What do the little up and down arrows next to the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4G icons mean?
On some Android phones, it’s common to find small arrow-shaped icons next to Wi-Fi, 4G/5G, and Bluetooth connections in the status bar. These icons may be something you haven’t noticed before and you may wonder what they mean or why they’re there.
It is worth noting that these icons, although not a native feature of the Android operating system, can be somewhat mysterious if you do not know their meaning. Here we tell you in detail what these arrows indicate and their real usefulness on your device.
- Why do these arrows appear and what do they mean?
The arrows you see next to the Wi-Fi, mobile data, and Bluetooth icons aren’t part of standard Android functionality. Instead, they’re a feature added by some manufacturers. This means that not all devices have them, and their presence may vary by phone model and brand.
Specifically, you are most likely to find these arrows on devices from brands like Samsung. On the other hand, mobile phones from other brands, such as Motorola or Google Pixel, usually do not have these symbols. If you come across these arrows and want to understand their purpose, here we explain them to you.
- Up arrow : Indicates that your mobile phone is sending data over the network. This happens, for example, when you upload a photo to social networks, send an email, or share files.
- Down arrow : It means your mobile phone is receiving data. You will see it active when browsing the internet, downloading apps, playing videos, or receiving messages on WhatsApp.
As for the Bluetooth arrows, they generally indicate that the device is connected to your mobile phone and that data exchange is taking place in both directions. For example, when you are listening to music using wireless headphones or sending audio to a smart speaker.
The arrows next to the icons in the Android status bar allow you to visually see the data flow on your device in real time. This helps you get a better understanding of how your connections are being used.
Additionally, it can be useful for diagnosing connectivity issues with your Wi-Fi or mobile data. If you notice that the arrows aren’t appearing at the right time, it could indicate a problem with your internet or Bluetooth connection.