How do I find which app is using mic on my iPhone 15 running iOS 18.5?

Go to Mic Permission Settings

Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone

• Review the list of apps that have requested microphone access.
• If something looks suspicious, disable access immediately.

Check:

• Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control
• Settings → Siri & Search → See if "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" is enabled
• Dictation: Settings → General → Keyboard → Dictation

You may try some of these steps, please check after each step...

1. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
   1. Restart the device. That's it.
   2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
2. Corporate iPhone Profile Check and Removal Guide
   1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate
   2. If it is your device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organization/enterprise/School Management?
   3. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
   4. Please contact the system administrator of the organization who provided the profile to you
3. Reset Network Settings: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings: Only network settings are removed.
   1. When you reset network settings, previously used networks and VPN settings that weren’t installed by a configuration profile or mobile device management (MDM) are removed. Wi-Fi is turned off and then back on, disconnecting you from any network you’re on. The Wi-Fi and Ask to Join Networks settings remain turned on.
   2. To remove VPN settings installed by a configuration profile, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management, select the configuration profile, then tap Remove Profile. This also removes other settings and accounts provided by the profile. See Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone in this guide.
   3. To remove network settings installed by MDM, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management, select the management, then tap Remove Management. This also removes other settings and certificates provided by MDM. See “Mobile device management (MDM)” in the iOS Deployment Reference.
   4. Reset your Network Settings. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before.
   5. 
4. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
   1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
   2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
   3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
   4. 
5. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
   1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
   2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device model and iOS version.

The iPhone is completely secure, unless you are someone worth spending roughly a $millions to hack, or you have jailbroken it.

The dot will be red or orange, to maintain contrast with the background. Either way it means that a microphone is on. If you are on a call, of course it is on. If you have just used Siri, it will be on for a short time. If you have any messaging apps: FaceTime, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, etc some of them keep the microphone on.

Maybe its on your wallpaper.