Arrow icon at the top of an iPhone: what does it mean?
On an iPhone it means an app is using Location Services right now.
What Apple says
- iPhone (Apple) — Location Services. An app is using Location Services. Apple points to its page on controlling which apps can use your location.
Source: Apple Support: Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons (iPhone User Guide) (checked 2026-09-29)
- What it looks like
- A small solid arrowhead pointing up and to the right, like a compass needle, near the clock or the battery.
- Shown by
- iPhone (Apple)
- On other phones
- Samsung and Google show location as a map pin, not an arrow.
Icons to compare
Sources
Each meaning above is taken from the maker’s own support page, fetched and read on the date shown. The drawing is ours; the real icon on your phone may be drawn a little differently and can change with software updates.
- iPhone (Apple) — Apple Support: Learn the meaning of iPhone status icons (iPhone User Guide). OS: iOS 27, the version the guide opened on; not dated on the page. Checked 2026-09-29.