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Firebelle_Jill
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Ghost Images Interfering with Multiple Applications

I've been having problems with "ghost images" appearing over whatever I am working on. These are not tooltips, though they appear similar.  It is usually the name of a file or folder somewhere on my computer.  Sometimes it is tab arrows. (I've included several screenshots.)


At first this was happening only on my external monitor(s).  I tried different monitors, different cables, and different adapters, but it made no difference.  Now it’s happening on my MacBook Pro screen also.  It happens nearly every day, though some days are worse than others.  It happens in multiple applications, including but not limited to Finder, Mail, Safari, Acrobat, and Microsoft Word.  This started after a system software update a few months ago.


I've tried to get help through Apple Support, but their first-line people are clueless and have been giving me bad advice. Worse, Apple Support employees have been unwilling to escalate the matter or ask their peers in the broader tech support or software engineering teams.


Any help would be appreciated.







Posted on Oct 24, 2026 7:29 PM

4 replies

steve626
User level: Level 7 (20,243 points)

Oct 24, 2026 9:09 PM in response to Firebelle_Jill

The following are fairly standard things to try to troubleshoot, perhaps you have already done some of them?


  • Boot into Safe Mode. Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support, your Mac may seem sluggish, but try to ascertain if the problem goes away in Safe Mode.
  • Create a new user. Log out of your normal user, try the new user. Is the problem gone.
  • Download and run Etrecheck, and post its report here following these instructions:

How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

It's a diagnostic tool that may reveal the culprit. It does not reveal any personal data, you can check the report contents before posting.


If the problem is gone in Safe Mode, that means something installed or configured is the cause. If a new user does not have the problem, the installed item or configuration problem rests inside your account. Etrecheck provides good insight into which things installed could cause this.


We know brand new Macs don't do this so it is almost certainly something installed, but finding it can be a challenge. If the problem started after an update, that likely means that the installed item is no longer compatible with the newer OS.



Firebelle_Jill Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 25, 2026 12:10 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Thanks for the input. I'll consider it. This hasn't been a "text clipping" in that I haven't performed any of the actions you describe in the other post. Nor is it something that can't be removed. It hovers over whatever I'm working on and remains there until I perform some other action (like scrolling or moving my mouse). Then it disappears. So the symptoms are different. But you've given me something else to look into.

Firebelle_Jill Author
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Oct 24, 2026 9:16 PM in response to steve626

Thanks, Steve626. I'll try those things when I get a chance. Unfortunately, the problem is intermittent. So I'll have to wait for a time of increased frequency.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256382414