Turn Off Google Search Infinite Scroll: Easy Guide

Google’s continuous scrolling feature automatically loads more results as you scroll, which can be disorienting or slow on older devices. This guide shows you how to disable it and return to the classic paginated layout with numbered pages.

What You’ll Need

• A web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.)
• Access to Google Search (google.com)
• For mobile: the Google app or a mobile browser

Step-by-Step

1. Open Google Search in your browser. Go to google.com and perform any search, for example “best running shoes”.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the results page until you see the “More results” button (or a spinning loading indicator).
3. Click or tap “More results”. This button appears after the first set of results. Clicking it loads the next page of results, but it also reveals a small text link at the bottom: “Go to page 2” (or “Go to page 3” depending on where you are).
4. Click “Go to page 2” (or the appropriate page number). This takes you to the traditional paginated view. From now on, Google will remember your preference and show numbered pages at the bottom instead of infinite scroll.
5. Verify the change: Scroll to the bottom of the new page. You should see a row of page numbers (1, 2, 3, …) and a “Next” button. This indicates infinite scroll is off.

Note for mobile browsers: The same steps work in mobile browsers. In the Google app, the option is slightly different: tap the “More results” button, then tap “Go to page 2” at the bottom.

Common Mistakes

• Not scrolling far enough: The “More results” button only appears after you scroll past all results on the first page. If you don’t see it, keep scrolling.
• Using the wrong browser: The setting is per-browser and per-device. If you turn it off in Chrome, it stays off in Chrome but may still be on in Firefox.
• Expecting a settings toggle: There is no dedicated “Infinite scroll” toggle in Google’s settings menu. The only way to turn it off is through the “Go to page” link as described.
• Clearing cookies: If you clear your browser cookies, Google may forget your preference and re-enable infinite scroll. You’ll need to repeat the steps.

Tips

• Bookmark the paginated view: After you click “Go to page 2”, the URL changes to include a parameter like &start=10. If you bookmark that URL, you’ll always start at page 2, but the preference is still remembered for new searches.
• Use keyboard shortcuts: On desktop, you can press End to jump to the bottom of the page quickly, then click “More results” and “Go to page 2”.
• Try a different search engine: If infinite scroll keeps coming back, consider using a search engine that doesn’t use it, like DuckDuckGo or Bing (though Bing also uses it).
• Use browser extensions: Some extensions like “Old Google Results” or “Google Classic” can force pagination, but these are third-party and may break if Google changes its code.

Troubleshooting

• I don’t see “Go to page 2”: This link appears only after you click “More results”. If you don’t see it, try scrolling up and down again. If it still doesn’t appear, your browser may have an ad blocker or script blocker that hides it. Disable such extensions temporarily and try again.
• Infinite scroll still active after following steps: This can happen if you’re in a private/incognito window (the preference isn’t saved) or if you’re using a VPN that changes your location. Also, make sure you’re not using the Google app on mobile; the app has a different interface.
• Preference resets after a while: Google may occasionally reset this preference. If that happens, simply repeat the steps. It usually sticks for months.
• I’m on the Google app for Android/iOS: The app doesn’t have a persistent setting for pagination. You can only switch to pagination for the current search by tapping “More results” then “Go to page 2”. To permanently avoid infinite scroll, use a mobile browser instead of the app.
• It works but I want it back: To re-enable infinite scroll, just scroll to the bottom and click “More results” again. The pagination preference is not permanent; you can toggle it anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Google force infinite scroll? Google introduced continuous scrolling in 2021 to make it easier to browse many results without clicking through pages. It was removed in 2023 for desktop and mobile, but some users still see it due to A/B testing or regional rollouts.

Is there a setting in Google account to disable it? No, there is no account-level setting. The preference is stored in your browser’s cookies, not your Google account.

Does this work on all browsers? Yes, the steps work in any modern browser. However, the exact wording of the link may vary slightly (e.g., “Go to page 2” vs. “Page 2”).

Will this affect my search results ranking? No, turning off infinite scroll only changes the layout. Your search results and their order remain the same.

Can I turn off infinite scroll on Google Images? The same method works for Google Images: scroll to the bottom, click “More results”, then click “Go to page 2”.

Why does Google keep re-enabling it? Google may test different layouts for some users. If it re-enables, just repeat the steps. It’s not a permanent setting.

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