How to Get Rid of AI Overviews in Google Search

What You’ll Need

A browser or the Google app where you see AI Overviews.
Access to your Google account if you want to check Search Labs settings.
Optionally, a browser that lets you manage search preferences or install reputable extensions. Extensions are not required for the built-in options.

Google’s search interface changes over time, and available controls can differ by country, account, device, and browser. The steps below focus on options that do not require changing your device’s security settings. Menu names may differ slightly between versions.

Step-by-Step

Check whether a Labs control is available. Open Google Search while signed in to the account you use, then open the Search Labs page or its beaker-shaped Labs control if shown. Look for an experiment related to AI Overviews or generative search. If there is an on/off switch, turn it off and follow any confirmation prompt. Not every account or region has this option, and Google may change which experiments are offered.
Test the change with a fresh search. Search for a new topic in a new tab or reload the results page. A control may affect future searches rather than removing an overview already displayed. If the feature still appears, make sure you changed the setting in the same Google account and browser profile you are using to search.
Use the Web filter for an individual search. After searching, look along the row of result filters for “Web.” Select it to see a text-focused results page made up of links rather than the usual mix of search features. The filter is a practical way to get past an overview when it appears, but it may need to be selected again for another query and does not necessarily change your default results.
Try a search operator when the filter is missing. Add &udm=14 to the end of a Google search results URL in the browser address bar, then press Enter. This can open Google’s Web-oriented results view in some browsers. Treat it as a workaround, not an official permanent setting: Google may change URL behavior, and the operator may not work in every app or region.
Choose another search engine if you want a different default. In your browser’s settings, find the search-engine or address-bar search option and select a provider whose results suit you. The setting is usually under a section such as Search, Search engine, or Address bar; its location depends on the browser. This changes searches made through that browser, not necessarily searches inside the Google app or other apps.
Consider a reputable browser extension only if needed. Some extensions claim to hide specific search page elements. Review the developer, permissions, privacy policy, and recent user feedback before installing one. Prefer an extension that asks only for permissions relevant to search pages, and remove it if it behaves unexpectedly. Extensions can stop working when Google changes its page, and they may not work in mobile browsers.

Common Mistakes

Expecting one setting to work everywhere. A Labs choice may be tied to a particular account or browser. It may not carry over to a signed-out session, another profile, or the Google app.
Confusing the Web filter with a permanent opt-out. Choosing Web changes the current results view. It does not necessarily disable AI Overviews for future searches.
Assuming every account has the same Labs options. Experiments can be unavailable or removed. If the setting is absent, use a filter or browser-level alternative instead of searching for a hidden toggle.
Installing an extension without checking its access. Extensions can request permission to read or change data on websites. Do not grant broad access to an unknown tool just to hide a search feature.
Using the Google app when you changed browser settings. The app and browser can use different settings. Make the change in the same place where the overview appears.

Tips

For an immediate result, try the Web filter before changing account or browser settings.
If you use multiple Google accounts, check which one is active before changing Search Labs.
Bookmark a Web-filtered results page only if it remains useful; Google may alter the URL or page behavior.
Keep the browser and extensions updated, and periodically review extension permissions.
Remember that a search engine may show other features, such as featured snippets or knowledge panels, even when an AI Overview is absent.

Troubleshooting

The Labs option is missing: It may not be offered for your account, location, or device. Try the Web filter, or use a browser search setting to choose a different provider.

The overview returns after you turned something off: Confirm you are using the same account and browser profile. Check whether the setting refers to an experiment rather than a general search preference, then run a new search. If the control has disappeared, use the current results-page filter instead.

You cannot find the Web filter: Look for a row of filters near the top of results and select “More” if visible. Filter placement can vary on narrow screens. You can also try the URL workaround in a desktop browser.

The URL workaround does nothing: Check that you entered it in the results-page address bar, not in the search box. It may be unsupported in your app or may have changed; switch to the visible Web filter or use another search engine.

An extension does not hide the overview: Confirm that it is enabled for the browser profile and site, then check its support information. If it requires excessive permissions or continues to fail, uninstall it and use a built-in option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I permanently turn off AI Overviews in Google?

There is not necessarily a universal off switch for every user. If Search Labs offers a relevant control, you can turn it off there; otherwise, use the Web filter or change your browser’s search provider.

Does selecting Web turn off AI Overviews?

It changes that search to a Web-focused results view. It is a useful way to avoid the overview for a query, but it may not become your default for later searches.

Can I remove AI Overviews from the Google app?

Check the app’s available Search Labs or search controls, if any. If no relevant option appears, try the Web filter or open Google in a browser where you can adjust the search experience.

Will changing my browser’s default search engine remove AI Overviews from Google?

It can keep searches from that browser’s address bar from going to Google, depending on the provider you choose. It does not change Google results opened directly in the Google app or on Google Search.

Are browser extensions safe for hiding AI Overviews?

Some may work, but safety depends on the extension and the access it requests. Check its permissions and developer, avoid unknown tools, and remember that extensions can break when search pages change.

Further reading: Google Help. Details can change, so check the official page for anything that matters to you. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. How we write an answer.