Have you noticed how Google Search has been changing recently? With the introduction of generative AI, your search results might look a little different, often featuring "AI Overviews" at the top. While these can be helpful for quick summaries, many users prefer the traditional "ten blue links" experience. If you're one of them, you're in the right place! This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods to disable or minimize generative AI in Google Search, helping you reclaim your preferred Browse experience.
Let's dive in!
Understanding Generative AI in Google Search (AI Overviews)
Before we get into disabling it, it's helpful to understand what we're dealing with. Generative AI in Google Search, often referred to as "AI Overviews" or the "Search Generative Experience (SGE)," aims to provide concise, AI-generated summaries of information directly on the search results page. This is designed to answer your questions quickly without requiring you to click through multiple links.
However, this new feature isn't without its caveats:
Accuracy Concerns: While continually improving, AI can sometimes "hallucinate" or provide inaccurate/misleading information.
Reduced Context: Summaries might strip away crucial context, tone, or nuance from the original sources.
Preference for Traditional Results: Many users simply prefer scanning a list of links to determine the best source for their needs.
Impact on Website Traffic: Some content creators are concerned about the impact on website traffic, as users might get their answers directly from Google's AI overview instead of visiting their sites.
Now, let's get to the good stuff – how to dial back or disable these AI features.
Step 1: Check Your Search Labs Settings (If Applicable)
Engage with this first! Have you ever opted into any Google Search experiments? If you've been an early adopter of new Google features, there's a chance you might have explicitly enabled generative AI through Google Search Labs. This is often the easiest and most direct way to turn it off, assuming you joined the experiment.
Sub-heading: Identifying Search Labs Opt-in
Look for the "Labs" icon: When you perform a Google search, look for a small "Labs" icon (often a beaker or test tube) near the search bar or at the top-right of the page. If you see it, you might be opted into an experiment.
Access Search Labs:
On your computer: Open any web browser, ensure you are signed in to your Google Account (with Incognito mode turned off), and go to
https://labs.google.com/search/manage On your Android/iPhone & iPad (Google app): Open the Google app, tap the "Labs" icon (beaker) in the top left.
Sub-heading: Disabling "AI Overviews and more"
Find the "AI Overviews and more" experiment: On the Search Labs page, locate the card for "AI Overviews and more" (or "SGE, generative AI in Search").
Toggle it off: You should see a toggle switch. Simply turn this toggle off.
Confirm (if prompted): Google might ask for confirmation. Confirm your choice.
Note: While turning this off in Search Labs will disable AI Overviews that are part of the experiment, it might not disable all AI Overviews that Google has rolled out as a standard feature. For those, you'll need the methods below.
Step 2: The "Web" Filter Workaround – Your Quickest Fix
This is one of the most straightforward and reliable ways to bypass AI Overviews for individual searches. Google still provides a "Web" filter that shows only traditional blue links.
Sub-heading: Manually Clicking the "Web" Tab
Perform a search: Go to Google.com and enter your search query.
Locate the filter tabs: Just below the search bar, you'll see a row of filter tabs like "All," "Images," "News," etc.
Click on "Web": If you don't see "Web" immediately, click the "More" button to reveal additional options, then select "Web."
Voila! Your results page will refresh to show only traditional web links, free from AI-generated summaries. The downside? You have to do this for every search. But don't worry, the next step offers a more permanent solution for your browser.
Step 3: Making the "Web" Filter Your Default Search Experience in Chrome
This is a highly effective method for Chrome users to set a custom search engine that defaults to the "Web" filter, essentially giving you an AI-free Google Search experience from your address bar.
Sub-heading: Configuring a Custom Search Engine
Open Chrome Settings:
Click the three vertical dots (Customize and Control Google Chrome) in the top-right corner of your browser.
Select "Settings."
Navigate to Search Engine Settings:
In the left-hand menu, click on "Search engine."
Then click on "Manage search engines and site search."
Add a new site search:
Under the "Site search" section, click the "Add" button.
A pop-up box will appear. Fill in the details as follows:
Search engine: Google Web (or any name you prefer, like "AI-Free Google")
Shortcut: web (or a shortcut you'll remember, e.g.,
@web)URL with %s in place of query:
https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
Click "Add."
Make it your default:
You'll now see "Google Web" (or your chosen name) in the list of "Site search" entries.
Click the three vertical dots next to your newly added "Google Web" entry.
Select "Make default."
From now on, when you search from Chrome's address bar, it will automatically use the "Web" filter, providing you with a traditional search experience without AI Overviews.
Step 4: Browser Extensions for a Hands-Off Approach
If you prefer a solution that automates the process and hides AI Overviews without manual configuration, browser extensions can be a great choice.
Sub-heading: Installing a Relevant Extension
Open your browser's extension store:
For Chrome: Go to the
Chrome Web Store For Firefox: Go to the
Firefox Add-ons
Search for AI-blocking extensions: Search for terms like "Hide Google AI Overviews," "Disable SGE," or "Bye Bye, Google AI."
Choose and install: Read reviews and choose an extension that seems reliable and has good ratings. Click "Add to Chrome" or "Add to Firefox" and confirm the installation.
Once installed, these extensions typically work automatically in the background to remove AI Overviews from your search results. Be mindful that extensions can sometimes break with browser updates, so you might need to check for updates or alternative extensions periodically.
Step 5: Utilizing Proxy Sites (Use with Caution)
Some websites have emerged that act as a proxy for Google Search, automatically applying the "Web" filter. While these can provide an AI-free experience, it's crucial to exercise caution as proxy sites can potentially read your search queries.
Sub-heading: Accessing a Proxy Site
Find a reputable proxy site: An example that has been mentioned in some articles is
udm14.com(which essentially adds&udm=14to your Google search).Visit the site and search: Go to the proxy site in your browser and use its search bar as you would Google Search.
Disclaimer: We recommend using browser settings or extensions over proxy sites due to potential privacy concerns. Proceed with proxy sites only if you understand and accept the risks.
Step 6: Using Other Search Engines
This might seem obvious, but if Google's generative AI truly disrupts your workflow and the above methods aren't sufficient, consider switching to a different search engine that doesn't prioritize AI Overviews in the same way.
Sub-heading: Exploring Alternatives
DuckDuckGo: Known for its privacy-focused approach, DuckDuckGo generally provides traditional search results without AI summaries.
Brave Search: Offers a clean, privacy-oriented search experience.
Startpage: Acts as a proxy for Google Search but without tracking, offering Google's results with enhanced privacy.
Switching your default search engine in your browser is usually straightforward and can be done in your browser's settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 related FAQ questions, all starting with "How to," with their quick answers:
How to know if I have Generative AI (AI Overviews) turned on?
You'll typically see an AI-generated summary at the very top of your Google search results page, often labeled "AI Overview" or similar.
How to disable AI Overviews on my mobile phone (Android/iOS)?
For mobile, the easiest methods are often using the "Web" filter manually for each search or setting up a custom search engine if your mobile browser supports it (some browsers like Firefox Mobile allow custom search strings). Some third-party sites like tenbluelinks.org also aim to provide an AI-free mobile search experience.
How to prevent Google from collecting my search activity for AI?
While you can hide AI results, preventing Google from collecting your search activity entirely is broader than just AI. You can manage your Google Activity controls (History, Web & App Activity) in your Google Account settings, or use privacy-focused browsers/search engines.
How to give feedback to Google about AI Overviews?
When an AI Overview appears, you'll usually see feedback options (e.g., a thumbs up/down icon or a "Feedback" link) directly below the AI-generated text.
How to use Google Search without any AI features at all?
The most effective way to ensure no AI features are presented is to set a custom search engine in your browser (like Chrome, as detailed in Step 3) that uses the &udm=14 parameter, which forces web-only results.
How to re-enable Generative AI if I change my mind?
If you disabled it via Search Labs (Step 1), simply go back to
How to disable AI Overviews in Incognito Mode?
Incognito mode often provides a cleaner search experience as it doesn't log your activity, and sometimes, AI Overviews might not appear as prominently. However, for a guaranteed AI-free experience, you'd still need to apply the &udm=14 trick or use a browser extension that works in Incognito (you might need to enable it for Incognito in your extension settings).
How to know if a browser extension for disabling AI is safe?
Before installing any extension, check its reviews, ratings, the number of users, and the developer's reputation. Be cautious of extensions that request excessive permissions.
How to remove the AI Overview element with an ad blocker like uBlock Origin?
Some advanced ad blockers like uBlock Origin allow you to create custom filters. You can add a filter to hide the specific HTML element that contains the AI Overview. A filter like www.google.com###Odp5De has been reported to work by some users (though element IDs can change).
How to make the "Web" tab appear by default in Firefox or other browsers?
While the custom search engine trick (&udm=14) primarily works best in Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Firefox allows you to add custom search engines. You can follow a similar process in Firefox's search settings, using the same URL https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 as the search string.
