mappingnorth-arrowprint-composerqgis
How do you add a working North Arrow into QGIS, one that will rotate if the map is rotated?
I'm aware that in QGIS the North Arrow icon is just an image (Layout -> Add Image/Arrow), what I need to know is how to lock it to the map's rotation. The answer to this question states it's possible, but not how.
Googling is failing to bring up any useable answers; the tutorials I'm finding indicate not many people bother with this step.
You need to expand the Search directories section
The north arrow is added as an image. The behaviour of the scale depends on the CRS of your data/map.
Once you start inserting an image in the composer, you should get the option to select from a library of icons, and a subfolder is arrows, of which there are are many types. Once the image is installed, there is an option to keep the rotation of the arrow synchonised with the map.
It seems the scale problem you mention is like it is set to 1:1. This is not the default AFAIK. I almost always work in a UTM (metres) CRS for the main mapping pane (the canvas) and so the addition of the scale bar is trouble fee. If you are working with degrees your mileage may vary. Keep working with that tool.
A simplistic answer, hope its a start.
Best Answer
There's an option under Item Properties to do this, but it's only available for an Image item, not an Arrow, which may be why you're not seeing it. You need to add your north arrow from an image (Layout -> Add Image). Once you do, there's a checkbox under Image rotation to sync the rotation with your map: