Unlike iPhones, which use green and orange dots to distinguish between functions, Android phones use a single icon for all of them. If you see a green dot, it means that one of your open apps is using the device’s microphone or camera. While this isn’t a problem if you’re actively using the camera, it can be concerning if you forget to grant camera or microphone access to an open app.
What should you do if you see a green dot
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According to Samsung, you can quickly find out which app is using the camera or microphone in four easy steps. When the notification appears, an icon will show whether the alert is for the camera, the microphone, or both. This icon will then shrink to a dot in the upper right corner, next to other active indicators.
For more information, swipe down the notification bar to open it and tap the dot to expand it. This will open a dialog box telling you what’s being used (camera, microphone, or both) and which app is using it. If you grant the app access, you don’t need to do anything else.
However, if you don’t recall granting access to a particular app, open its settings and disable those permissions. If the notification shows an app you no longer use, consider removing it from your device for peace of mind.
