SOLVED: The Complete Guide To Icons on Android Devices
Android cell phones, tablets and Chromebooks are now fully featured devices and they have a substantial number of sometimes confusing notification icons. We regularly receive requests from visitors about what the icons on their various Android devices mean so we invested a day researching all of the current Android icons we could track down.
We have also included a brief explanation of what each icon means, so you can quickly identify them and take the appropriate action. Additionally, we have included PaperHelp.org review at Academichelp.net, a popular online writing service, to provide you with additional resources for your Android device. It is important to use free VPN for Android to increase security and protect your privacy online.
For beginners, the single graphic below will explain most of the common icons.
However, there are a myriad of other Android icons that sit in the notification bar at the top of your screen and here is the most complete list of explanations we could create.
Hi Val - If you send us a screen caputure, we will do our best to tell you want it is and add it to our master list. info@urtech.ca
There is a little plus sign next to my wifi and I'm not sure why it's there
Hi Tanya - That is usually that WiFi calling is enabled.
We did some research and found a matching graphic from AT&T, which we JUST added to this page. Thanks for the question.
WiFi Icon With Plus Sign and Arrows – WiFi Calling is Enabled = Voice calls use WiFi instead of Celluar Network
Very confused by these icons. First question: The top line of icons on my mobile screen -- Is it the Status bar or the Notification bar? Or are these terms used interchangeably? Second question: Are the icons you depict just generic examples or are they exact illustrations? For example, I have an M symbol upper left, but it looks quite different from the various M symbols you list, and my precise M icon is not on your list.
Hi Roger;
The top bar is named the STATUS BAR but it expands into the NOTIFICATIONS SCREEN when you swipe down, so many people use the terms interchangably, as you pointed out.
Most of the icons are exact but:
1: some do change over time as newer versions of code are released
2: some are different because the cell provider (i.e. Bell, Verizon, Orange...) modified them
3: they can be in color and not black and white
If you email us a screen capture of the icon (include the entire top bar please, not just the single icon), we will investigate it for you.
I occasionally see an icon pop up briefly in the top left screen that looks like a head and shoulders with a series of sound waves like someone is listening. No rhyme or reason and doesn't seem to be associated with any particular app I may be using. Just like somebody eaves dropping on me and my dog when we chat. What IS that?
A friend (truly) has seen a strange icon intermittently pop up on her boyfriend's Android phone. Kind of looks like this '( except the "parenthesis" is leaning from lower left up to high right. I have a pic, but have no way to send it here.
Hi Jeffrey;
If you email us a screen shot, we will research it for you.
this is not a complete guide: you ARE JUST STUPID
Wow - That is some nasty tone. Clearly unnecessary and if we see it again, we will block you IP and your email.
I have a white box with an R in the center of it. It appears on the top right hand corner next to signal strength vertical bars. I have a Mobicel R 1 Plus. Please help.
Hi Leigh;
We sent you an email asking for screen shot so we can figure it out :)
My new Android Moto 5g Stylus has a mid-screen row of icons on swipe-down (before logging into home screen) (Extra "Notifications?")
that always has "App," "Capsule," "Alarm," "Clock," "Wallpaper." What is it, why is it there & how do we get rid of it? This has never appeared on any previous Samsung Android smartphones.
Little dot at top of screen is you are bugged!
The white dot on the left is when you have a pending voicemail, clear your voice mailbox to clear the dot. Feel free to test this when you see the dot, clear and properly exit your voicemail to see it disappear.
The white dot on the right comes on when you turn on mobile data. This can be turned on and off in the drag down notification thingy. Feel free to test it on and off to see that it dictaes if the white dot comes on or not.
I discovered these once and for all by turning off things one by one, until they vanished. Then I turned the same ones back on to see if the dot comes back.
My RedMi Note 10S today shows a compass like arrow (triangle shaped arrow with indented base) pointing to north east next to the bluetooth icon. I have closed all running apps and removed them from memory. The pull down menu doesn't show anything about this arrow either. If you know what this icon means please add it to your list.
Hi Peter;
We don't know that icon, but if you send us a screen shot, we will look into it :)
NORD Android-10. What is, from left side sound button, square box with 2 lines and a slash?
Hi Vern;
I don't know but if you send us a screen shot, we will look into it :)
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Hi Val - If you send us a screen caputure, we will do our best to tell you want it is and add it to our master list. info@urtech.ca
There is a little plus sign next to my wifi and I'm not sure why it's there
Hi Tanya - That is usually that WiFi calling is enabled.
We did some research and found a matching graphic from AT&T, which we JUST added to this page. Thanks for the question.
WiFi Icon With Plus Sign and Arrows – WiFi Calling is Enabled = Voice calls use WiFi instead of Celluar Network
Very confused by these icons. First question: The top line of icons on my mobile screen -- Is it the Status bar or the Notification bar? Or are these terms used interchangeably? Second question: Are the icons you depict just generic examples or are they exact illustrations? For example, I have an M symbol upper left, but it looks quite different from the various M symbols you list, and my precise M icon is not on your list.
Hi Roger;
The top bar is named the STATUS BAR but it expands into the NOTIFICATIONS SCREEN when you swipe down, so many people use the terms interchangably, as you pointed out.
Most of the icons are exact but:
1: some do change over time as newer versions of code are released
2: some are different because the cell provider (i.e. Bell, Verizon, Orange...) modified them
3: they can be in color and not black and white
If you email us a screen capture of the icon (include the entire top bar please, not just the single icon), we will investigate it for you.
I occasionally see an icon pop up briefly in the top left screen that looks like a head and shoulders with a series of sound waves like someone is listening. No rhyme or reason and doesn't seem to be associated with any particular app I may be using. Just like somebody eaves dropping on me and my dog when we chat. What IS that?
A friend (truly) has seen a strange icon intermittently pop up on her boyfriend's Android phone. Kind of looks like this '( except the "parenthesis" is leaning from lower left up to high right. I have a pic, but have no way to send it here.
Hi Jeffrey;
If you email us a screen shot, we will research it for you.
this is not a complete guide: you ARE JUST STUPID
Wow - That is some nasty tone. Clearly unnecessary and if we see it again, we will block you IP and your email.
I have a white box with an R in the center of it. It appears on the top right hand corner next to signal strength vertical bars. I have a Mobicel R 1 Plus. Please help.
Hi Leigh;
We sent you an email asking for screen shot so we can figure it out :)
My new Android Moto 5g Stylus has a mid-screen row of icons on swipe-down (before logging into home screen) (Extra "Notifications?")
that always has "App," "Capsule," "Alarm," "Clock," "Wallpaper." What is it, why is it there & how do we get rid of it? This has never appeared on any previous Samsung Android smartphones.
Little dot at top of screen is you are bugged!
The white dot on the left is when you have a pending voicemail, clear your voice mailbox to clear the dot. Feel free to test this when you see the dot, clear and properly exit your voicemail to see it disappear.
The white dot on the right comes on when you turn on mobile data. This can be turned on and off in the drag down notification thingy. Feel free to test it on and off to see that it dictaes if the white dot comes on or not.
I discovered these once and for all by turning off things one by one, until they vanished. Then I turned the same ones back on to see if the dot comes back.
Tried and tested,
Left white dot = V. mail pending
Right white dot = Mobile data (on)
Hi Ruben;
That is odd. We do not have access to a Moto 5G (nice device, we hear), but I found this which might help: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/prod_answer_detail/a_id/160148
My RedMi Note 10S today shows a compass like arrow (triangle shaped arrow with indented base) pointing to north east next to the bluetooth icon. I have closed all running apps and removed them from memory. The pull down menu doesn't show anything about this arrow either. If you know what this icon means please add it to your list.
Hi Peter;
We don't know that icon, but if you send us a screen shot, we will look into it :)
NORD Android-10. What is, from left side sound button, square box with 2 lines and a slash?
Hi Vern;
I don't know but if you send us a screen shot, we will look into it :)