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?

While searching for important information we require reliable results on which we can depend on, but AI generated answers can sometimes prove to be inaccurate or may have off the topic misleading information. Users who prefer credible sources and don't want to put all of their trust on AI generated summaries will likely prefer turning it off.

It is seen time and again that you can not depend on AI summaries for the topics like Law, Medicine, and Academics where piece of information counts.

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.
      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.
      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.
      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:
      activate Incognito mode in your browser
      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:
      activate Incognito mode in your browser
      1. Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner.
      2. Select New Private Window.

    3. In Safari:
      activate Incognito mode in your browser2
      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.
      Site search section and click Add
    3. In the Add site search screen,
      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.
      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.
      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-
    Another way to not to deal with AI summaries is that you can use different search engines while searching for different topics. For example, search engines like Brave, DuckDuckGo keep things simple and to the point they only provide the user with web results only and skip the AI overviews. So while searching important topics that require precise sources you can always switch your web browser and can easily avoid any discrepancies made by AI.

Conclusion

Hopefully with the help of this article you might have understood why one must avoid relying on AI summaries and overviews and how can they disable this feature in their respective search engines, please follow the given steps in the right order to get desired results, and if you face any problem please feel free to comment below we will connect with you as soon as possible.

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