After a download, a compass/safari icon remains on the screen

I haven't noticed it occurring over the past few days. It happened for me anytime I downloaded something right after I upgraded to High Sierra on 26 Sep 2017. But it didn't happen on the 27th and it hasn't happened today (28th). So, I'm not sure if it was just a short lived graphical error or if it's an intermittent problem that may return at some point.

Anyone come up with a solution. Mine is still happening. I have gone back and delete extensions, plugins in the /Library and ~/Library folders. I have searched and searched for the root cause without success.

Having the same issue on High Sierra version 10.13.1 using Safari version 11.0.1 (13604.3.5)

Only goes away when we quit the browser. Sounds like a plist issue or an extension but I haven't gone down that route yet. Any answers on this?

Thanks,

I work in a school setting and some of the staff are having this issue. I disabled the handoff feature but the icon still pops up on the MacBooks after they download anything on safari. Is there any other setting or any step that may not be listed that needs to be done?

I've got this issue as well, but I have a mid2010 MacBook Pro. This means that I don't see the Handoff option under settings > general. Now what do I do? Honestly, I'm going to have to switch to Chrome or Firefox, this is annoying. Any ideas?

My iMac is a late 2009 model and so I don't have an "Allow handoff" feature in my System Preference > General settings. And yet I also have the persistent Safari compass icon after downloading each time. This also started after I upgraded to High Sierra. Would appreciate other solutions that worked in similar circumstance as mine.

If "New windows open with Tabs" has to be permanently disabled, then this is not a very useful fix for those who prefer this function. Better to abandon Safari altogether and use another browser that doesn't have this compass/safari icon problem.

I have also found that the compass/safari icon problem seems to occur with downloads from some websites but not others -- which suggests it may be provoked by something in the code of those websites. Perhaps if the Apple developers explored that possibility, they might find a solution.

Lonac -

Fix:

In Finder, right click on "Downloads", then click "Add to Dock"

It's not really a fix - might be a workaround if it works for some. I really do not want the Download folder in the dock, it's not necessary and it takes up space better used for other things! May as well carry on using Firefox or Chrome.

I wish this were even a work-around rather than a fix. Fact is, I have always had the Downloads folder in my Dock, and I still have the problem of the download icon remaining on the screen. I come back to a question I've asked before in this forum: Does the icon persist only with downloads from some websites, but not all websites? And if so, what is it that makes this happen only some of the time?

Of all the suggested "fixes" thus far, this one seems to yield the best results -- at least in combination with turning off the Handoff feature on all other devices. However, this is not a permanent fix. From time to time, the problem with the compass/safari icon returns, and I have to run through the steps again. Really annoying, for a pointless icon animation that none of us really need.

Try this from apple support..........NVRAM reset.

Shut down computer and hold the Option(Alt), Command, P and R keys. While holding those keys power on the computer and keep holding the keys until you hear the startup chime twice, then let go of the keys.

This seems to have worked for me on my 2015 MacBook Pro.

The Allow handoff option in General Prefs didn't work for me.

Same issue here! Anytime i download something, I get the grey safari Icon overlay. Only way to clear it is to close safari. Started with High Sierra upgrade.

QuicksiteUSA, you are a genius!! Thank you.

Boom! That was the answer! Thank you so much!

Did not work for me at all.