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While casually scrolling on your iPhone, you may have noticed different colors behind the clock in the top left corner. These colors are not random and you should know what they mean.
You may see a blue, green, red, or purple bubble-like color behind the clock in the status bar in the top left corner if you have an iPhone X or later, or in the entire status bar if you have an iPhone 8 or later. former.
Knowing what these different colors mean can improve the way you use your phone and improve your privacy and security. Learn more about what these different colors mean behind the watch for iPhone (X or later) below.
Four-color bubbles in the upper left corner of an iPhone screen
What does it mean if you see the blue bubble at the top left of your iPhone?
A blue bubble in the upper left corner of an iPhone
When a blue bubble appears in the upper left corner of the screen (just behind the time or clock), it means that an app is actively using the information on your iPhone. location or are you using a Mirror screen?
What does it mean if you see the green bubble at the top left of your iPhone?
The green bubble in the upper left corner of an iPhone
When a green bubble appears in the upper left corner of the screen, just behind the time or clock, it means you are on a call or your iPhone is being used as a personal hotspot. If you’re not using it and you see the green bubble, another device may be connected to your hotspot and potentially using your data without your knowledge.
How to prevent unauthorized use
To prevent unauthorized access to your hotspot, make sure you have a strong password set.
- Gonna Settings
- Click Personal hotspot
- Tap on the wifi password to create a strong password. It is also good practice to periodically check and change this password.
Identify who is using your access point
You can see how many devices are connected to your hotspot by opening the Control Center. For iPhones with Face ID, swipe down from the top right corner; For iPhones with a home button, swipe up from the bottom. Long press the wireless section to see the number of connected devices.
Kick out unauthorized users who are using your hotspot
If you find an unknown device connected to your hotspot, you can disconnect it by changing the hotspot password or disabling the personal hotspot feature.
- Gonna Settings
- Click Personal hotspot
- Lever off Allow others to join.
- Then turn it again in and share the New Password only with reliable devices. Also, consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords.
Remember, monitoring your hotspot connections regularly is important to ensure they are not used without authorization, which can lead to data loss and potential security risks.
What does it mean if you see the red bubble at the top left of your iPhone?
A red bubble in the upper left corner of an iPhone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
When a red bubble appears in the upper left corner of the screen, just behind the time or clock, it means that your iPhone is recording sound on your screen.
What does it mean if you see the purple bubble at the top left of your iPhone?
A purple bubble in the upper left corner of an iPhone
When a purple bubble appears in the upper left corner of the screen (just behind the time or clock), it means that your iPhone is using SharePlaywhich can be used to share content, such as games, between iPhones.
Navigate apps, calls, and hotspots with one tap
Now that you know what these different colors mean, you can be more aware if your iPhone is doing something you don’t want it to do.
Curious to see exactly what iPhone app or feature is used with these different colored bubbles? If you tap the watch when there is a color behind it, it will take you to the app or settings to control the function being used.
For example, if you tap the watch when the bubble is green and you’re on a call, it will return you to the main window where you can see who you’re talking to.
If your iPhone is used as a personal hotspot, tapping the green bubble will send you to the personal hotspot settings section, where you can see who is using it and disable it if you never intended to use it as a hotspot staff. the hot spot first.
A personal iPhone hotspot is used
This is where it comes in handy to know what these colored bubbles are. For one, you can use them to maneuver apps or settings on your iPhone easily. From a security and privacy perspective, you can now receive alerts when an app or someone else is using information or features on your iPhone that you don’t want.
Discover and block unwanted access to your iPhone’s camera and microphone
If you see that your iPhone’s microphone and/or camera are in use even though you don’t have an app open, it probably means that an app has permission to use those features on your phone even when it’s not in use or your phone may have been hacked. In our article “Your device is spying on you?” You’ll find step-by-step instructions to see which apps have permission to access your microphone or camera and how to disable those features.
If you’ve checked your permission settings and your microphone and camera are being accessed without your consent, there’s a chance that some malicious spyware is using your device to spy. If you are not sure if your phone has been compromised, you can check for these additional signs described in our article “How to tell if your phone has been hacked.”
To avoid this, consider adding good antivirus software to your phone to prevent malware. Additionally, the best way to protect yourself from clicking on malicious links that install malware that can access your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you to any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
The colorful gauges on your iPhone serve as a visual guide to what’s happening behind the scenes. Whether it’s the blue bubble alerting you about location services or screen mirroring, the green bubble indicating an active call or hotspot use, the red bubble warning of a recording in progress, or the purple bubble indicating SharePlay activity, each color plays a crucial role in the improvement. your knowledge and control over the functions of your device.
By understanding what these colors represent, you can take proactive steps to protect your privacy, manage your connections, and optimize your iPhone experience. This subtle but powerful feature underscores the importance of being informed and aware of the digital footprints we leave behind. So the next time you notice a colored bubble behind the clock, remember that it’s more than just a design choice: it’s a gateway to understanding and managing your iPhone’s various capabilities.
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