Turning Off AI Overviews in Google Search

Introduction

This blog explains how to turn off or minimize AI Overviews in Google Search using easy, step-by-step methods. Google’s new AI Overviews are designed to give quick, summarized answers, but they can sometimes feel intrusive, inaccurate or unnecessary, especially if you prefer browsing traditional web links or doing your own research. While Google doesn’t currently offer a direct off switch, there are practical workarounds to help you get back the classic search experience you know and trust.

What are AI Overviews?

AI Overviews are summaries generated by artificial intelligence that provide quick, concise answers to search queries often at the top of search results. Google introduced this feature as part of its Search Generative Experience (SGE) and it uses AI models to synthesize information from multiple sources on the web.

Why Turn Off AI Overviews in Google Search?

1. AI-generated answers can sometimes provide inaccurate, oversimplified or misleading information, especially for complex topics. Users who prefer verified, source-specific content might not trust AI summaries.
2. Summaries often remove the original context, tone or intent of the source material. This can be a problem when you're looking into complex topics like law, medicine or academics where every detail really counts.
3. Some users simply prefer seeing a list of search results to evaluate and choose from, rather than being presented with a single synthesized answer.
4. For bloggers, professionals, researchers, tech experts and journalists, AI Overviews may reduce click-through rates since users get their answers directly on Google without visiting the source pages.

Ways to Disable AI Overviews in Google Search

Note: Make sure you're logged into your Google account to see the full search results. If you're not logged in, Google may still display AI Overviews in your search results.

1. Use the Web Filter in Google Search-One of the simplest ways to avoid AI Overviews is by using Google’s Web filter, which shows only traditional links without any summaries. 
   For example: If you search for “Ways to disable AI Overviews in Google Search” using the Web filter, you'll see direct links to articles, blogs and reviews without any AI summaries cluttering up the results.
   Steps to setup:
   1. Go to Google, enter your search term in the search bar and hit Enter to see the results.
      
   2. On the results page, you'll see a row of filter tabs just below the search bar options like All, Images, News etc.
      
      
   3. Click on Web to filter your results, showing only traditional website listings without AI-generated summaries.
      
      
2. Use Incognito mode to block AI Overviews- Incognito mode provides a simple way to block AI Overviews while searching on Google. It temporarily disables tracking, ensuring that you see only traditional search results, without AI summaries.
   For example: Searching for “disable AI Overviews in Google Search” in Incognito mode will show a list of relevant articles, blogs and tutorials without AI Overviews cluttering the results.
   
   Steps to activate Incognito mode in your browser:
   1. In Chrome:
      
      1. Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the window.
      2. Select New Incognito Window from the dropdown.
         
         
   2. In Firefox:
      
      
      1. Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
      2. Select New Private Window.
         
   3. In Safari:
      
      1. Click File in the top menu bar.
      2. Select New Private Window.
         Once you’re in Incognito mode, you can proceed to Google, enter your search term  and you’ll be presented with classic search results free from any AI-generated summaries at the top.
3. Change your default Search URL in Chrome- If you want a longer-term solution that skips AI Overviews automatically, you can adjust Chrome’s settings so it always shows web results without clicking the Web tab each time.
   For example: If you're searching for “How to disable AI Overviews in Google Search” this adjustment will give you a list of detailed guides and videos without AI summaries getting in the way.
   Steps to setup:
   1.  Open Chrome and type chrome://settings/searchEngines into the address bar, then press Enter.
   2. Scroll down to the Site search section and click Add.
      
      
   3. In the Add site search screen,
      
      1. In the Name field, enter Google (Web) as the custom search engine name.
      2. In the Shortcut field, enter googleweb to use as a quick identifier when searching.
      3. In the URL field, enter the url as https://www.google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s
      4. Click Add to save your custom search engine.
   4. Once it’s added, find Google (Web) in the list, click the three-dot menu next to it and select Make default.
      
      Now, every time you search from Chrome’s address bar, it’ll automatically use the version of Google that hides AI Overviews.
      
4. Use browser extensions to block AI Overviews- If you prefer a hands-off solution, browser extensions are a great option. These tools automatically hide AI Overviews, giving you a more classic search experience each time you use Google.
   For instance, let’s say you’re searching for “how to disable AI Overviews in Google Search” Instead of an AI summary at the top, you'll see a list of links to blog posts and helpful video tutorials.
   Steps to setup:
   1. Open the Chrome Web Store or the equivalent browser.
   2. In the search bar, type in extensions like Hide Google AI Overviews or Bye Bye, Google AI.
      
   3. Click Add to Chrome to install the extension.
   4. Once it's added, the extension will automatically start working by removing those AI-generated summaries from your search results.

Bonus Tips to Improve Your Google Search Experience

1. Add “&udm=14”to your Google Search URL
   If you often search on a desktop, you can manually add &udm=14 to the end of any Google Search URL to force the Web-only results.
   For Example: Instead of https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+block+AI
   You can use https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+block+AI&udm=14
   
2. Consider using a different search engine for specific topics-
   If you're researching something detailed or sensitive like legal questions or school research, it might help to use a different search engine that skips the AI summaries. Search engines like DuckDuckGo, Brave or Startpage keep things simple and focus on privacy and good old-fashioned web results.
   1. DuckDuckGo – If you care about privacy, DuckDuckGo is a solid pick. It doesn’t track what you search and sticks to simple, traditional results without any AI summaries added in.
   2. Brave Search – This one’s great if you like a clean and minimal look. It skips AI answers by default, so you get straight links to websites without the extra effort.
   3. Startpage – If you like the accuracy of Google’s search results but don’t want the tracking or AI summaries, Startpage is a great alternative. It delivers the same high-quality results without the data collection or extra AI content.

Conclusion

In conclusion, using search engines that prioritize privacy and skip AI summaries is a smart move for those seeking clear, traditional results. Whether you're researching sensitive topics, valuing privacy or simply looking to avoid AI-generated clutter, engines like DuckDuckGo, Brave Search and Startpage offer alternatives that fit your needs. By incorporating these search options into your routine, you can ensure a more personalized and focused browsing experience, free from unnecessary distractions. Adopting these tools can enhance your research, protect your privacy and streamline your online experience.

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