Find which app is using your mic or camera — via Apple Support

Tricklow riskmacOS 14 Sonoma and later

A coloured dot next to the Control Center icon tells you something is recording: orange means the microphone is in use, green means a camera is in use, and purple means system audio is being recorded. Opening Control Center tells you which app it is, so you can catch anything listening or watching when it shouldn't be.

Takes effect right away

How to do it

  1. Look for an orange (microphone), green (camera) or purple (system audio recording) dot next to the Control Center icon at the top right of the screen.
  2. Click Control Center. The top of the panel lists the apps using the microphone, camera, location or system audio.
  3. To revoke access, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone (or Camera) and switch the app off.

Sources

Source reviewed
2026-11-02
Link checked
2026-11-02
Tested hands-on
Not by Oddbyte.Me

Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every macOS version, so keep the undo handy.

microphonecameraorange dotgreen dotprivacycontrol centerpurple dotgreen dot

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Hidden settingmedium riskAdmin

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