iPhone color indicators signal privacy and activity status

Apple uses specific color-coded visual indicators on the iPhone to inform users about active functions and privacy access. These indicators appear at the top of the screen, often near the clock.

For privacy, an orange circle (or an orange square if the ‘Color Blindness’ accessibility option is active) signifies that an application is using the microphone. A green circle indicates that the camera is in use, or that both the camera and microphone are active simultaneously.

Other colors signal different ongoing activities: red indicates that the screen is being recorded, while blue is used to signal active navigation or step-by-step directions.