy

#RecordingIndicator

#FindMyDevice

#SharingLocations

What “recording device”? The dot does not meaning anything is being recorded. It only means that the microphone is on, which it will be when you are on a call or taking a picture. If it wasn’t on the person on the other end wouldn’t be able to hear you.

An indicator appears at the top of your screen whenever an app is using your microphone or camera. And in Control Center, you can see if an app has used them recently.

I agree that calling it a “recording indicator” isn’t 100% accurate and can be confusing, but all it really means is that the mic or camera is on. For a phone call if you are taking a photo this is obvious to you, but if, say, one of your 3rd party apps turned on the camera it’s something you should know about.

The explanation apple 🍎 provided does not make sense or Apple is mere render simply non- pertaining output. Apple please provide a solution that would turn off the microphone recording, and where are the recording being sente& stored.

Yes that one is orange. I even noted that it was ORANGE. The other pics I posted seem to be lost! So I’ll repost them now. PLEASE note the RED dot, RED end call button, and RED low battery icon. I did try the mute button and it does in fact make the dot go away. Does not however change the FACT that during a call the mic dot is RED, and Siri and other apps that use the mic are ORANGE. If apple is only using GREEN and ORANGE I would really like to know why, what is happening with the “recording” indicator when it’s RED? Thank you!!!

Doesn’t change the fact that there are 3 colors and not just 2 either. Which would logically point in the direction that there were 3 features being used and not just 2. However, after being told that they were NOT red like so many others were also, I used that same logic and inquisitive thinking to find out WHY there was a RED dot. Perhaps you could report to apple that it might be a bug having something to do with the dark mode feature. I have absolutely no idea how to go about that process, and if it’s half the challenge to report something I THINK might be happening as it was to even be acknowledged about something I was seeing with my own eyes I have no desire to try. Thanks again. Have a great day.

This is all dumb more things to make the battery go faster, and probably a hidden meaning behind it. Because we have never needed this function. So why now ? They have all these features just ready when they continue to upgrade to another version.

I’m sorry you don’t care whether your microphone is on or not. I do; if my mic is on I certainly want to know. But if you don’t put a piece of black tape over the spot where the “mic on” dot appears.

Please explain how it makes the battery go faster; this should really be good for a laugh!

This sounds a little suspicious. If my camera is on, so is the entire camera screen. If I am on call, the dial screen is on, as well as the time turns green if I change pages. There is already app security as it asks you when you would like the phone to use those features. What would MAKE sense is to have something show up when the person on the other line has me on their speaker phone! That would be an actual security feature. These days I wouldn’t doubt it means you call is being recorded by some agency or your carrier. I’m glad someone thinks this is a great feature. But in my opinion I’m never going to notice it. If I pocket or pursedial, I wouldn’t see it. And like I said it is easy to tell what your phone is doing. I really don’t buy this a bit. It’s either recording and watching us, or they just wanted the feature list to look longer. Hi Alexa!!!

In other words, you would rather not know if your microphone is on. Apple should get rid of the dot, so you won’t know. I get it.

What you are asking for is impossible. Your iPhone has no idea what the settings are on the other end of the call. Which is good, because it protects their privacy. And yours, when you are on the other end of a call.

In response to tour comment, how would I not know if one of those features are on? Literally let me know a reason how that could possibly happen! It’s simple to password protect so you don’t pocket dial or push buttons. You can set all your apps up so they can’t use the features. And if my camera happens to go on then what? I’ll find some funny pictures later? And how do you know they can’t tell? You would have said the same about them tracking your usage, location, siri, Alexa etc 15 years ago. None of us know what they have the ability to do.

I have had the red dot on my phone for the last 4 hours I’ve been up (possibly on when I was asleep, don’t know.) So I was definitely not on a call causing my microphone to be in use for that reason. No calls, no texts, no social media, no games, no microphone. This will be enough to go back to Android if it’s what they say it is.

People seeing the red dot are right about the colour, I had the same red dot for a while and all I can tell is that was off when not using any app, just looking at the main menu screen where are all the icons with apps and after I pressed on any app, it appeared on above the signal strength. After I turned off everything from location and mostly everything I could turn off in settings and what app’s uses it disappeared, only dots I’m having now are the orange one when I’m on a call. Pretty weird the experience with the red dot because it leaves me with the idea that is something recording from a third party while I use anything on my phone, and that’s some spy shi* “discovered” by iOS 14, (it doesn’t mean, if now we can see exactly what is happening with our phone, is something bad and has to be removed straight away)

The orange and green dots also let you know if you’re mic or camera is on and should be on screen either if you’re using any of them or “someone else”, without your permission or knowledge , does it. It’s all about being aware if someone or something is listening to you or even watch trough your camera or even worse is recording the all shi* that you’re watching on your phone screen. #tapedphone

Mr. Finch you should be awarded the "Patience of Steel" medal. I've been following this absurd thread just for some Covid-19 comic relief. Whether the light is any part of ROY G BIV or not - Move on people and get a life or a different phone.

CHEERS to the featherless Finch of Steel...!