diff --git a/internal/api/cookie_set_test.go b/internal/api/cookie_set_test.go
index 7311560..9da605e 100644
--- a/internal/api/cookie_set_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/cookie_set_test.go
@@ -91,7 +91,15 @@ func TestCreatedBannerViaCookie(t *testing.T) {
 	if rec2.Code != 200 {
 		t.Fatalf("paste view: got %d", rec2.Code)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(rec2.Body.String(), tok) {
-		t.Error("created banner does not show the deletion token (#143 cookie flow broken)")
+	// #168: the created pill no longer prints the deletion token; the token
+	// still arrives via the one-time cookie flow (re-set on the view response).
+	var got bool
+	for _, c := range rec2.Result().Cookies() {
+		if c.Name == "tok_"+id && c.Value == tok {
+			got = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !got {
+		t.Error("created view did not re-set the deletion token cookie (#143 cookie flow broken)")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/web/static/app.css b/internal/web/static/app.css
index 2e0b0ee..ca1c7cd 100644
--- a/internal/web/static/app.css
+++ b/internal/web/static/app.css
@@ -197,11 +197,17 @@ body {
   border: 1px solid var(--border); border-radius: var(--radius); padding: 5px 8px; background: var(--bg);
   color: var(--fg); font: inherit; font-size: 21.6px; width: 130px;
 }
-.created-banner {
-  display: none; padding: 10px 16px; font-size: 22.4px; background: var(--surface-2);
-  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); word-break: break-all;
+/* #168: compact corner notification pill (paste-created feedback) */
+.created-pill {
+  position: fixed; right: 16px; bottom: 16px; z-index: 200;
+  background: var(--surface-2); color: var(--ok); border: 1px solid var(--ok);
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm); padding: 4px 12px; font-size: 13px;
+  opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; transform: translateY(6px);
+  transition: opacity .25s ease, transform .25s ease;
+  box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0,0,0,.25);
 }
-.created-banner a { color: var(--accent); }
+.created-pill.show { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
+@media (max-width: 640px) { .created-pill { right: 12px; bottom: 12px; } }
 
 /* paste view */
 .meta-bar { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; padding: 12px 18px; flex-wrap: wrap; }
@@ -386,15 +392,15 @@ td a.slug.paste-name { background: none; padding: 0; border-radius: 0; font-fami
 }
 .seg input, .toggle input { accent-color: var(--accent); width: 16px; height: 16px; margin: 0; }
 
-/* toast (#19) */
+/* toast (#19, #168): small pill anchored to the corner, out of content flow */
 .toast {
-  position: fixed; left: 50%; bottom: 32px; transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(8px);
+  position: fixed; right: 16px; bottom: 16px;
   background: var(--surface-2); color: var(--fg); border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: var(--radius-sm); padding: 6px 18px; font-size: 20.7px;
+  border-radius: var(--radius-sm); padding: 6px 12px; font-size: 13px;
   opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; transition: opacity .25s ease, transform .25s ease; z-index: 200;
   box-shadow: 0 4px 16px rgba(0,0,0,.25);
 }
-.toast.show { opacity: 1; transform: translateX(-50%) translateY(0); }
+.toast.show { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
 /* status variants (#16) */
 .toast.success { border-color: var(--ok); color: var(--ok); }
 .toast.error { border-color: var(--err); color: var(--err); }
@@ -623,7 +629,6 @@ a.admin-link:hover { color: var(--fg); text-decoration: underline; }
   .code { font-size: 13px; }
   .codebody { padding: 0 12px; }
   .footnote { font-size: 12px; padding: 8px 12px; gap: 10px; }
-  .created-banner { font-size: 13px; }
   .iconbtn { font-size: 13px; padding: 6px 10px; }
 
   /* unlock card */
@@ -802,4 +807,3 @@ button[type="submit"]:focus-visible,
 .mt18 { margin-top: 18px; }
 .toggle-inline { display: inline-flex; }
 .wrap-normal { word-break: normal; overflow-wrap: break-word; }
-.created-banner.show { display: block; }
diff --git a/internal/web/static/paste.js b/internal/web/static/paste.js
index e5350e7..30a8842 100644
--- a/internal/web/static/paste.js
+++ b/internal/web/static/paste.js
@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ var PASTE_ID = document.currentScript.getAttribute('data-paste-id');
 var copyBtn = document.getElementById('copy-btn');
 if (copyBtn) copyBtn.addEventListener('click', function (e) { e.preventDefault(); copyContent(copyBtn); });
 var delBtn = document.getElementById('delete-btn');
+
+// #168: show the compact paste-created pill in the bottom corner, then fade it out
+const createdPill = document.getElementById('created-pill');
+if (createdPill) {
+  requestAnimationFrame(() => createdPill.classList.add('show'));
+  setTimeout(() => createdPill.classList.remove('show'), 4000);
+}
 if (delBtn) delBtn.addEventListener('click', function (e) { e.preventDefault(); redeem(); });
 var statsToggle = document.getElementById('stats-toggle');
 if (statsToggle) statsToggle.addEventListener('click', toggleStats);
diff --git a/internal/web/templates/new.html b/internal/web/templates/new.html
index 9333744..d1d5bad 100644
--- a/internal/web/templates/new.html
+++ b/internal/web/templates/new.html
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
       <textarea class="editor" id="content" placeholder="Paste your code, text, or notes here…" spellcheck="false"></textarea>
       <img id="file-preview" class="file-preview hidden" alt="File preview">
     </div>
-    <div class="created-banner" id="created"></div>
     <div class="actionbar">
       <span class="hint">Ctrl+Enter to create</span>
       <div class="spacer spacer-flex"></div>
diff --git a/internal/web/templates/paste.html b/internal/web/templates/paste.html
index fde0251..2a2d653 100644
--- a/internal/web/templates/paste.html
+++ b/internal/web/templates/paste.html
@@ -34,12 +34,7 @@
     </div>
   </div>
   {{if .JustCreated}}
-  <div class="float">
-    <div class="created-banner show">
-      Paste created. Link copied to clipboard: <a href="/{{.ID}}">{{.Host}}/{{.ID}}</a>
-      {{if .DeletionToken}} · deletion token: <code>{{.DeletionToken}}</code>{{end}}
-    </div>
-  </div>
+  <div class="created-pill" id="created-pill" role="status">Paste Created · Link Copied</div>
   {{end}}
   {{if .Attachment}}
   <div class="float">
diff --git a/internal/web/web.go b/internal/web/web.go
index b502a4d..0f87e16 100644
--- a/internal/web/web.go
+++ b/internal/web/web.go
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ func (h *Handlers) HandlePasteView(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 		token = c.Value
 	}
 	if justCreated && token != "" {
-		// one-time display of the deletion token via the created banner
+		// one-time display of the deletion token via sessionStorage (#143)
 		http.SetCookie(w, &http.Cookie{Name: "tok_" + row.ID, Value: token, Path: "/", MaxAge: 60, HttpOnly: true, SameSite: http.SameSiteLaxMode})
 	}
 	// Count the view for real page renders, deduped per-viewer within the