What is the green/orange dot on the top of my iPhone?

iPhone users may notice a small green dot in the top corner of the screen, next to the dynamic island. This point is more than just a hardware failure or simple connectivity indicator; it’s an important security and privacy feature. Apple integrated this indicator starting with iOS 14. Its appearance is directly linked to the use of the device’s camera sensors and serves as an unobtrusive notification about access to these components.

What is the green dot at the top of the iPhone?

The green dot is defined as a privacy indicator, and its purpose is to help users always know when an app is using their device’s most sensitive sensors. This space at the top of the screen can display different types of indicators.

Green dot: An iPhone app is actively using the camera. This includes the front (user side) camera, the back (main) camera, and possibly a microphone at the same time.
Orange dot: This indicator is active when an app is using your iPhone’s microphone exclusively.

Together, these two indicators establish a visual first line of defense against possible unauthorized or unwanted access. Apple introduced this mechanism in response to growing privacy concerns as malicious software or over-privileged apps could trigger sensors without a user’s knowledge.

See exclusive photos from the iPhone 17 launch

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Apple launched three versions of its smartphones: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. — Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images North America/Getty Images (via AFP)

Apple CEO Tim Cook shows off the new iPhone 17 — Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP

New iPhone 17 model on display at Apple in California — Photo: Bruno Rosa

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iPhone 17 arrives with a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR screen, 3000 nits maximum brightness, and up to 120Hz refresh rate with ProMotion. — Photo: Reproduction

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The new iPhone 17 Pro will be sold in three colors — Photo: Reproduction/Apple

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New accessories added to iPhone 17 Pro — Photo: Bruno Rosa

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New iPhone 17 camera — Photo: Reproduction/Apple

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iPhone 17 price — Photo: Reproduction

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In Brazil, iPhone 17 prices start from R$11,499 — Photo: Reproduction

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iPhone 17 graphics chip improvements — Photo: Reproduction/Apple

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Apple starts selling “Cord” accessory for covers — Photo: Bruno Rosa

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iPhone 17 overview — Photo: Reproduction/Apple

iPhone 17: Camera innovations and performance improvements for Pro models

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models feature an improved camera system with three rear cameras, each with a dedicated 48-megapixel standard, wide-angle, and telephoto lens. This configuration allows for 4x and 8x optical zoom, as well as up to 40x digital zoom. Both devices use the A19 Pro chip. The iPhone 17 Pro Max introduces a 2TB storage option, which is revolutionary for the company.

The standard iPhone 17 has a 6.3-inch screen with a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, uses an A19 chip, and Apple says it has 8 hours more battery life compared to its predecessor. Fast charging reaches 50% in 30 minutes.