How to Turn Off AI Overviews on Google Search

Are you tired of Google’s AI-powered overviews cluttering up your search results? Fortunately, there’s a solution. By adjusting a few settings, you can regain control over your search experience and eliminate those pesky AI summaries.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to turn off AI overviews on Google Search, allowing you to focus on the search results that matter most to you. Let’s dive in and reclaim your search experience.

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Easiest Way to Turn Off AI Overviews on Google

If you’re looking to disable AI-generated summaries from appearing in your Google Search results, there’s an easy solution available through a Chrome extension developed by Zach Barnes. By following a few simple steps, you can effectively remove these AI overviews and enjoy a cleaner, more focused search experience.

• Visit the Chrome Web Store: Search for and download the browser extension titled “Hide Google AI Overviews”.
• Install the Extension: Follow the prompts to add the extension to your Chrome browser.
• Enjoy a Cleaner Search Experience: Once installed, perform a Google search and notice that the AI overviews are no longer displayed.

By using this straightforward method, you can ensure your search results are free from AI-generated content, providing a more streamlined and user-centric browsing experience.

Turn Off Google AI Overview on Desktop Browsers

Disabling AI Overviews can also be achieved by adjusting your browser settings, eliminating the need for an extension. This method is applicable across a range of desktop browsers, such as Chrome. Follow these steps to turn off AI overviews:

1. Access Chrome’s Search Engine Settings:
   • Enter chrome://settings/searchEngines into the address bar and press Enter.
2. Modify the Default Google Search Engine:
   • Find the Google (Default) option and click the pencil icon next to it.
   • Change the shortcut by replacing the default address with google.com/ncr, then save the changes.
3. Add a New Site Search:
   • Scroll down and click the ‘Add’ button next to Site Search.
   • For the new search engine, enter ‘Google (Web)’ as the name and google.com as the shortcut.
   • In the URL field, paste the string {google:baseURL}/search?udm=14&q=%s and save the changes.
4. Set the New Search Engine as Default:
   • Set Google (Web) as your primary search engine.

Following these steps will remove Google’s AI overviews from your search results, allowing you to see traditional blue links when conducting searches. This straightforward adjustment ensures a cleaner and more traditional search experience without AI-generated summaries.

Turn Off Google AI Overview on Android and iOS

Disabling AI overviews on popular mobile browsers such as Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Brave can be challenging due to the lack of support for adding new search engines. However, the Firefox browser on your mobile device provides a solution.

Here’s how to disable AI overviews using Firefox:

1. Install Firefox:
   • Download and install the Firefox browser on your Android or iOS device.
2. Access Firefox Settings:
   • Open Firefox, go to the Settings menu and select the Search option.
3. Add a New Search Engine:
   • Choose “Default search engine” and then “Add search engine.”
   • Name it “Google Web” and input google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s into the URL field, then save the changes.
4. Set the New Search Engine as Default:
   • Select “Google Web” as your primary search engine.

By switching to Firefox and adjusting these settings, you can enjoy searching on Google without encountering any AI overviews.

Additional Steps to Disable Google AI Overviews

Google offers an official method to disable certain AI overviews through its support page, though with some limitations. Here’s how to reduce the frequency of AI overviews:

1. Access the Settings Page:
   • Open your Chrome browser on either desktop or mobile and navigate to labs.google.com/search/manage.
2. Disable AI Overviews:
   • Turn off the “AI overviews and more” option.

While this approach may not eliminate all AI overviews, it will significantly reduce their occurrence. If you still encounter AI overviews, you can switch to the “Web” tab under the “More” section to view traditional search results. This method provides a more conventional search experience with fewer AI-generated summaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are AI Overviews on Google Search?

AI overviews are summaries generated by Google’s artificial intelligence algorithms. These summaries aim to provide quick information directly on the search results page, often displayed at the top or in dedicated sections.

Why would I want to disable AI Overviews?

Some users find AI overviews distracting or prefer to see traditional search results without AI-generated content. Disabling these overviews can provide a cleaner and more focused search experience.

What if I still encounter AI Overviews after following these steps?

If AI overviews persist, ensure you’ve correctly followed the steps. As an additional measure, always use the “Web” tab under the “More” section for traditional search results. For a more permanent solution, consider using a different search engine that doesn’t incorporate AI overviews.

Conclusion

Disabling AI overviews on Google Search can significantly enhance your browsing experience by providing cleaner, more traditional search results. Whether you prefer using browser settings or official methods provided by Google, there are various ways to reduce or eliminate AI-generated summaries. For desktop users, adjusting search engine settings in Chrome can be an effective approach, while mobile users might find Firefox a more accommodating option.

Additionally, Google’s support page offers a sanctioned method to decrease the frequency of AI overviews. By implementing these solutions, you can tailor your search experience to better meet your preferences and needs.