Turn Off Google AI Overviews in Search?

You generally cannot switch off AI Overviews with a single Google Search setting, but you can avoid them by using the Web filter or changing how you search. If you want them gone from every search by default, available workarounds depend on your browser and may change as Google updates Search.

What AI Overviews are and why there is no simple off switch

AI Overviews are generated summaries that Google may show near the top of some search results. They combine information from web pages and can include links to sources. They do not appear for every query, and what appears can depend on the search, location, language, device, and Google’s changing rollout.

Google has not provided a universal Search setting that reliably disables AI Overviews for all users. That distinction matters: hiding a result for one search, using a filter, or changing a browser shortcut is not the same as turning off the feature across your Google account. Google can change its interface and available filters, so instructions that rely on a particular button or URL may not work everywhere.

Use the Web filter to see traditional links

The most direct built-in option is Google’s Web filter. It presents text-based links to web pages rather than the usual mixture of result types and AI summaries. It is a view of search results, not a permanent preference that disables AI Overviews.

Search Google for your query as usual.
On the results page, look for the row of search filters, such as Images, News, or Videos. If Web is not immediately visible, open the additional filters menu, which may be labelled More.
Select Web. Google will show a results page focused on links to websites.

The exact layout varies. On a phone, the filters may be horizontally scrollable; on a computer, some may appear under a menu. If Web is not available for a particular search or in your interface, try adding &udm=14 to the end of a Google search URL. This parameter has been used to request the Web view, but it is an unofficial workaround, not a guaranteed or permanent setting. Start with a normal Google results URL and add the parameter after the query string; URL formats can differ.

Make the Web view easier to use

If you often want plain web links, a browser bookmark can save time. Open a Google search, select Web, and bookmark that results page or create a bookmark that uses a search URL with the Web-view parameter. The exact setup depends on your browser, and Google may change how the parameter works.

Some browsers let you create a custom search shortcut or edit the search engine’s URL template. This is a browser feature, not a Google account setting. Only change it if you are comfortable editing search settings, and keep the ordinary Google search option available in case the shortcut stops working.

For occasional searches: choose Web after searching.
For frequent use: save a Web results page or set up a browser shortcut, if your browser supports it.
For a different search experience: use another search engine, understanding that its result layout and features will differ.

What does not reliably turn AI Overviews off

Several common suggestions solve a different problem or work only in limited circumstances:

Searching in Incognito or private browsing: this changes local browsing history and may affect signed-in personalization, but it does not generally disable Google’s search features.
Signing out of Google: it may change personalization, but it is not a dependable way to remove AI Overviews.
Deleting search history: this manages saved activity; it is not an off switch for generated summaries.
Using quotation marks or adding “-AI”: search operators can refine results, but there is no reliable query phrase that suppresses the overview in every case.
Browser extensions: some extensions may hide page elements, but their reliability, privacy practices, and compatibility vary. They can break when Google changes its page.

It is also useful to distinguish an AI Overview from other Google features. A Web filter may remove the summary from the view while leaving Google’s search engine in use. It does not change the underlying ranking of pages, and it cannot guarantee that every result is independent of automated systems.

Choosing the right approach

Choose based on what bothers you. If you simply want links for a particular question, the Web filter is usually the least complicated option. If you want a repeatable workflow, a bookmark or browser shortcut can help, but check that it still works after interface changes. If you prefer not to use Google’s AI features at all, choosing a different search engine is the clearest broad alternative, although no search engine should be assumed to provide identical results or a universally AI-free experience.

For research, compare sources rather than treating either a summary or a list of links as proof. Open the original pages, check dates and authorship, and look for agreement among credible sources. AI-generated summaries can omit qualifications or make mistakes; ordinary search snippets and webpages can also be incomplete or inaccurate.

Common problems and troubleshooting

Web is missing: check the additional filters menu and scroll the filter row on mobile. Google’s layout can vary by device, region, and query. If the filter is absent, try the URL workaround, but do not assume it will remain supported.

The summary still appears: confirm that the results page actually switched to Web, rather than returning to the default All view. Reloading, opening a fresh search, or selecting Web again may help. If it persists, the view or URL method may not be supported in your current interface.

A saved shortcut stops working: Google can alter its search URL and filters. Recreate the bookmark from a current Web results page, or use the on-page filter instead. Be cautious about installing an extension just to hide one element; review what permissions it requests and whether you trust its publisher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off AI Overviews permanently in Google?
No universal setting is available that reliably disables them for every Google Search. The Web filter or a browser shortcut can provide a more traditional results view, but these are workarounds rather than a permanent account-wide switch.

Does Google’s Web filter remove AI Overviews?
It is designed to show text-based web links rather than the standard mixed results page. Availability and layout may vary, and it is a filter you select rather than a lasting preference.

Does adding &udm=14 still work?
It has been used to request Google’s Web results view, but it is an unofficial URL workaround. Google may change it, and results can differ by interface or region.

Will Incognito mode hide AI Overviews?
Not reliably. Private browsing mainly limits what is saved locally during that session; it does not generally turn off Google Search features.

Can I remove AI Overviews with a browser extension?
Some extensions may hide parts of a page, but they are third-party tools and can stop working when the page changes. Review permissions and privacy information before installing one.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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