Last Updated on December 16, 2025 by Sam Thompson
If you’re wondering how to turn off AI Overview on Google, you’re not alone. Over the past few weeks, the internet has been flooded with discussions about Google’s AI Overview, the company’s new artificial intelligence feature that automatically summarizes search results. This guide is for anyone frustrated by Google’s new AI Overview feature and looking for ways to regain control over their search results. Understanding how to manage or disable AI Overview is important for users who value accuracy, privacy, and control over their online experience.
Below, you’ll find a quick-reference table summarizing all current methods to hide or minimize AI Overview, so you can get straight to the solutions if you’re seeking a direct answer.
Quick Reference: How to Hide or Minimize Google AI Overview
| Method | Description | Devices/Browsers | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add &udm=14 to URL | Appends a parameter to Google search URL to show classic results without AI Overview | Desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Brave) | High |
| Custom Search Engine | A user-created search shortcut that modifies how queries are sent to Google or other search providers, automatically adding &udm=14 | Desktop browsers | High |
| Alternative Search Engines | Use DuckDuckGo, StartPage, Brave Search, or Ecosia to avoid AI Overviews | All browsers, mobile & desktop | High |
| Browser Extensions | Extensions like “Hide Google AI Overviews” or custom uBlock Origin filters remove AI boxes | Chrome, Firefox | Moderate-High |
| Adjust Google Account Settings | Pause or clear “Web & App Activity” to reduce AI personalization | All devices | Moderate |
| Incognito/Private Mode | Limits search history tracking, may reduce some AI personalization | All browsers | Low-Moderate |
| tenbluelinks.org | A website that delivers classic Google search results with only blue links, bypassing AI Overviews | All browsers, mobile & desktop | High |
| Google App Settings | Manage AI and personalization settings within the Google app | Android, iOS | Moderate |
What Is Google’s AI Overview?
AI Overview is Google’s new way of presenting information at the top of search results. Instead of showing a list of blue links first, it uses artificial intelligence to generate a short summary, often pulled from multiple sources. This summary appears in a highlighted box above the traditional results.
In theory, this feature should save users time by providing quick answers without having to click through multiple websites. However, the execution has been controversial. Many users find these AI-generated summaries less reliable than expected. The AI responses sometimes mix outdated or incorrect information, especially for complex or nuanced topics such as health, finance, or technology.
Moreover, this AI summary can overshadow the Google search results that link to actual sources, making it harder to access the original websites. This is a significant concern for users who prefer to evaluate information by visiting the source directly rather than relying solely on an AI-generated snippet.
Google’s AI Overview is integrated deeply into the default search experience, appearing not only in the Google app but also when searching from the search bar in browsers like Chrome and Firefox. It even shows up in incognito mode, making it difficult to avoid.
AI Overview is closely tied to search personalization and privacy concerns. The feature often uses your search history and account data to tailor its summaries, which means your personal information and past queries can influence the AI’s responses. This connection raises important questions about how much control users have over their data and the accuracy of the information they receive.
Now that you understand what AI Overview is, let’s look at why many users want to turn it off.
Why Users Want to Turn Off AI Overview on Google
The main reasons people want to turn off Google AI Overview include:
- Accuracy Concerns: Many users have reported that the generated answers are simply wrong or out of context. For example, search results may mix outdated information or misinterpret queries altogether.
- Lack of Choice: Google does not currently allow users to turn off this feature through their Google account or search settings. Even when users hide the AI Overview box with extensions or custom scripts, the AI model still runs behind the scenes, influencing the search experience.
- Privacy and Search History: Since AI features often rely on analyzing past searches and behavior, users worry about how much data is being collected and used to generate these summaries. For those who prefer to keep their search history private or use custom search engines, the forced AI integration feels intrusive.
- Cluttered Pages: The AI Overview can make search results pages feel crowded, pushing down the traditional blue links and making it harder to find original sources.
The relationship between AI Overview, search personalization, and privacy is direct: AI Overview uses your search history and account data to personalize its summaries, which can compromise both the accuracy of results and your privacy.
The forced integration has led to a surge of online discussions and guides — especially on Reddit and tech forums — with people sharing temporary fixes and asking questions like “can I turn off AI Overview on Google?” Unfortunately, the official answer remains no.
Next, let’s explore the current workarounds you can use to minimize or hide AI Overview and regain control over your search experience.
How to Turn Off AI Overview on Google (For Now)
While Google doesn’t yet offer an official way to disable AI Overview, users have discovered some workarounds. Below are the most effective methods, each with step-by-step instructions.
Use the Parameter &udm=14 in Your Search URL
One of the simplest ways to bypass the AI Overview is by adding the parameter “&udm=14” to the end of your Google search URL. This instructs Google to load a simpler results page, often referred to as “Google Web” mode, without the AI summary box.
Example:
If you search for “best laptops 2024,” your URL might look like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=best+laptops+2024&udm=14
This filter forces Google to display classic search results, focusing on links to actual sources rather than AI-generated summaries. While not perfect—some queries may still trigger AI responses—this method works well for most informational searches.
You can also customize your browser’s default search engine to include this parameter automatically. See the next section for step-by-step instructions.
Create a Custom Search Engine to Hide AI Overview
A custom search engine is a user-created search shortcut that modifies how queries are sent to Google or other search providers. By setting up a custom search engine that automatically adds “&udm=14” to every query, you can effectively hide AI Overviews.
How to create a custom search engine in Chrome:
- Open Chrome settings.
- Go to “Search engine” > “Manage search engines.”
- Click “Add.”
- Enter a name like “Google Web (No AI).”
- Set the keyword (e.g., “gweb”).
- Use the search URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
- Save and set as default or use as needed from the address bar.
This method gives you control over how Google search results appear without AI summaries.
Switch to Alternative Search Engines
Many users are moving to alternative search engines that prioritize privacy and simplicity, and do not force AI content. Some popular options include:
- DuckDuckGo: Known for its privacy-first approach, DuckDuckGo does not display AI Overviews and offers a clean interface. It also allows users to toggle AI features on or off before starting a search.
- StartPage: This search engine pulls results from Google but strips out tracking and AI summaries, giving you Google-level results without the AI clutter.
- Brave Search: Developed by the makers of the Brave browser, Brave Search uses its own independent index and does not show AI Overviews. It is privacy-focused and free to use.
- Ecosia: An eco-friendly search engine that plants trees from its ad revenue. Ecosia uses Bing’s search index and currently does not feature AI Overviews.
Switching your default search engine in your browser or device settings can significantly reduce exposure to unwanted AI features. You can set DuckDuckGo or Brave Search as your default search engine in Chrome, Firefox, or Brave browser, ensuring that your searches open in a clean, AI-free environment.
Use Browser Extensions or Ad Blockers
Several browser extensions can help you hide Google AI Overviews automatically without needing to tweak URLs or switch search engines. Popular options include:
- “Hide Google AI Overviews” Extension: Available for Chrome and Firefox, this extension removes the AI summary box from search results instantly.
- uBlock Origin: A powerful ad blocker that can be customized with filters to block the AI Overview div on Google search pages.
Tips:
- Only use extensions from trusted sources to avoid security risks.
- Once installed, these tools can provide a seamless experience by hiding AI Overviews on the fly.
Adjust Google Account Settings and Use Incognito Mode
While Google does not provide a direct toggle to turn off AI Overview, managing your Google account and search settings can help control other AI features.
What is “Web & App Activity”?
Web & App Activity is a Google account setting that saves your searches, browsing history, and activity from Google services. This data is used to personalize your experience, including the AI Overviews you see.
How to manage your settings:
- Clear or pause your search history to limit personalized AI responses.
- Disable features like “Web & App Activity” in your Google account settings to reduce data collection that powers AI tools.
Using Incognito Mode:
- Incognito mode in browsers like Chrome or Firefox disables search history tracking, which might reduce some AI personalization. However, AI Overviews may still appear even in incognito mode, so this is not a complete solution.
Use the Google App and Manage Its Settings
The Google app on mobile devices integrates AI features deeply, including AI Overview summaries. To reduce AI content in the app, you can:
- Open the Google app.
- Tap your profile picture in the top right corner to open settings.
- Navigate to “General” and look for options to disable or limit AI features or personalized results.
- Clear your search history and disable Web & App Activity to prevent AI from using past data.
While these steps won’t fully remove AI Overviews, they help reduce AI-driven suggestions and responses.
Try tenbluelinks.org for Classic Search Results
What is tenbluelinks.org?
tenbluelinks.org is a website that delivers classic Google search results—just the traditional blue links—without any AI Overviews, snippets, or distractions. It’s a great option for users who want a clean, straightforward search experience and wish to bypass Google’s AI features entirely.
Simply visit tenbluelinks.org and enter your search query to get results without AI summaries.
The Bigger Picture: AI Everywhere
The growing backlash against AI Overview highlights a deeper issue—AI fatigue. Users are feeling overwhelmed by the constant introduction of artificial intelligence into products they already use daily.
AI features are now embedded in many platforms beyond Google, including social media, email, office apps like Microsoft Word, and even operating systems. While AI tools can enhance productivity and convenience, the lack of user control and transparency causes discomfort.
The relationship between AI Overview, search personalization, and privacy is central to this discomfort. As AI features use more of your personal data to tailor results, concerns about privacy and the accuracy of information grow.
Google’s challenge is to balance innovation with transparency and user control. Without that balance, more people may decide that the easiest way to “turn off AI Overview” is to turn away from Google altogether.
As we’ve seen, there are several ways to minimize AI Overviews, but the demand for a true opt-out remains strong.
How to Manage Your Search History and Privacy
Since AI features often leverage your search history and Google account data to personalize AI responses, managing your privacy settings is crucial.
Tips for managing your privacy:
- Visit your Google Account’s “Data & Privacy” section.
- Review and pause “Web & App Activity” to stop Google from saving your searches.
- Delete past search history to reduce AI training data.
- Use privacy-focused browsers like Brave or Firefox, which offer built-in tracking protection.
- Consider using site search or custom search engines that don’t track your activity.
These steps not only help limit AI personalization but also protect your overall privacy online.
Now that you know how to manage your privacy, let’s look at how to use custom search engines and browser settings for even more control.
Using Custom Search Engines and Browser Settings
Custom search engines allow you to tailor your search experience by modifying the search URL and filters. For example, you can create a custom search engine in Chrome or Firefox that automatically adds the “&udm=14” parameter to every query, effectively hiding AI Overviews.
How to create a custom search engine in Chrome:
- Open Chrome settings.
- Go to “Search engine” > “Manage search engines.”
- Click “Add.”
- Enter a name like “Google Web (No AI).”
- Set the keyword (e.g., “gweb”).
- Use the search URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
- Save and set as default or use as needed from the address bar.
This method gives you control over how Google search results appear without AI summaries.
With your browser and search engine set up, let’s see what mobile users can do to avoid AI Overviews.
Tips for Mobile Users to Remove AI Overviews
Mobile users face more challenges since browser extensions and URL tweaks are less convenient. However, some solutions exist:
- Use alternative browsers like Brave or Firefox on mobile, which support custom search engines and privacy features.
- Download the DuckDuckGo app for AI-free search.
- Use tenbluelinks.org, which offers a simplified search experience that bypasses Google AI Overviews.
- Switch your default search engine in mobile browser settings to DuckDuckGo or Brave Search.
- In the Google app, manage settings as described earlier to limit AI features.
These tips help mobile users regain some control despite platform limitations.
Final Thoughts
AI is here to stay, and it will continue shaping how we access information online. However, the rollout of Google’s AI Overview proves that not every “smart” feature feels smart to users.
As people search for ways to turn off AI Overview on Google, the message is clear: technology should empower users, not frustrate them. Until Google introduces an official toggle or setting, many will continue exploring alternatives that respect simplicity, accuracy, and choice.
By using the workarounds outlined here—such as URL filters, custom search engines, alternative browsers, and privacy settings—you can effectively hide Google AI Overviews and take back control of your search experience.
Remember:
- Provide feedback to Google whenever you see AI Overviews that are inaccurate or unhelpful. User voices can influence future updates and hopefully lead to a real way to turn off AI Overviews permanently.
- Stay informed, experiment with the tools available, and choose search methods that work best for you.
With these strategies, you can enjoy a cleaner, more reliable search experience that prioritizes actual sources and puts you in charge.