Android Status Bar and Notification Icons Overview [EXPLAINED]

Ever pondered over the unusual icons present in the Android Status Bar and Notification? Don’t worry! We have got your back.

The Android status bar is actually a Notice board for your Android Device. This icon helps you keep updated with all the happening events occurring in your life. It also notifies about any new texts you have received, someone liked your post on Instagram or maybe if someone went live from their Insta account. All this can be very overwhelming but if notifications pile up, they can look disarranged and untidy if not cleared from time to time.

People often consider the Status bar And the Notification Bar as same, but they are not!

The status bar and notification menu are two different types of features present on the Android phone. The Status Bar is the topmost band on the screen which displays the time, battery status, and network bars. Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, Rotation off, Wi-Fi icons, etc. are all added to the Quick access bar for an easy approach. The left side of the status bar displays the notifications if any.

In contrast, the Notification Bar contains all the notifications. You notice it when you swipe down the status bar and see a list of notifications lined down like a curtain. When you swipe down the notification bar you will be able to see all the important notifications from different apps, phone systems, Whatsapp messages, Alarm Clock Reminder, Instagram Updates, etc.

You can even respond to Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram message via Notification Bar without even opening the Apps.

Seriously, technology has made our lives much easier.

Android Status Bar and Notification Icons Overview [EXPLAINED]

Today, we will talk about the Android Status Bar & Notification Icons, because they can be a little tricky to understand.

A-List of Android Icons and their Uses:

Airplane Mode

The airplane mode is an exclusive feature that helps you disable all your wireless connections. By switching on the airplane mode, you tend to suspend all the phone, voice, and text services.

Mobile Data

By toggling on Mobile Data icon you enable the 4G/3G service of your mobile. If this symbol is highlighted, it means that your device is connected to the internet and also shows the strength of the signal, depicted in the form of bars.

Wi-Fi Icon

The Wi-Fi icon tells us whether we are connected to an available network or not. Along with that, it also shows the stability of the radio waves our phone is receiving.

Flashlight Icon

If you cannot tell this by the light beam coming out from the back of your phone, a highlighted flashlight icon means that your flash is currently switched on.

R Icon

The small R icon denotes the roaming service of your Android device. It means that your device has been connected to some other cellular network which is outside your mobile carrier’s operating area.

If you see this icon, you might or might not lose your internet connection.

Blank Triangle Icon

Just like the R Icon, this also tells us about the Roaming Service status. This icon usually shows up on the older version of Android Devices.

Also Read: How to Reset Your Android Phone

Reading Mode

This feature is usually found in the latest versions of Android Devices. It does exactly what its name suggests. It optimizes your phone for reading and makes it a pleasant experience by adopting grayscale mapping which helps soothe human vision.

Lock Screen Icon

This icon simply helps you to lock the display of your phone without using the external lock or power button.

GPS Icon

If this icon is highlighted, it simply means that your location is on and that your phone can triangulate your definite locus via GPS, mobile networks, and other features.

Auto-Brightness Icon

This mode, if turned on will adjust the brightness of your display on its own according to the ambient lighting conditions. Not only does this feature saves battery but it also improves visibility, especially during the day.

Bluetooth icon

If the Bluetooth icon is highlighted it depicts that your Bluetooth is on and you can now exchange media files and data wirelessly with a PC, tablet, or with some other android device. You can also connect to external speakers, computers, and cars as well.

Eye Symbol Icon

If you see this iconic symbol, don’t think of it as something crazy. This feature is called Smart Stay and it makes sure that your screen does not go dark when you are looking at it. This icon is mostly seen in the Samsung phones but can be disabled by exploring the settings.

Screenshot Icon

The photo-like icon which appears at your status bar means that you have taken a screenshot by using the key combination, that is, volume down button and power button pressed together. This notification can easily be removed by swiping away the notification.

Signal strength

The Signal Bars icon denotes the signal strength of your device. If the network is weak, you will see two or three bars hanging there but if it is strong enough, you will notice more bars.

G, E and H Icons

These three icons depict the speed of your internet connection and data plan.

The G icon stands for GPRS, that is, General Packet Radio Service which is the slowest among all the others. Getting this G on your status bar is not a pleasant case.

The E icon is a bit more progressive and evolved form of this particular technology, also known as the EDGE, that is, Enhanced Data Rates for GMS Evolution.

At last, we will talk about the H icon. It is also called HSPDA which stands for High-Speed Downlink Packet access or in simpler words, 3G which is way faster than the other two.

Its advanced form is the H+ version which is speedier than the previous connections but less swift than a 4G network.

Priority Mode Icon

The Priority mode is depicted by a star icon. When you see this sign, it means that you will receive notifications from only those contacts which are added in your favorites or the priority list. You can toggle this feature ON when you are really busy or maybe if you are not in a vibe to attend anyone and everyone.

NFC Icon

The N icon means that our NFC, that is, Near Field Communication is turned ON. NFC feature enables your device to transmit and exchange media files and data wirelessly, by just placing two devices next to each other. It can also be switched off from the connection settings or the Wi-Fi toggle.

A Phone Headset Icon with Keyboard

This icon depicts that your Teletypewriter or the TTY mode is switched ON. This feature is exclusively for the specially-abled people who cannot speak or hear. This mode makes communication easy by allowing portable communication.

Satellite Dish Icon

This icon has similar functions like the Location icon and it tells us that your GPS feature is turned ON. If you want to turn off this mode, visit the Location settings on your device and switch it OFF.

No Parking sign

This forbidden sign does not forbid you from doing anything. If this sign shows up, it simply means that you are currently in a restricted network area and that your cellular connection is very weak or is close to nil.

You will not be able to make any calls, receive notifications, or send texts in this situation.

Alarm Clock Icon

The alarm clock icon depicts that you have successfully set an alarm. You can remove it by going to the status bar settings and un-checking the alarm clock button.

An Envelope

If you see an envelope in the notification bar, it means that you have received a new email or a text message (SMS).

System Alert Icon

The caution sign inside a triangle is the System Alert Icon which denotes that you have received a new System Update or some important notifications which cannot be missed.

Recommended: 10 Ways To Fix Android Connected To WiFi But No Internet

I know, learning about so many icons altogether can be a little overwhelming, but, don’t worry. We’ve got your back. We hope this list of Android Icons has helped you recognize and know about the meaning of each one. At last, we hope that we have cleared your doubt about the unfamiliar icons. Let us know your feedback in the comments below.