What is the red dot above cellular network bars on iPhone?

manisa5977 wrote:

I notice my red light now eveytime I call on Siri. “Hey Siri” Bang, the red light pops up. Is this New? What is it for?

This would because talking to Siri involves turning the mic on, which is what the red light indicates.

FisherofMen77 wrote:

But why is the microphone being used during the call? Is the call being recorded?

Can you explain how someone on the other end of a phone call would be able to hear you if the microphone was NOT being used. I mean, really. Think about it for just a moment........

O oh, we have another conspiracy theory here, this conversation is getting really interesting 🧐! Didn’t even cross my mind how orange/red and green dots conversation can be so enriching and enlightening, most certainly intriguing and very fascinating to me. Thank you for your scholarly discussions!

Why do we care to see if the mic or cámara is bieng used!?!

Really? You don't care if the mic or camera is being used without your knowledge?

I doubt that.

Obviously if we are using it we know it’s bieng used 🤦🏻‍♂️

No, clearly you're missing the point. The reason these indicators were added is to give you a tool to help you protect your privacy.. because without an indicator of some sort, you have no way of knowing if your microphone or camera is being used.

Please remove this post. I’m tire of all the miss understanding and fussing back and forth. It was not meant to stirred up anything. But by all means don’t quiet me, and so what if that’s my opinion I’m entitled to express it.

Thank you!

Ok so you told us what the yellow & green lights are but Never Answered The Question. That Was What DOES THE RED LIGHT ABOVE CELL SIGNAL METER WHEN USING THE PHONE AS A ACTUAL TELEPHONE!!!! Can You Answer That Mr/Ms Apple Support Einstein??? Pls N Thx U!!!

If you bothered to read the thread you're posting in.. YOU'D SEE THIS QUESTION HAS BEEN ANSWERED

You cannot talk on the phone without using your microphone, hence.. the orange indicator will be displayed.

AMPEDUP88 wrote:

I only see a red dot & that's when I'm talking to someone on speakerphone. I know they are watching & listening to me through the mic & cameras.

[Edited by Moderator]

Of course the party you are talking to you via speakerphone are listening to you. The orange/red dot indicates the mic was live at that time.

If it was a Facetime call, the green indicator means your camera was also on.

There are three colors, I hav3 seen orange and red and the colors are distinct as they are on a traffic light. The green I've also seen. Is there an app or some way to request a port scan on the device to see what's going on? Is is programmable to find which app is using a device's camera? I'll have a go at it if it's a basic call or function.

There are only two lights. The microphone indicator light will appear either red or orange, depending on the background. Green indicates the camera is in use.

"Ports" is a networking term. The lights have nothing to do with networking, only with what is happening on your phone.

Open Control Center. It will tell you what device is using your camera or microphone right at the top.

The red you are seeing happens due to the contrast settings you are using and the background. It is the same light. The green one is for the camera.

A port scan would be useless. If you open Control Center while the light is on it will show the light and what app is using it. If it says unknown contact Apple Support.

It is a basic API that when called to turn on the microphone it activates the light. Due to sandboxing you would not be able to write an app to tell which process is using it and it would be redundant anyway.

you said it’s the phone app that’s using the microphone when making a phone call right?

so, if i understand this correctly, my phone is recording my conversations.

what if i do not want the app to be recording my conversations?

how do i turn this off?

i turned off microphone in settings

i thought that was enough, i was wrong.

how do i turn it off?

mm2021 wrote:

you said it’s the phone app that’s using the microphone when making a phone call right?

so, if i understand this correctly, my phone is recording my conversations.

what if i do not want the app to be recording my conversations?

how do i turn this off?

i turned off microphone in settings

i thought that was enough, i was wrong.

how do i turn it off?

When you make a telephone call, you listen and you talk.

When you listen, you listen to the speaker on the phone.

When you talk, you talk into the microphone.

When the microphone is "hot" or active or listening or however you'd prefer to think of that, the orange indicator is lit.

This listening to the speaker and talking into the microphone is entirely separate from discussions of recording the conversation.

And the Apple phone app doesn't record. Whether the person you've called is recording you is a different question.

You can certainly disable or mute the microphone too, which I'd also expect would extinguish the orange indicator, but then you can only listen to the telephone call. The other parties in the telephone call cannot hear you when your microphone is muted.

You clearly DO NOT understand. The red dot means you're microphone, which is required for someone to hear you speak when you make a phone call, is in use. It does NOT mean you are being recorded.

If you truly do not want to see the red dot, it's very easy. Do NOT ever make a phone call, a FaceTime call, a Skype call or use any app which requires the microphone to be used on your phone.

I have plenty of patience 😁, just being matter of fact.

If you are referring to the various icons in control center, you don't need to remove any of them..

at the very top of control center, it will tell you which app is using your microphone/camera, at the time it's being used.

afterwards, for a period of time it will display what app used your microphone/camera recently.