Android Adds Blue Location Dot as Phones Expand Sensor-Use Warnings

Overview

• Google’s Android 16 adds a blue status dot to flag when an app uses your location.
• On Pixel phones the alert appears as a blue dot or a location icon, while some brands show a green dot with a location symbol.
• Android still uses one green dot for camera or microphone use, while iPhones show green for camera and orange for microphone.
• You can tap any dot to see which app is active and then revoke permissions, force stop the app, or uninstall it through settings.
• If a dot appears with no clear cause, check permissions first because some Android phones also show a white placeholder when the status bar is full.