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.
If you want to search through these press F3 on your keyboard and type in a keyword like “eye” or “arrow”
Hi, what does the small blue icon with number 1 next to a contact name mean? Thx!
Doesn't that signify that you are using sim card 1
Hi Sally - if you email us info@urtech.ca a screenshot and tell us what device it came from (i.e. Samsung S10 or LG...) we will do our best to figure out and add it to the list :)
I have white horizontal ellipse with +21 inside in lockscreen. Note 20 ultra
Hi Emad - just email us a screenshot - info@urtech.ca and we will look :)
What is "lightening"?
Thanks Todd... fixed!
I have a question what does a oblong green capsule shaped symbol with a white phone in the middle of it mean
Hi Genessa;
If you send us a screenshot or photo we will do our best to figure it out and add it to this page of Android icons :)
This is a great guide! I'm a beginner with icons and this has been very helpful.
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.
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Hi, what does the small blue icon with number 1 next to a contact name mean? Thx!
Doesn't that signify that you are using sim card 1
Hi Sally - if you email us info@urtech.ca a screenshot and tell us what device it came from (i.e. Samsung S10 or LG...) we will do our best to figure out and add it to the list :)
I have white horizontal ellipse with +21 inside in lockscreen. Note 20 ultra
Hi Emad - just email us a screenshot - info@urtech.ca and we will look :)
What is "lightening"?
Thanks Todd... fixed!
I have a question what does a oblong green capsule shaped symbol with a white phone in the middle of it mean
Hi Genessa;
If you send us a screenshot or photo we will do our best to figure it out and add it to this page of Android icons :)
see: https://www.urtech.ca/contact/
This is a great guide! I'm a beginner with icons and this has been very helpful.
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.