Google started showing AI results in my searches, and they’re getting in the way of the links and information I actually want. I’m trying to find out if there’s a way to disable Google AI search features or turn off AI Overviews, because it’s making search harder for me to use.
You usually cannot fully turn off Google’s AI search box for all searches. Google does not offer a single account setting to disable it everywhere. Annoying, yep.
What you can do:
1. Use the Web filter.
After you search, click Web. This hides most AI Overview stuff and shows standard links.
If you do not see it, click More, then Web.
2. Use this URL trick.
Search with:
https://www.google.com/search?q=your+search&udm=14
The udm=14 parameter forces Web results. A lot of people use this now.
3. Make a custom search engine in your browser.
In Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, add a search engine with:
https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
Then use it as your default. This is the closest thing to an off switch.
4. Try Google’s settings, but don’t expect much.
There is no clean “disable AI Overview” toggle for most users.
If Google shows a Labs option tied to AI features, turn those off. For many ppl, this does nothing for regular AI Overview.
5. Use another search engine.
DuckDuckGo, Startpage, Kagi, or even Bing with its own settings. Startpage is decent if you still want Google-based results without as much clutter.
If you mean AI in Gemini, Gmail, Docs, or Android, that’s different. Those each have separate settings. But for Google Search itself, no full off button right now. That part kinda sucks.
You can’t really “turn it off” in one master switch, but there are a few extra things worth trying besides what @viajantedoceu already listed.
First, make sure **Search personalization** is reduced. In Google Search, hit your profile pic, go into Search settings, and turn off as much personalization/activity stuff as you can. I’m not saying this magically removes AI Overviews every time, because honestly it often does not, but it can cut down on some of the weird clutter.
Second, try being more specific with your searches in ways that push classic results:
- put exact phrases in quotes
- add `site:reddit.com` or whatever site you actually want
- add words like `forum`, `pdf`, `documentation`, `official site`
- use minus signs to strip junk, like `-ai -overview`
People forget basic search operators still work pretty well, and sometimes beter than fighting settings menus.
Third, if you use Chrome, you can install extensions that auto-hide AI panels or clean up the SERP. Some are hit or miss, and yeah, browser extensions can break later when Google changes stuff, but they’re probly the closest workaround if you want the page to stop looking bloated.
Also, small disagreement with the “just switch search engines” advice people throw around. That’s fine in theory, but if you specifically want Google’s index/results quality, telling you to leave Google is kinda dodging the actual question.
If you’re on mobile, the Google app is often worse about forcing new features. Using a normal mobile browser instead of the app can feel less annoying. Incognito sometimes changes what shows too, though not always.
So short version: no true off button, but you can reduce it, hide it, or sidestep it. Kinda dumb, but that’s where Google is rn.