How to Turn Off AI Overview |in Google Search for 2026

You cannot completely turn off standard Google AI Overviews through an official account setting, but you can hide them for individual searches by selecting the Web filter. On desktop, you can also configure a custom search shortcut to open Google’s text-based Web results directly, although this workaround may change if Google updates Search.

At a Glance

• No universal off switch: Google treats AI Overviews as a core Search feature.
• Official workaround: Select Web after performing a Google search.
• Desktop option: Configure a custom search shortcut that requests Web results.
• Mobile option: Search normally, then select Web or find it under More.
• Search Labs: Turning off AI experiments does not necessarily remove standard AI Overviews.
• Browser extensions: These may hide or bypass the panel, but they introduce privacy and compatibility considerations.

Can You Turn Off Google AI Overviews Completely?

No. As of October 2026, Google’s official Search Help documentation states that AI Overviews are a core Search feature and cannot be turned off completely. Google recommends selecting the Web filter after searching to display text-based links without AI Overviews. ¹

This distinction matters because many online tutorials suggest that a setting in Google Search, Google Account, or Search Labs can permanently remove every AI-generated summary. Those instructions may refer to older experiments or controls that no longer work as expected.

You still have practical ways to avoid AI Overviews when browsing. The simplest is to select Web for each search. Desktop users can also configure a custom search shortcut to open the same type of results directly.

These methods change how you view search results. They do not disable Google’s underlying AI technology or guarantee that every Google product will stop displaying AI-generated content.

Method 1: Use Google’s Web Filter

The Web filter is the most straightforward option because Google officially documents it. It displays text-based links without features such as AI Overviews. ¹

How to turn off AI Overview on a desktop

Follow these steps on a Windows PC, Mac, Chromebook, or another desktop computer.

1. Open your browser and visit Google Search.
2. Enter your search query and press Enter.
3. Look at the filter row beneath the search box.
4. Select Web.
5. If Web is not visible, open More and look for the Web option.
6. Review the results, which should show text-based links without the AI Overview panel.

The exact position of the filter may vary with Google’s interface updates, screen size, and account experience.

Does the Web filter stay enabled?

The Web filter applies to the results page you select. Google does not document it as a permanent account-wide preference that removes AI Overviews from every future search.

If you perform another ordinary Google search, the standard results page may appear again. Select Web again to return to the text-based view.

Best for: People who want a simple, official workaround without installing software or changing browser settings.

Method 2: Turn Off AI Overview on Android

Android users can use the same Web filter in a mobile browser or through Google Search in supported interfaces.

Steps for Android phones

1. Open Chrome or your preferred browser.
2. Visit Google and enter your search query.
3. Wait for the search results to load.
4. Look for the filter options below the search field.
5. Tap Web.
6. If the option is hidden, tap More and select Web.

Google’s mobile interface can differ across devices and versions. If you cannot see the Web filter immediately, inspect the available search categories before assuming the feature has disappeared.

What if you use the Google app?

Open a search result page and look for the available filters. If Web is offered, select it to display text-based results.

The precise layout may differ from Chrome. Avoid relying on instructions that assume every Android phone has identical buttons or menus.

Method 3: Turn Off AI Overview on iPhone and iPad

You can also use the Web filter on an iPhone or iPad when searching through Safari, Chrome, or another browser.

Steps for iOS

1. Open Safari or your preferred browser.
2. Visit Google Search.
3. Enter a query and submit it.
4. Find the search filters beneath the search box.
5. Tap Web.
6. If necessary, open More to find the filter.

This switches the current search to a text-based results view. It does not establish a permanent AI Overview setting for your Google account.

If you use the Google app instead of a browser, look for the available filters on the results page. Their placement may differ.

Mobile tip: If you frequently prefer traditional search results, bookmark Google’s Web results view or keep these instructions handy. A bookmark may need to be updated if Google changes its URL structure.

Method 4: Make Google Web Results the Default on Desktop

If you select Web after nearly every search, configuring a custom search shortcut may save time.

One commonly used workaround is Google’s udm=14 URL parameter, which requests a Web-style results view. Google documents the Web filter itself, but this parameter is not an official, guaranteed setting for permanently disabling AI Overviews.

The URL format commonly used for this shortcut is:

https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14

Here, %s represents the search terms supplied by your browser. The udm=14 parameter requests the text-focused Web results view.

Set up a custom search engine in Chrome

The labels in Chrome may change slightly between releases.

1. Open Chrome.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Open Search engine.
4. Find Manage search engines and site search.
5. Look for the option to add a site search or custom search engine.
6. Enter a name such as Google Web.
7. Enter a shortcut such as @web.
8. Use the URL format shown above.
9. Save the entry.
10. If Chrome allows it and you want this behavior for address-bar searches, set the custom engine as your default.

Chrome’s settings interface changes periodically, so the exact labels may differ.

How to use the shortcut

If you configured @web as a keyword, enter something like this in the address bar:

@web how to improve website speed

Your browser should submit the query using the configured Web results URL.

Test the shortcut before relying on it. If Google changes its URL handling, the shortcut may stop working or produce a different results layout.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Reduces the need to select Web manually.
• Does not require a third-party extension.
• Can make text-based Google searches more convenient.

Limitations

• It is an unofficial workaround, not a Google account preference.
• Browser menus and configuration options vary.
• Google may change its search URL behavior.
• The shortcut does not disable AI Overviews across other Google products.

Method 5: Turn Off AI in Search Labs

Google Search Labs provides access to certain experimental Search features. Google also documents an AI in Search experiment control. However, this setting is not a universal switch for all standard AI Overviews. ¹

How to manage the experiment

If the experiment is available to your account, Google provides these general steps:

1. Open a browser on your computer.
2. Sign in to your Google Account.
3. Make sure you are not using Incognito mode.
4. Open a new browser tab.
5. Select the Labs icon.
6. Choose Manage.
7. Turn off the AI in Search experiment if it appears.

The available experiments depend on Google’s current rollout and your account. If you cannot find the setting, it may not be available to you.

Why this may not solve the problem

Search Labs controls experimental features. Standard AI Overviews are part of Google’s core Search experience.

Consequently, opting out of an experiment may remove experimental capabilities without removing standard AI Overviews. Use the Web filter when you need a documented way to view text-based results without the summary.

Method 6: Use a Browser Extension

Some third-party browser extensions claim to hide Google AI Overviews, remove AI panels, or redirect searches to a text-focused results page.

These tools may be useful if you want a cleaner interface. However, they are not official Google controls, and their behavior can change when Google updates its website.

What to check before installing an extension

• Permissions: Does it request access to all websites or your browsing activity?
• Developer identity: Is the publisher identifiable and reasonably established?
• Privacy policy: Does it explain whether browsing information is collected or shared?
• Maintenance: Has the developer updated the extension recently?
• Reviews: Do recent users report compatibility problems?
• Scope: Does the extension hide AI Overviews only, or does it change other search features?

Avoid granting broad permissions without a clear reason. An extension that modifies search pages may have access to more browsing information than you expect.

Remember that hiding a panel in your browser is different from disabling AI generation on Google’s servers.

Comparison of Methods

Method	Works on	Official Google control?	Main limitation
Web filter	Desktop and mobile	Yes	Must be selected for the relevant search
Custom udm=14 shortcut	Desktop browsers that support custom search	No	May stop working after Google changes its URL behavior
Search Labs control	Eligible accounts and experiments	Yes, for the experiment	Does not guarantee removal of standard AI Overviews
Browser extension	Compatible browsers	No	Permissions, privacy, and compatibility risks
Switch to another search engine	Desktop and mobile	No	Results, features, and ranking differ by provider

For most people, the Web filter is the best place to start because it requires no installation and follows Google’s documented guidance.

Common Fixes That May Not Work

Several commonly suggested solutions confuse AI Overview controls with other Google settings.

Turning off Web & App Activity

Web & App Activity controls aspects of activity saving and personalization. It is not documented as a universal AI Overview off switch.

Changing it may affect your Google experience, but do not expect it to remove every AI summary.

Signing out of your Google Account

AI Overviews may appear whether you are signed in or signed out. Signing out is therefore not a dependable way to remove them.

It also changes access to account-specific features and preferences without guaranteeing a text-only results page.

Using Incognito mode

Incognito mode mainly changes how your browser handles local browsing history and session data. It does not guarantee that Google will stop displaying AI Overviews.

Use the Web filter instead when you want a text-based search results view.

Disabling every Search Labs experiment

Turning off experimental features may change your access to certain tests. It does not necessarily remove features Google has integrated into standard Search.

Check the scope of the setting before assuming it controls all AI-generated summaries.

Adding random words to a query

Some online guides recommend adding terms such as -AI to search queries. Results may vary, and this is not a reliable general solution.

It can also remove useful pages that contain the excluded term. The Web filter provides a clearer and more predictable approach.

Why Does Google Show AI Overviews?

Google uses AI Overviews to provide an AI-generated summary for searches where its systems determine that a summary may be helpful. These summaries can combine information from different sources and include links for further reading. ¹

The goal is to help users understand a topic quickly. However, some people prefer conventional search results because they want to evaluate individual sources themselves.

Others find that summaries take up screen space, repeat information, or occasionally provide inaccurate details. Google itself warns that AI responses can make mistakes.

The Web filter offers an alternative view that prioritizes text-based links. It does not remove AI from the entire internet or change how websites generate their content.

Does Turning Off AI Overviews Improve Search Results?

It depends on what you want from a search.

The Web filter presents text-based links without AI Overviews. That can make it easier to navigate directly to individual websites and compare their information.

However, the Web view is not identical to Google’s standard results page. It may omit other enhanced features, including image, video, shopping, or local-search elements that can be useful for particular queries.

For example:

• Researching a technical problem: Text-based links may help you compare documentation and expert articles.
• Finding a nearby restaurant: Maps and local business features may be more useful.
• Comparing products: Shopping results and product information may save time.
• Learning a new subject: An overview can provide a starting point, but you should verify important claims against reliable sources.

Choose the results format that fits your task rather than assuming one view is always superior.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I permanently turn off Google AI Overviews?

No. Google does not currently offer a universal account setting to disable standard AI Overviews. You can select the Web filter for text-based results or configure a desktop shortcut that requests the Web view.

2. How do I turn off AI Overview on my phone?

Open Google Search, submit your query, and select Web from the available search filters. If you cannot see it, look under More. The filter applies to the current results page rather than permanently changing your account.

3. Why does AI Overview keep appearing after I disable Search Labs?

Search Labs controls experiments, while standard AI Overviews are part of Google’s core Search experience. Turning off an experiment does not guarantee that standard AI Overviews will disappear. Use the Web filter to see text-based links.

4. Does the udm=14 trick still work?

The udm=14 parameter is a commonly used workaround for requesting Google’s Web results view. Google does not guarantee that this URL parameter will remain supported, so test it periodically and use the official Web filter if it stops working.

5. Is it safe to use an extension to remove AI Overviews?

It depends on the extension, its developer, and its permissions. Review its privacy policy, requested access, update history, and recent user feedback before installing it. The built-in Web filter avoids the need for a third-party extension.

Conclusion

You cannot currently disable every standard Google AI Overview through a universal account setting. However, selecting Web gives you a straightforward way to view text-based links without AI Overviews for an individual search.

If you search frequently on a computer, a custom Web-results shortcut may make that process more convenient. Search Labs controls and third-party extensions offer different kinds of control, but neither should be mistaken for an official, permanent global opt-out.

Start with Google’s Web filter, then choose any additional workaround based on your device, privacy preferences, and browsing habits.