A MYSTERY symbol that appears on your iPhone status bar has been confusing Apple fans.
The icon looks like a small card with a human silhouette – and it’s not instantly clear what it means.
The symbol has previously confused users.
For instance, a Reddit thread on the iPhone subreddit queried the strange icon around a year ago.
Another one posted nine months ago asked a similar question.
But it has a very simple meaning that indicates when you’ve made a change to your iPhone.
The iPhone pass symbol is meant to symbolize a staff pass.
That’s because it’s used to show that you’ve activated your iPhone’s Work Focus.
The Focus feature was added in iOS 15, and is an evolution of Do Not Disturb.
There are several different Focus modes designed to help you switch off certain parts of your phone, including Personal, Sleep, and Work.
You can also create a custom Focus and give it a name and icon of your choosing.
But Work is one of the default Focus modes and – among other things – lets you silence personal chats.
It’s designed to help you focus on your work and avoid any unwanted distractions from unrelated personal apps.
To change or control a Focus, first swipe into the Control Center.
On an iPhone with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right edge of the screen.
Alternatively, swipe up from the bottom on an iPhone that has a Home button.
Now look for the Focus button, which should have a greyed-out photo of a crescent moon if no Focus is active.
Tap the button once and you’ll be able to choose from any of your Focus modes – including any custom ones that you’ve set up.
It’s possible to choose a length of time for a Focus, and even scheduled them to turn on at certain times of day.
You can follow the same steps to turn off a Focus mode.
The Work Focus icon also has a special secret: it looks exactly like an Apple employee pass.
Official Apple staff passes have the same shape and layout, include a cut-out at the top to connect a strap, hook or tag.
You’ll even be able to see these in-person if you go to an Apple Store.
It’s even common for Apple retail employees to have their own animated Memoji instead of their face on their passes.
