How to use the microphone and camera indicators on Android 12 and later
Learn what the green dot means on Android 12 and later, how to see which app used your camera or mic, and how to block access quickly.
Since Android 12, a small green dot appears at the top of the screen when an app is using your camera or microphone. It is an easy way to spot spying. You can also see which app used them and when. Menu names differ slightly on Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus phones.
Steps
- Learn the dot. A green dot near the top right of the screen means a camera or microphone is in use right now. Swipe down the notification area and tap the dot or icon to see the app name.
- Use the quick toggles. On Android 12 and later, swipe down twice and look for Camera access and Mic access tiles. If you do not see them, tap Edit and add them. Switch them off to block all apps.
- See who used them recently. Open Settings, then Privacy, then Privacy dashboard. It shows a timeline of which apps used camera, microphone and location in the last day. Search Settings for Privacy dashboard if needed.
- Remove access from an app. From the dashboard, tap an app and choose Manage permission or Don't allow. If an app used the mic and you were not calling or recording, take away the permission at once.
- On older Android versions. Android 7 to 11 have no dot. Use Settings, Apps, the app name, Permissions and check Camera and Microphone manually. Some phone makers add their own indicators, so look in Privacy settings.
Menu names differ a little between phone makers and Android versions. If you cannot find a setting, open Settings and use the search box.
Why it matters
Spyware, fake apps and some stalkerware can listen or watch quietly. The indicator is one of the few visible clues. A dot that appears while the phone is idle or in your pocket deserves attention. A thirty-second look at the dashboard can show an app using the mic without any good reason.
Watch out for
- A dot while on a video call or voice message is normal.
- The dot may show briefly when an assistant or voice search starts.
- Some apps record only while open, so permission matters even if the dot is not seen.
- A phone may also be watched by someone with physical access, not just apps.
How Safeavio helps
Safeavio's phone scan helps you spot stalkerware-style apps and risky permission combinations. Its permission review lists apps with camera or microphone access so you can trim them. It cannot see inside other apps, so the green dot and the Privacy dashboard stay your first check.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions
Why is there a green dot when I am not using the camera?
Another app may be using it, or a call or voice assistant started briefly. Open the dot to read the app name. If it is unknown, remove its permission and uninstall it.
Can I block the mic for every app at once?
On Android 12 and later, yes, use the Mic access tile in quick settings. While off, no app can listen, and you can turn it on again when you need a call or recording.