How to Manage Microphone and Camera Permissions on iPhone

Take control of your privacy. Manage which apps have access to your microphone and camera with these precise steps for iOS 18.

1. Open Privacy settings. Open the Settings app from your Home Screen or App Library. Scroll down and tap Privacy & Security to access the central hub for hardware permissions.
2. Review Camera permissions. Tap on Camera within the Privacy & Security menu. You will see a list of all installed apps that have requested access to your camera; toggle the switch next to any app to revoke or grant access.
3. Review Microphone permissions. Return to the Privacy & Security menu and tap on Microphone. Review the list of applications and toggle the switches to manage which services can listen through your iPhone microphone.
4. Verify active usage. Look for the colored indicators in the top right corner of your screen, known as the Status Bar icons. A green dot signifies the camera is active, while an orange dot signifies the microphone is in use.
5. Check App Privacy Report. Go back to the Privacy & Security main screen and tap App Privacy Report. This provides a detailed log of how often apps have accessed your camera or microphone in the last seven days.