How to Make the Compass HUD Appear Without Carrying a Compass

Why the HUD Is Missing

By default, GUI Compass only draws its overlay when a compass is somewhere in your inventory. If you dropped your compass, stored it in a chest, or are playing a modpack where compasses are rare, the direction and coordinate readout simply will not show up. This is controlled by the mustHaveCompassInInventory setting, which you can flip so the HUD is always visible.

Turning Off the Compass Requirement

1. Open the mod's config screen from the main menu or the in-game mod list.

2. Locate the option labeled mustHaveCompassInInventory.

3. Set it to false (disabled).

4. Save the config and return to the world.

Once disabled, the compass text renders regardless of what is in your inventory, so you can keep your hotbar free for tools. If you later want the compass to matter again, re-enable the option and simply carry one compass anywhere in your inventory, not necessarily your hotbar.

Verifying It Works

Drop all compasses on the ground and check the corner of your screen. The facing direction and X, Y, Z values should still be updating as you walk. If nothing appears, confirm the HUD is not hidden behind another mod's overlay and that the text color is not set to something invisible against your background.