Orange dot - listening to iPhone calls?

Hey there, LT012.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! Thanks for posting about the new notification that you're seeing when using an app that uses the microphone. We'd be glad to help you out.

You mentioned that you turned off the microphone for all apps in the list in Settings > Privacy > Microphone. One app that you likely won't see in that list is the Phone app, which is what you use when handling normal phone calls on an iPhone, so you're seeing the orange light because the Phone app is using your microphone while you talk on the phone. This is expected.

More info about this new feature are available in the "Review or change access to the camera, microphone, and other hardware features" section of Control access to hardware features on iPhone.

Let us know if you need anything else.

Be well.

Yes, an app using the microphone IS THE PHONE APP. If you don't want to ever see the orange dot, the simple solution is to NEVER make or answer a phone call, because when you do, the microphone is being used.

So, you feel they are now are informing you they are recording your conversations?

I wonder if they have been recording your conversations all along. And if so, I wonder why they have now chosen to let you know they are recording.

i believe these are two different things. What you talk into being received by the person your talking to in a conversation is not the same as your microphone recording a call. The orange dot means the microphone is recording, not listening. Making phone calls does not require a microphone recording.

I absolutely agree....The microphone recording has nothing to do with making phone calls. Are incoming as well as outgoing phone calls being recorded? It’s a simple yes or no answer that I would appreciate from Apple....Don’t get me wrong, I am not naive to the fact that this HAS been happening BEFORE the orange dot...I’ve always suspected...Especially when adds pop up concerning the very topic being discussed shortly after having a conversation with someone...As well as being able to be watched through the camera...lol I’ve always been “that person” whose put tape over ANY lens...even on our computer...These very conversations are the reasons why...After this latest feature being installed (which I truly do appreciate having) I would think Apple would have been prepared to answer these questions...After all, they are the ones who “want to protect our privacy”...Or is that from everyone else BUT them?

You are misinterpreting the point of the indicator.

Your iPhone has a microphone and camera(s). These are devices that can be used to listen or see.

So it's a privacy concern right?

The orange dot simply tells you that your microphone is being used. The green dot tells you that your camera is being used.

About the orange and green indicators in your iPhone status bar - Apple Support

When on a phone call, clearly the microphone will be used.. it's not something you need to monitor while on a phone call. But if you look and see that it's on, it should not be a surprise or a concern. Same concept for a FaceTime or Zoom call, with the green dot.

What these indicators should do is alert you to microphone and/or camera being used when not expected.

ie if you are not on a call and you are say.. reading thru your emails or typing up a shopping list in the Notes app and you notice the orange light is on, you'd then need to wonder what app is listening in the background.

DumbBlondeDeb wrote:

Neither did I but it’s because they do listen. Turn whatever you want off. It doesn’t matter. Everything you say, record, send, receive...is recorded. It is sold to companies and employers. This IS our reality.

Here is Apple’s privacy statement, which refutes what you posted ➡️ https://www.apple.com/privacy/

If you believe Apple is LYING in their privacy statement you should immediately get rid of all of your Apple products, and probably contact a lawyer.

But think about it: If Apple really is spying on you, why would they add a clear signal that they were? Why wouldn’t they keep it secret?

there is a proper explanation right here

About the orange and green indicators in your iPhone status bar - Apple Support

the icon does also appear when you receive a call, you just have to answer the call

So what if I have my microphone turned off an all apps, and it is my iPad that keeps showing the orange dot? I don’t use SIRI and my iPad can’t make calls, so I’m unsure how I can figure out what I can turn off to stop this. I am sure my iPad does listen to conversations in the room, as I get ads targeted to things I’ve talked about and not searched. FB is one place I see the ads, but FB isn’t even listed on the microphone page.

Benji7879 wrote:

I didn’t see you answer the question. Is Apple now recording or listening to our phone calls and is that why the orange dot now on when I make a phone call

No. Why would you think Apple would be so silly as to show an orange indicator if they were recording your conversation? If they wanted to record your conversations, they have 100% control of the software, meaning YOU would not know if they were recording.

is that why the orange dot now on when I make a phone call

The dot is showing because you are using the microphone during the phone call.

Unless you purposely installed an app to record your calls, they are not being recorded.

First of all, they are not answering a simple question. Second, it actually says that the orange dot is an app using your microphone to record. Third, apple support said, "One app that you likely WON"T see in that list is the Phone app, which

is what you use when handling normal phone calls on an iPhone, so you're seeing the orange light because the Phone app is using your microphone while you talk on the phone. This is expected." There you go!! we cant see iphone phone app is actuallly using the app why cant we see that????? this is where i think they are corrupt but hey they r not the only thing corrupt in the US. no one does anything so they will keep doing it.. we cant make or break them so they dont give a rats ***.

I've no apps open and haven't made a phone call for around 5 hours but there is still an orange dot on my phone... when I open the control screen, it says 'phone' but my phone app is definitely not in use. Any ideas???

Hi,

I’ve reviewed your reply and understand: the microphone is on during normal phone call usage i.e. the orange dot is illuminated.

The question not being answered is: during normal phone call usage where the orange light is on: ARE CALLS EVER BEING RECORDED OR MONITORED?

No, they are not. The purpose of the light is to let you know that an app on the iPhone is using the microphone. When you swipe down to see Control Center it will tell you what app. It will show it is the phone if you are on a phone call and that just shows the microphone is active, not that it is recording anything. Apple does not monitor or record your phone calls.