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iPhone users left baffled after spotting strange black dot at the top of their screens
Home>Apple>iPhone
Published 10:23 8 May 2025 GMT+1

iPhone users left baffled after spotting strange black dot at the top of their screens

Some think Apple is secretly watching us

Tom Chapman

Tom Chapman

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Featured Image Credit: Tim Robberts / Getty
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If there's one thing you can rely on when it comes to iPhone users, it's that they'll be unhappy with an Apple update.

While they're just as likely to complain if their iPhones were left with their current operating system and weren't regularly updated with a slew of fancy features, there's nothing like a good iOS update to get the Apple forums and Reddit rattled up.

No matter how hard Apple tries, the ever-grouchy iPhone community will always find something to moan about.

Typically, new iOS updates come with grumbles that our battery life takes a hit, although we're told this is a normal side effect of a new update.

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The March 31 release of iOS 18.4 was declared as the 'big' one following the botched release of iOS 18 and delays with Apple Intelligence, with the update including a ton of great features.

As well as finally being able to transfer data to a Mac from your iPhone or iPad, we also got a new Photos app, and new emojis (if that's your thing).

iPhone users are baffled by the subtle change (Apple)
iPhone users are baffled by the subtle change (Apple)

Over on Reddit, iPhone users have been left baffled by a bizarre update that seemingly snuck in with iOS 18.4.

Notably, they've spotted a peculiar black dot to the right of their Dynamic Island.

The OP asked, "This appeared on my iPhone 16 a few days ago. Is it part of an update or does it have to do with an app I have? Just wondering what it is."

Others were equally perplexed in the comments, with one writing: "That's where Tim Cook spies on you."

Another joked: "Your Dynamic Island had a baby. Congrats!!!"

A third chuckled: "Dynamic Island mini. They'll keep it around for 2 generations then remove it when it isn't popular enough for their standards."

Solving the mystery, a fourth summed up: "They changed it so now when there’s an active activity on the dynamic island the privacy indicator moves to the side."

There are other Reddit threads on the situation, but apparently, it's all part of a standard iOS update.



As reported by MacRumours, the moving privacy dot was part of iOS 18.4.

The site writes: "The small dots that show up on the ‌iPhone‌'s 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."

Previously, using your camera led to a green dot indicator inside the Dynamic Island, while using your microphone was indicated by an orange dot.

For whatever reason, Apple has moved the privacy indicator outside of the Dynamic Island, possibly to make it more obvious and alert you if you've accidentally left your camera or mic active.

It's hardly the end of the world, but for iPhone users that are constantly looking for something to be vexed about, moving a tiny dot is apparently a pretty big deal.

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