| Situation | Normal? |
|---|---|
| You have the camera app open | ✅ Yes |
| You are on a video call | ✅ Yes |
| You are using a voice recorder | ✅ Yes |
| You are using a navigation app (microphone for voice commands) | ✅ Yes |
| You do not remember giving the app permission | ⚠️ Possibly concerning |
While this is not a problem if you currently have the camera open, it might alarm you if you do not remember giving your open apps access to the camera or microphone.
According to Samsung, you can figure out which app is using your camera or microphone in four quick steps.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the initial notification – When the notification first appears, it will have an icon showing whether the alert is about the camera, the microphone, or both. It will then shrink to just be the dot in the upper right corner. |
| 2 | Swipe down on the notification bar to open it |
| 3 | Tap on the dot to expand it – This will open a dialogue box that tells you what is being used (camera, microphone, or both) and what app is using them |
| 4 | Review and decide – You are good to go if you are fine with the app having and utilizing access. You do not have to take any further steps. |
There may be an issue if you do not remember granting the indicated app access to your camera and microphone.
| Action | When to Take It |
|---|---|
| Toggle permissions off | If you do not remember granting access to the app |
| Review all app permissions | If you see the dot frequently from unknown apps |
| Delete the app | If the app is one you no longer use |
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open Settings on your Android device |
| 2 | Navigate to Apps or Applications |
| 3 | Find the app in question |
| 4 | Tap Permissions |
| 5 | Toggle off Camera and/or Microphone access |
