How to see which apps are accessing the camera and microphone on an Android smartphone

Privacy is a big topic when it comes to mobile devices. iPhones and iPads now come with a feature that displays a warning icon if an app is accessing your device’s camera or microphone in the background. Specifically, your iPhone’s screen will display a small blue or orange dot in the upper right corner of the screen when an app activates the camera or microphone, respectively.

If you use Android, how do you know which apps are activating your device’s camera and microphone? There’s no official solution from Google yet, but you can use a third-party app called Access Dots.

How to Use Access Dots on Android

This application is available for free on Google Play Store, and you can download it by visiting the link below:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=you.in.spark.access.dots

When you first open the app, you’ll be greeted with a toggle to enable Access Dots. Slide this switch to “ On ” to start using it.

You will then be taken to the Android Accessibility settings menu. For Access Dots to work, we need to allow it to run as an Accessibility Service.

Next, turn on “ Use Access Dots ” to continue with this feature.

A pop-up will ask you to confirm that you want to grant Access Dots permission on your device. Tap “ Allow ” if you agree with that.

Now, go back to the Access Dots app. It's already launched, but you'll probably want to make some adjustments. Tap the gear icon to open the settings.

First, you can change the color of the warning dots.

Next, you can decide where you want the indicator dot to appear. Choose one of the locations listed below. (Custom locations will require purchase).

Finally, use the slider to adjust the size of the dot.

In addition to the indicator dot, the app also keeps a log of which apps have accessed your camera and/or microphone. From the Access Dots home screen, tap the clock icon to view the history.

You'll now see colored dots appear whenever an app is using your device's camera or microphone.

Obviously Access Dots would be more useful if it sent notifications about which apps are using the camera/microphone in addition to displaying the dots. Hopefully in the next update the developer of this app will add new functions.