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Tags iOS Security

What Does the Green Dot Mean on iPhone

A green dot randomly appearing on your iPhone can be alarming and cause you to question if this is normal iPhone behavior or if your device has been hacked. This happens when your phone’s camera is in use. If you’re not actively using it, chances are someone is spying on you. In this guide, I’ll explain what the green dot means, as well as how to protect yourself from spying with Clario Anti Spy.

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What does it mean when a green dot appears on your iPhone?

A green dot appearing at the top of your iPhone is an indication that your phone’s camera is in use. It might also mean that the microphone is activated at the same time as the camera. Your camera app might be open or running in the background—perhaps you’ve forgotten to close it.

 

It works similarly to the orange dot on an iPhone—another one of Apple’s privacy indicators—which keeps showing up when your microphone is in use.

 

But those aren’t the only reasons the green dot can appear on iOS. If your mobile phone is compromised or breached, it can signify that spyware or a spying app is accessing or controlling your phone’s camera to spy on you. Here’s a list of apps that spy on your iPhone.

 

Apple’s iPhone ecosystem is less vulnerable to threats than some operating systems—but there are still risks. It’s still possible for someone to install stalkerware on your iPhone and track you, or steal your personal data with another form of spyware.

 

If you jailbreak your iPhone (or if someone else jailbreaks it for you), it won’t have all of Apple’s security protections. Jailbreaking can also be the root of issues such as an iPhone not making calls.

 

Are you concerned about whether your iPhone is jailbroken? Clario Anti Spy can help you find out. Its Device System Check scans to see if your phone has been jailbroken and if there are any iOS updates available, allowing you to keep on top of downloading important security updates.

 

How to use Clario’s Device System Check to see if your iPhone is secure:

  1. Download Clario Anti Spy and follow the on-screen instructions to set up an account and log in.
  2. Open the app and, under Device System Check, tap Scan.
  3. When the scan is complete, check to see if there’s any updates available, or if your phone is jailbroken.
If you see the green dot appear on your iPhone, you might be concerned about spying. It's more of a worry if your phone is jailbroken, so use Clario Anti Spy to check whether your device is jailbroken or secure.
Steps 1-3. Download and open Clario Anti Spy > Device System Check > Scan > check results

Clario’s Device System Check isn’t the only useful feature, though. Clario Anti Spy can also keep your iPhone safe with some of its other tools, including Anti-spy Setup, which provides you with a checklist of ways you can help keep your phone safe and secure.

 

How to keep your iPhone secure with Clario’s Anti-spy Setup:

  1. Download Clario Anti Spy and log in.
  2. Under Anti-spy Setup, tap Set up.
  3. Tap on each section in turn, and follow the on-screen instructions to improve your phone’s security. Tap Done when you complete a section.
If you see a green dot appear on your iPhone and you’re worried, use Clario's Anti-spy Setup to improve your phone's security and reduce the risk of being spied on.
Steps 1-3. Clario Anti Spy > Anti-spy Setup > complete each section > Done

If you see the green dot appear on your iPhone and you’re worried, these tools should give you peace of mind that your phone is secure.

Should you be worried about the green dot on your iPhone?

If you’re using your camera or another app with camera access, you shouldn’t be concerned if you see the green dot at the top of your phone. However, you should be worried when the green dot appears while apps or websites are closed, as this could mean someone is spying on you.

 

Can someone see you through your phone camera? Yes, hackers and cybercriminals can watch you through your phone’s camera if they’ve breached your phone. Otherwise, no one should be able to see you through your camera when it’s not in use.

Does the green dot on iPhone mean someone is watching you?

The green dot on your iPhone doesn’t necessarily mean someone is watching you. It might just mean that the camera is activated.

 

You’ll see it while using apps you’ve granted permission to use your phone’s camera in your settings or preferences, like FaceTime and Zoom.

 

However, if you don’t think your camera should be active and the green dot appears on your iPhone, this could be a sign that someone is watching you.

How to check why the green dot is appearing on iPhone

To check why the green dot appears on your iPhone, swipe down from the top of the screen (or up if your iPhone has a home button). You will see the name of the app or website using your iPhone’s camera alongside a green circle with an inside camera icon in the Status Bar above the battery icon.

Image showing an iPhone’s Control Center. The Control Center contains answers for users wondering what the green dot means on iPhone.

Conclusion

If you’ve ever wondered what the green dot means on iPhone, you likely have a good idea by now. iPhone’s green light is a privacy feature that pops up to alert you when your camera is on or being used. It comes in handy when you’ve unknowingly left apps or websites accessing your iPhone’s camera open, prompting you to be mindful of your privacy. You can avoid or disable the flashing green light by simply closing apps and websites with camera access.

 

Staying in control of your privacy is critical for all iPhone users. One way to achieve this is by utilizing cybersecurity tools.

 

Clario Anti Spy offers a range of security features, including the Device System Check, which allows you to see if your device is up-to-date and whether it’s been jailbroken. Jailbroken devices are more vulnerable to threats, including spyware—which might hijack your camera and cause the green dot to appear on your iPhone.

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