Free Samsung Status Bar Icons Meaning: Tap to Identify

Search an icon or describe it (e.g. dot, arrows, LTE)

Tap an icon

Tap any status bar icon to see its name, what it means and how to turn it off or hide it.

Samsung status bar icons can be confusing, especially after an update adds a new symbol you have never seen. The tap-to-identify grid above shows 28 common icons, from the blue dot and green dot to 5G, LTE, VoLTE, NFC, hotspot and battery saver. Tap any one to read what it means and how to turn it off.

If you are asking about the new blue dot beside the battery on One UI 9, it is the location indicator. We explain it in full in our guide to the blue dot beside the battery in Samsung phones, and the grid links to it as well.

Samsung status bar icons meaning guide with tap-to-identify icon grid

How to Use the Samsung Status Bar Icons Guide

Scroll the grid or type a word such as dot, LTE or alarm in the search box.
Tap the icon that looks like the one on your phone.
Read what it means and how to turn it off or hide it.
Use the link under the privacy dots for the full explanation.

Samsung Privacy Dots: Blue and Green

One UI shows small colored dots near the battery when an app uses a sensor. The green dot has been on Samsung phones since Android 12 and means the camera or microphone is in use. The blue dot arrived with One UI 9 and means an app is using your location. Neither can be turned off, but you can tap them in the Quick Panel to see which app is responsible.

If the app is one you do not recognize, remove its permission under Settings, Location, App permissions. Our blue dot guide lists the phones that show it and explains why it can appear when you are not using maps.

Samsung status bar icons meaning for the blue location dot and green camera dot — Samsung status bar icons meaning: the blue location dot and the green camera or microphone dot

Network and Data Icons on a Samsung Phone

Letters beside the signal bars tell you which type of network you are on. 5G is the fastest, LTE or 4G is the standard fast connection, H+ is a faster 3G connection, E is slow 2G EDGE data and R means you are roaming and may be charged extra. Two arrows beside the bars show data moving. VoLTE means HD voice calls over the LTE network, and Wi-Fi calling shows when calls go over Wi-Fi. Curious how fast each network label can be? Try the 5G band n78 speed calculator.

5G and LTE: your current mobile network type.
VoLTE: HD voice calls over LTE.
R: roaming, so check your data roaming setting.
Data saver: background data is restricted.

Samsung status bar icons meaning for 5G, LTE, VoLTE and roaming network symbols — Samsung status bar icons meaning for 5G, LTE, VoLTE, H+, E and roaming symbols

Samsung Phone Symbols for Connections

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, hotspot, Smart View and airplane mode all have their own icons. Wi-Fi shows arcs, Bluetooth shows the rune shape, NFC shows an N and the hotspot icon shows waves around a center dot. Airplane mode shows a plane and turns every radio off. Switching the feature off from the Quick Panel removes its icon.

Sound, Alarm and Do Not Disturb Icons

A speaker with a cross means your phone is muted, a phone with waves means vibrate, and a clock with bells means an alarm is set. A circle with a line is Do not disturb or an active mode, which silences calls and notifications. If you miss calls and cannot see why, check for this symbol first.

Battery Icons on One UI

The battery icon fills as you use it, a lightning bolt means charging and a plus sign means power saving is on. To show the percentage number, open Settings, Notifications, Status bar and switch on the battery percentage option, although the menu name can vary slightly between One UI versions.

How to Hide Samsung Status Bar Icons

You cannot hide everything. Notification icons can be limited under Settings, Notifications, Status bar, and many system icons disappear when you turn the related feature off. Privacy dots, the signal bars and network labels cannot be removed. The tap-to-identify grid tells you the exact way to remove each icon.

Samsung Status Bar Icons Meaning: Where to Check Official Information

Samsung explains its icons in the user manual for each phone, available on the Samsung support site. Icons can look slightly different by model and One UI version, so if your symbol does not match, search the manual for your exact phone. The Galaxy A57 is one phone expected to run One UI 9; see the Galaxy A57 specs.

Tips for Understanding Unknown Samsung Icons

Swipe down the Quick Panel and tap the icon for more detail.
Search the grid by what the icon does, not only by how it looks.
Check Settings, Notifications, Status bar to see which icons you can change.
Restart the phone if an icon stays on after you turn the feature off.

Why a Samsung Status Bar Icons Guide Helps

Written descriptions such as a circle with a plus sign inside are hard to match to the tiny symbols on your screen. A Samsung status bar icons guide with real shapes lets you tap what you see, learn what it means and decide whether to ignore it, turn something off or investigate an app.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the blue dot beside the battery on Samsung?

It is the One UI 9 location indicator. It shows when an app is using your location, and it cannot be switched off.

What does the green dot on a Samsung phone mean?

An app is using your camera or microphone. Tap it in the Quick Panel to see which app.

What is the weird symbol at the top of my Samsung phone?

Open the grid above and search by name or look for the shape. Most symbols are network, battery, sound mode or privacy indicators.

What do the arrows next to the signal bars mean?

They show data moving over the mobile network. Turn off mobile data in the Quick Panel to hide them.

Can I hide Samsung status bar icons?

You can hide notification icons and some system icons through Settings, Notifications, Status bar, but privacy dots and network labels stay.

Why did a new icon appear after the update?

New One UI versions add indicators such as the blue location dot. Check the grid or our blue dot guide for what it means.

Axee Davies

Axee Davies is the founder of AxeeTech, publishing gaming guides, codes, and Windows how-tos since March 2013. A tech enthusiast for 13+ years — starting with smartphones and Android rooting — he now runs a site that puts out a new guide every day for Roblox players, traders, and Windows users. More about AxeeTech

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