• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
iPhone users are only just learning what this mysterious icon means

Home> Apple> iPhone

Published 15:03 5 Dec 2023 GMT

iPhone users are only just learning what this mysterious icon means

Some people thought it had something to do with FBI surveillance.

Prudence Wade

Prudence Wade

Have you ever looked at your phone and realised you have no idea what a certain icon means?

That's what happened to one Reddit user, and they were keen to get to the bottom of it.

They posted on Reddit that they've been using an iPhone since 2011, and was wondering what this mysterious new icon meant:

Advert


Reddit / gg895517


The icon, which looks like a blue circle with sound waves in between two triangles, appeared on their phone for the first time around four months ago, and they were baffled with what it meant.

Advert

Of course, conspiracy theories started coming thick and fast.

Someone commented: “It’s for the FBI surveillance van outside your home.”

Another user wrote: “Doppler effect”, thinking it had something to do with a change in wave frequency.

But, the mystery has officially been solved - the unusual icon actually means that voice control is on.

Advert

When the user who posted about it on the subreddit r/iOSBeta discovered this, they said: “Thank you. Before this beta update I think it used to be a blue microphone icon so I had never seen this before.”

According to Apple Support, this function means that you can control your iPhone with just your voice.

Oscar Wong / Getty Images

When on, you can say things such as “take a screenshot”, “turn up volume” or “open Instagram” - and quite literally your wish is its command.

Advert

You can even go into settings and set a specific phrase to do certain commands.

For example, you could come up with a secret phrase which unlocks your phone - this only works when Face ID or Touch ID are disabled, but how cool is that?

Just be careful that anyone who knows the password could say the phrase and unlock your phone.

To activate voice control, just go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control.

Advert

You can then alter the language and play around with the different commands.

For those of us who scroll way too much and our thumbs are beginning to hurt, you can even set voice control to automatically scroll for you.



@princetechofficial on TikTok recently shared this hack in a video - go to Voice Control > Commands > Create New Command and create a custom gesture for scrolling.

So, now you know what this unusual icon does, and it may even come in use next time you want to scroll handsfree - such as when you are cooking and need to read through a recipe, or when you want to look through Instagram while working out.

Featured Image Credit: credit: / Pexels / Reddit
Apple
iPhone

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

10 hours ago
a day ago
  • 10 hours ago

    iPhone user shares obscure iOS hack that people are saying is 'life-changing'

    This might change the way you use your iPhone

    Apple
  • 10 hours ago

    Game-changing iPhone settings you should immediately change after installing latest iOS 18.5

    These shouldn't be overlooked

    Apple
  • 10 hours ago

    How to bring back iconic lock screen feature Apple removed from iPhones in 2022

    It's a game-changer for music lovers

    Apple
  • a day ago

    Huge free iPhone upgrade will be available for millions soon you can get it before everyone else

    The beta version of iOS 26 will be available from next month

    Apple
  • When Apple's iOS 26 is expected to launch for millions of iPhone users
  • iPhone users shocked after just discovering what snow percentage on weather app really means
  • Apple confirms major breakthrough for Apple TV and iPhone as fans beg 'don't mess this up'
  • iPhone iOS 26 feature goes viral as it tempts users to switch to Apple Music