Printer icon stuck in macOS menu bar

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Level 1

20 points

Printer icon stuck in macOS menu bar

Printer top menu item that wont go away

I updated to Tahoe. Since then I have several issues, but this one is regarding the top menu items. Yesterday I printed something and it automatically created an icon in my top menu items and it wont go away. Ive printed since then and I see the print icon appear, but as soon as the print job is done it disappears again. This one is stuck there. Its distracting because it the FIRST one, its black (unlike the other white ones). I cannot drag it off the menu bar like I can the rest, I cant even move its position. Yes, I opened up System Settings>Menu Bar and there no print option there to hide or anything. Its just stuck there. See first icon on the left. I can click on it and it tells me the print item I printed yesterday so somehow it is just stuck there.

Its pretty annoying. Any advice would be appreciated.

My mac:

[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Dec 12, 2025 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Dec 12, 2025 11:52 AM in response to meh_67

The macOS Print Center app shows up in the Dock when you're printing something, there is not a native option to show it in the Menu Bar so I suspect a 3rd party extension/print driver/etc.

Starting in Safe Mode, which disables 3rd party extensions and performs some system cleanup, would confirm that it's a 3rd party issue.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Dec 12, 2025 12:36 PM in response to meh_67

Not necessarily. Is there anything in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions that looks relevant? I've never seen that icon before, but the 'lozenge' around it indicates that it's not native (else it would respect the transparency state of the menu bar).

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Answer 3

Dec 12, 2025 10:50 AM in response to meh_67

Did you try holding the Command key down and drag it off?

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Answer 4

Dec 13, 2025 10:08 AM in response to neuroanatomist

This is actually part of the printing system, introduced in a recent update and seems intended to match the "Live Activity" behavior on iOS. I have no idea how to get rid of it, other than seeing if there are any printing related activities in Activity Monitor that sound related.

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Answer 5

meh_67 Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 12, 2025 1:21 PM in response to neuroanatomist

Nothing odd in the Login Items and Extensions. I even tried deleting the printer and its preferences etc in both the overall library and user library and then reinstalling the printer and its still there. Anytime I use the printer yet another black print icons shows up, but as soon as its done, it goes away. This one is just stuck there and if I click on it, it shows me what I printed yesterday with a green check that its done. Ill dig deeper with this later. It more annoying than anything else. I cant even drag the others to the left of it so its to the right and not as intrusive. It literally locked in place.

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Answer 6

meh_67 Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 12, 2025 3:29 PM in response to meh_67

OK, No idea what happened but... it just went away. Seriously. I had tried a lot of things, restarted countless times and it was still there. I gave up and have been working on projects and I glanced up and... its gone.

The good news: Its gone.

The bad news: I have no idea why and cant help anyone else if this happens to them.

So - I hope this doesnt happen to anyone else.

Thank you to everyone for their assistance!

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Answer 7

Dec 13, 2025 10:39 AM in response to jblanchard1

Thanks, you are correct! I just printed something, and it appeared during printing:

After printing completed, I saw the green checkmark in place of the progress circle briefly, then the menu bar icon disappeared along with the Print Center app in the Dock.

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Answer 8

meh_67 Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 12, 2025 11:28 AM in response to leroydouglas

Yes, I looked online for the usual culprits. I cant drag it off or even move it to a different location.

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Answer 9

meh_67 Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 12, 2025 12:24 PM in response to neuroanatomist

I started in Safe Mode but it was still there. It was just a black lozenge shape for a bit, but then it showed up fully. Does that mean its NOT a third party issue?

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Answer 10

Dec 12, 2025 4:14 PM in response to meh_67

Safe Mode also does some cache cleaning, etc., maybe that was it. Either way, glad it’s sorted (hopefully for good).

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