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cespeed
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Hovering Box of Random Unrelated File Names

I would like to disable the little box that appears when I mouse over text. Hover text is disabled, and yet in certain applications, completely random and unrelated info shows up in a small pop up box when I'm trying to highlight some text. It's most annoying TextEdit, which I use to tag text for importing into InDesign. It is truly random text that appears, like a file name, that is not in or behind the document I'm working on. Gear: MacBook Pro, OS 26.5.1. Please help.

Posted on Jun 17, 2026 3:51 PM

5 replies

neuroanatomist
User level: Level 9 (72,871 points)

Nov 2, 2026 7:42 PM in response to cespeed

The random pop-up box showing file names or unrelated items while highlighting text in TextEdit is a known macOS UI bug/feature tied to internal cursor flags and Finder/UIKit tooltips rather than standard accessibility "Hover Text". 



How to Fix the Random Pop-up Bug via Terminal

UseIt has been reported that disabling a specific macOS redesigned cursor feature via Terminal resolves this exact issue: 


  • Open Terminal (found in Applications > Utilities or via Spotlight search).
  • Copy and paste the following command, then press return:
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/UIKit.plist redesigned_text_cursor -dict-add Enabled -bool NO
  • Type your Mac password (it will not display on the screen as you type) and press Enter.
  • Restart your Mac for the change to take effect.


Bugs can be reported to Apple here:

Feedback - macOS - Apple


Personally, I have seen this on rare occasions. It can also be 'dismissed' by relaunching Finder. Hold the Option key and secondary click (right click) on the Finder icon in the Dock, then select Relaunch.


Barney-15E
User level: Level 10 (125,838 points)

Jun 17, 2026 4:14 PM in response to cespeed

No idea what you are seeing unless you are invoking the Force Touch gesture to Look Up what is under the cursor. That is enabled in the TrackPad or Magic Mouse System Settings. I can’t imagine that is what you are seeing as the results are absolutely related.

Smattus
User level: Level 1 (15 points)

Nov 2, 2026 6:19 PM in response to Barney-15E

The same thing happens to me. I have a TrackPad, but the file names pop up after I move the cursor with a light touch. There's no Force Touch gesture involved. It looks like the names are expected to be used for an autofill of some sort, though I'm not necessarily in a fillable field when a name magically appears.


The file names match things that I downloaded with Safari but they were saved in other folders, not in Downloads.


Hmmm. I'll try moving the downloaded files away from their original destinations.


Using MacOS 26.6.2 and Safari 27.0


cespeed Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Nov 10, 2026 11:18 AM in response to neuroanatomist

I'm a bit reticent about messing around in Terminal – I have no experience with it. So here's a screenshot and some more info.


I work with two displays connected to a MacBook Pro. The laptop is on my right, and a Studio Display is my main display in between the laptop and an old Cinema Display. The hover box contains the name of a file that is on the desktop screen of the laptop. This screenshot is a web page on Safari.


KiltedTim
User level: Level 10 (238,530 points)

Nov 2, 2026 6:18 PM in response to Smattus

Maybe post a screenshot of what you're seeing. I'm having a hard time picturing what you're seeing.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256313968