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Orange dot won't turn off on iPhone

Ever since updating my iPhone XR to IOS 14.0.1 the little orange dot signifying that my microphone is on, won’t go off. I’ve tried closing out of all apps, shutting down the phone, turning off the ability to use microphone in all apps but the orange light persists. My next step is to reset the phone but I would rather not do that if I can help it.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]


iPhone XR, iOS 14

Posted on Sep 28, 2020 6:53 AM

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Posted on Nov 3, 2020 10:27 AM

Re-read what was written above!! - all apps closed out none given ability to use microphone.

Same issue on my iphone - All apps have been turned off in privacy setting, orange light still comes on without identifying any app still being used. Either this is an Apple bug or there is an app on the phone that can't be viewed or is not being identified by IOS.

152 replies

Dec 25, 2020 8:30 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Dude stop trolling. She’s saying she’s not using anything and the dots still there. So stop.


to the person who made the question, I’m in the same boat. I’d also like to figure that out bc of the light is on then it SHOULD say what is using it. So to see nothing but see the indicator that says something is using it is somewhat unsettling even if it’s not “malicious” bc it shows something is at least hiding & I don’t like that especially if I can discern what that is that is hiding & listening/using my mic 👀

Jan 20, 2021 9:49 AM in response to Simplyme9766

Do you mean it is on when you are viewing the Home Screen, when texting, when you are reading email, when you are web browsing, when you are playing games? Or only when you are on a phone call, when the microphone has to be on so the other person can here you?


if it is truly on all the time for all of those activities, then it is probably in your wallpaper image, and is not on at all.

Feb 16, 2021 12:34 AM in response to Cariiisssaaayyy

By all means smash your phone and get a Galaxy! It has the huge advantage that when there is spyware on it you will have no way of knowing. And no one here in this user to user forum cares how you waste your money.


btw, it says “unknown” because another app ran after the one that used the mic. But you probably know which app it was because you used it for a phone call, WhatsApp, telegram, FaceTime or similar.

Feb 27, 2021 12:29 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

I’ve been looking for the last 2 weeks as I couldn’t understand why mine was on all the time (it really irritated me) and it didn’t show anything on the control centre. I rebooted my phone, denied access to mic on everything and still nothing. Powered down for 5 minutes and still no change. This is probably around the 15th thread I’ve read about this and your comment literally gave me a facepalm moment 🤦🏻‍♀️ It was my wallpaper... Something so simple yet something I’d never even thought about or something anyone else thought to mention. Thank you for relieving my frustration!

Mar 21, 2021 9:01 PM in response to jasmine1191

this happened to me, I closed all apps out and went into settings and turned all that off... it was still there. I turned my WiFi off (I was not on my home WiFi) and boom it went away! So I turned the WiFi back on and let it connect to whatever it did before and it looks like I wasn’t even actually on anyone’s WiFi but just having it turned on searching was giving someone access to my microphone.... try turning your WiFi off and see if it goes away

Mar 22, 2021 9:46 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Yes IK... but it comes on when using for just about anything. And I guess my concern is it just started happening g.. was never there when I first got my phone so I bought into the fact that it’s unwanted listening /spying? Without my permission. But it sounds like you’re saying it has to come on when making a phone call... which would make sense if it didn’t come on in other situations? It’s all good... I appreciate everyone’s input! Ty!

Orange dot won't turn off on iPhone

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