How to Turn Off Google AI Search

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Google AI search has the potential to be useful, but it’s often incorrect, off topic, and obstructing the results you really want to see. While there isn’t an official way to toggle AI search off, there are some workarounds to hide it.

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Use the UDM-14 Search Engine Hack

This super-simple hack works on most any desktop browser, but not mobile. The UDM-14 search engine parameter clears up the Google search clutter, such as Google search AI Overview and ads.

For demonstration purposes, I’m using Google Chrome, but the steps are similar for most browsers. Click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select Settings. Select Search engine in the left pane, and choose Manage search engines and site search.

Scroll down and select Add in the Site Search section, then give the site search any name you want. I chose Google Search No AI. Then, enter https://google.com in the Shortcut field and {google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s in the URL box, then press Add.

Click the three dots beside your new site search entry, and select Make default. Google will now search with this new parameter.

Searches will only produce a list of results. The Google AI search, People Also Ask, ads, and any other extras are gone.

Turn Off Google AI Search With Extensions

If the UDM-14 parameter doesn’t work, or you want to keep everything except the Google Search AI Overview, try a third-party Chrome extension. Since Google could make changes at any time, these extensions may stop working, but for now, they worked well for me in blocking the AI Overview.

  • Hide Google AI Overviews – The aptly-named extension does exactly what it says. It eliminates the AI results from your search and leaves everything else.
  • Bye, Bye Google AI – This is my personal favorite. It provides you a list of options for what to block, including Google AI Overview, shopping blocks, discussions, People Also Ask, and more. Choose what you want to block. Plus, it doesn’t read any site data.
  • No AI Google Search – While it’s not as popular as the other two, it works well. However, it occasionally messes up image searches. But, there are other image search engines you can use if you really love this extension.

Switch to Web Results in Google

Prefer the classic Google Search results? You’re not alone. If you don’t want to change settings or install extensions, a simple keyboard shortcut is all that’s needed to skip the Google Search AI Overview.

When Google’s set as your default search engine, click the address bar, and press W + Space. Select Google (web only), and enter your search query as usual. This eliminates everything but your standard search results. It’s the UDM-14 parameter, without the need to change your browser’s settings. It’s ideal if you’re using someone else’s computer.

Alternatively, when you search Google, click Web just below the search box. If you don’t see it, click More, then Web.

Switch Google Labs AI Overview Off

I know this sounds like the simplest and most obvious way to turn Google AI search off, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Plus, you may still occasionally see AI Overview, even after you’ve turned it off. However, it doesn’t hurt to try it, as it works for some users.

Open Chrome and sign in to your Google account. You must be logged in for this to work. Visit Google Labs, and select AI Overviews in Search. Under AI Experiments, click On in AI Overviews and more. If you only see a button asking you to turn the feature on, the lab isn’t currently enabled for you.

Toggle the experiment off, and reload your browser. Remember, this only affects your Google searches while logged in.

If you don’t see this experiment listed anywhere, it’s possible Google has already removed it.

Turn Google AI Search Off on Mobile

Turning AI overview results off on mobile is a little trickier – but not impossible. The easiest approach is to search as usual, and select Web just under the search box. This eliminates all the clutter, including AI results.

Or, use the UDM-14 method to avoid tapping Web every time you search. The Chrome browser app doesn’t let you manually enter search engines, but there’s a workaround.

Open Chrome on your phone, and go to tenbluelinks.org. Open a new tab (do not close the first tab), and use Google to search for anything. It doesn’t matter what you search for.

Tap the three-dot menu at the top of the browser, and select Settings -> Search engine. Select Google Web at the bottom of the list. While it lists tenbluelinks.org as the search engine, everything is still going through Google – not tenbluelinks.

Use a Different Search Engine or Browser

Of course, if you’re still not satisfied with Google’s search results, even after removing the AI elements, you don’t have to use it. Google is far from the only search engine, and Chrome isn’t your only browser option. You can try Arc, with its sleek layout, for something new and different. Other popular browsers include:

If you really love using the Chrome browser, switch to a different default search engine, like Brave, DuckDuckGo, Bing, or Yahoo. There are even search engines specifically for academic research. Just know that most search engines are also adding chatbots and other AI elements.

While you can turn Google AI search off, AI isn’t going to magically disappear. Yes, Google’s AI results are often odd and erroneous results, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some highly useful ways to use AI in your browser.

Image credit: Pexels. All screenshots by Crystal Crowder.

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Crystal Crowder –
Staff Writer

Crystal Crowder has spent over 15 years working in the tech industry, first as an IT technician and then as a writer. She works to help teach others how to get the most from their devices, systems, and apps. She stays on top of the latest trends and is always finding solutions to common tech problems.

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