How to Turn Off AI Overviews in Google Search (What Actually Works)

Quick Answer

• Google does not offer a setting to permanently turn off AI Overviews.
• The easiest workaround is the Web filter under the search box.
• For a lasting fix on desktop, make a custom search engine that adds udm=14 to your searches.
• Adding -AI to a query also works, but it can hide results that mention AI.
• Changing your Google account or Gmail settings does not turn it off.

If you want plain blue links without the AI summary at the top, you have a few options. None of them is an official off switch, because Google treats AI Overviews as a core part of Search. These workarounds avoid the summary instead. Here is what works, what does not, and the catches.

Method 1: Use the Web filter

1. Search for anything on Google.
2. Under the search box, click Web. If you do not see it, click More and choose Web.

This shows a list of links only, without the AI Overview. The downside is that you must repeat it for every search, and it also hides video previews and other rich results.

Method 2: Add -AI to your search

Type your search and add -AI at the end, for example best pizza dough recipe -AI. It works on any device with no setup. But it can remove results that contain the word AI, so it works poorly when you are searching for AI topics.

Method 3: Use the udm=14 trick

When you add &udm=14 to the end of a Google results page address, you get the same links-only view as the Web filter. Setting it up as your default search engine makes this automatic.

In Chrome on a computer:

1. Open chrome://settings/searchEngines.
2. Click Add next to Site search.
3. Name it, add a shortcut like g, and use this URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
4. Open the menu next to your new entry and choose Make default.

Firefox: version 140 and newer is reported to accept a custom search URL on desktop and Android. Edge: also change the New Tab search box to use the address bar, or some searches may still go to Bing.

Two warnings. First, Google does not formally document the udm=14 parameter for consumers, so it could stop working. Second, one guide says Chrome on Android and iPhone lacks the custom URL form, while another says you can add it in mobile Chrome. Reports differ, so test it on your phone.

A note on helper websites

Some sites (such as udm14.com or tenbluelinks.org) add the parameter for you. They are convenient, but your searches pass through someone else’s site, so think about that before you use them as your default.

Method 4: Try Search Labs Web Guide

If it is available for you, open labs.google.com/search while signed in and turn on Web Guide. It puts traditional links first rather than removing AI content, so it only partly helps. Availability varies by region and account, and Google can end experiments.

Method 5: Browser extensions

You can look for extensions in the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons that hide the AI box. One guide names a few, but we have not tested any, and extensions can break when Google changes its page. Check reviews and permissions before you install.

What does not work

• Account settings: There is no Google account toggle for AI Overviews.
• Gmail Smart features: These affect Gmail, Chat and Meet, not Search.
• Safari, history or private browsing settings: They do not disable AI Overviews.
• The Google app on your phone: No setting makes it default to Web results. One guide says the app shows more AI Overviews than browsers.

Why people turn it off

Some people dislike wrong or odd summaries. Others simply want to go straight to the sources. If you want to limit AI across your other devices, read our guides to turn off Gemini on Android and turn off Apple Intelligence.

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