What the colors mean
On iPhone, an orange indicator means an app is using the microphone without the camera; a green one means the camera is in use, possibly with the microphone. Android also has privacy indicators and a dashboard on supported versions. These signals show access at that moment or in recent history; they do not by themselves prove why the access occurred.
A practical check
If a dot appears during a video call, it is expected. If it appears after you closed all calling and recording apps, note the time and inspect the recent-use panel. Apple's
indicator guide and Google's
Android privacy dashboard guide explain how to investigate.
What to do
Revoke an unneeded permission, close the app and see whether access stops. Repeated unexplained access warrants checking installed apps and updates. A dot cannot tell you whether a recording was saved or transmitted; avoid both panic and false reassurance.
