Since upgrading to iOS 18.4, have you noticed a black dot at the top of your iPhone? You\u2019re not … More alone \u2014 and rest assured, it\u2019s nothing to worry about. The new black dot is part of Apple\u2019s iOS 18.4 update.<\/p>\n
AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n
Update May 11: This article, originally published on May 9, has been updated to include information about what to do if the iPhone dot is lit.<\/p>\n
Since upgrading to iOS 18.4<\/a>, have you noticed a black dot at the top of your iPhone? You\u2019re not alone \u2014 and rest assured, it\u2019s nothing to worry about. The new black dot is part of Apple\u2019s iOS 18.4 update.<\/p>\n In a post on Reddit<\/a>, also reported by Unilad<\/a>, one user posted a picture of the mystery dot, which had appeared on their iPhone 16 after upgrading to iOS 18.4, to the right of the Dynamic Island.<\/p>\n Many people thought it was a bug since upgrading to iOS 18, with others joking about the new black dot. \u201cYour Dynamic Island had a baby. Congrats!!!\u201d one Reddit user wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cThey changed it so now when there\u2019s an active activity on the dynamic island the privacy indicator moves to the side,\u201d another Reddit user replied. And they\u2019re right.<\/p>\n ForbesNew iOS 18.4.1 Warning\u2014You Have 7 Days To Update Your iPhoneBy Kate O’Flaherty<\/a><\/p>\n iOS 18.4 Privacy Indicator Dot<\/p>\n The dot \u2014 or privacy indicator \u2014 is an intentional feature added by Apple in iOS 18.4<\/a>, but the dots have been there in general since iOS 14. The orange dot on your iPhone reveals that the camera is in use, in case an app or service is using it without your knowledge.<\/p>\n The dot can also appear if someone has activated the camera intentionally during a cyberattack, for example using spyware<\/a>. Meanwhile, the green dot will light up when your iPhone microphone is in use, so don\u2019t be surprised if this happens when you are on a call.<\/p>\n ForbesApple Siri Eavesdropping Payout Deadline Confirmed\u2014How To Make A ClaimBy Kate O’Flaherty<\/a><\/p>\n In iOS 18.4, a black outline has been added to the orange and green dots to make them more obvious. This was reported on Mar.21 by Apple-focused website MacRumors<\/a>. \u201cThe small dots that show up on the \u200ciPhone\u200c\u2019s menu bar when the camera or microphone is in use have been moved to the left and are now more apparent thanks to a black background,\u201d the site writes.<\/p>\n Black iPhone Dot \u2014 What To Do If The Indicator Is Lit<\/p>\n So now you know what the black dot is on your iPhone. So what should you do if you see a black dot (or indeed, an orange or green indicator) on your iPhone?<\/p>\n First of all, check that you aren\u2019t using your iPhone mic or camera in an obvious way. For example, you might be on the phone or using FaceTime and notice the dot is lit. That\u2019s fine and is just your iPhone working in its normal way.<\/p>\n If that isn\u2019t the case, check apps that have access to your camera or mic in your Settings > Privacy & Security and go through each of them to see if anything is obvious there. While you are doing so, revoke access to any apps that shouldn\u2019t need to use these two things. A take-out app shouldn\u2019t need this level of access, for example.<\/p>\n Check apps that have access to your camera or mic in your Settings, Privacy & Security and go … More through each of them to see if anything is obvious there.<\/p>\n Apple iPhone <\/p>\n If you have done this and the orange or green light is still lit, there is a chance someone has taken control of your camera or mic by different means. Don\u2019t panic, unless you are a journalist, government worker, dissident or business operating in certain sectors, you are unlikely to be a target.<\/p>\n However, if you are a possible target for spyware \u2014 which sees adversaries take control of your device including the camera and mic \u2014 there are apps such as iVerify which claim they can help detect this.<\/p>\n Another thing you can do to disrupt spyware temporarily is, turn your device off and on again. If you do discover or strongly suspect spyware, however, the best thing to do is stop using your iPhone altogether and contact an organization such as Amnesty International for help.<\/p>\n iOS 18 Black iPhone Dot Is A Feature, Not A Bug<\/p>\n So there you have it. The black dot on your iPhone after upgrading to iOS 18.4 is not a bug at all. It\u2019s a privacy enhancement that helps keep your iPhone safe.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t upgraded your iPhone yet, now is the time to do it, because iOS 18.4 and the latest version iOS 18.4.1<\/a> include important security features too. Go to Settings > General > Security Update and upgrade your iPhone when you can.<\/p>\n