Quick answer
The August 19, 2026 patch added a show/hide setting for Objective Hints — use it to shrink the search zone on stalled jobs instead of re-cleaning whole maps., off for the pure-vibe experience.
Why hints suddenly stopped helping
- Direction was wrong on one map: the same patch fixed the Zoo Enclosure hint direction — update the game if you are still on an older build.
- Hints point at a category, not a spot: match the category to the right tool before re-scrubbing (mower for growth, washer for surfaces, vacuum for litter).
- Hint display vs highlight effects are separate systems: the patch touched both; toggle the highlight setting equally to sharpen visibility.
Exact menu label and hotkey for the show/hide toggle are UNVERIFIED — open the game's settings menu and look for the "Objective Hints" entry; if you find a different wording, this guide uses patch-note naming.
Related recovery guides
- Stuck at 99% — full recovery checklist
- Finding missing dirt
- Zoo Enclosure map notes — hint-direction fix built in