How to Disable AI Overview in Google Search (And Why You Might Want To)

Google's AI Overview feature — the AI-generated summary box that appears at the top of many search results — has become one of the most discussed changes to the search experience in recent years. Some users find it helpful. Others find it intrusive, inaccurate, or simply in the way of the organic results they actually want. If you're in the second camp, here's what you need to know about controlling or removing it.

What Is Google AI Overview?

AI Overview (previously called Search Generative Experience, or SGE) is a feature built into Google Search that uses a large language model to generate a summarized answer at the top of the results page. It pulls from multiple sources and attempts to answer your query directly before you click anything.

It rolled out broadly in the United States in May 2024 and has since expanded to additional markets. The intent is to reduce the steps between a question and an answer — but this also means fewer clicks on source websites, which is why it's controversial among both users and publishers.

Can You Fully Disable AI Overview?

This is where it gets nuanced. There is no single universal toggle to permanently turn off AI Overview across all devices and browsers. Google has not built a native "disable AI Overview" setting into its standard search interface — at least not as a persistent, account-level preference.

However, there are several practical methods that either remove it entirely or reduce how often you see it. Which method works best depends heavily on your setup.

Method 1: Use a Different Search Filter or URL Parameter 🔍

One of the simplest workarounds is to append &udm=14 to the end of any Google search URL. This activates what Google calls the "Web" filter, which returns a traditional, link-based results page without AI Overview.

For example:

https://www.google.com/search?q=your+search+here&udm=14 

You can also access this by clicking the "Web" tab that appears in Google's search filter bar (it may not be visible by default on all interfaces).

This approach works per-search rather than globally, but browser extensions and custom search engine shortcuts can automate the parameter so it applies to every query.

Method 2: Set a Custom Search Engine in Your Browser

Most major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — let you define a custom default search engine with a specific URL template. By setting your default Google search URL to include &udm=14 automatically, every search you perform routes through the Web filter and bypasses AI Overview.

In Chrome, for example:

• Go to Settings → Search engine → Manage search engines
• Add a new entry with the URL template: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
• Set it as your default

This is one of the more reliable methods for desktop users who want a consistent experience without manual intervention.

Method 3: Use a Browser Extension

Several browser extensions are specifically designed to suppress AI Overview. Extensions like uBlacklist, custom CSS injectors, or dedicated "Hide AI Overview" tools can either hide the element visually or redirect queries through the Web filter automatically.

Key variables here include:

• Browser compatibility — Chrome extensions won't work on Safari without a separate version; mobile browsers have very limited extension support
• Extension maintenance — Google periodically changes its interface, which can break extensions until they're updated
• Privacy posture — Some users are cautious about granting extensions access to search pages

Method 4: Use an Alternative Search Engine

Users who want to avoid AI-generated summaries entirely sometimes switch to search engines that don't use them by default. DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, and Kagi (paid) each offer results without AI-generated overviews, though their index size and result quality differ from Google.

This is a more significant change than a URL parameter — it affects your entire search workflow, not just AI Overview. Whether that trade-off is worth it depends on how much you rely on Google's specific strengths (local results, Google account integration, query understanding).

Method 5: Signed-In vs. Signed-Out Behavior

Google's AI Overview behavior can differ depending on whether you're signed into a Google account or searching anonymously. Some users report that AI Overview appears less frequently or is absent in incognito mode or when signed out. This isn't a guaranteed fix — behavior varies by region, query type, and interface version — but it's worth noting as a variable.

Google also occasionally tests interface variations across user segments, meaning the feature's presence or absence sometimes isn't within the user's direct control.

The Variables That Determine Your Experience

Mobile Is a Different Problem 🤳

On Android and iOS, the options narrow considerably. The Google app has no exposed setting to disable AI Overview. The &udm=14 parameter still works if you're using a mobile browser like Chrome or Firefox for Android and can set a custom search engine — but the native Google app doesn't support this customization.

Some Android users route around this by using Firefox mobile with the custom search engine method. iPhone and iPad users face the additional constraint that iOS browser extensions are limited compared to desktop, though options like Orion Browser or Firefox for iOS offer more flexibility than Safari alone.

What Actually Controls Whether You See It

The honest answer is that Google controls the feature at a platform level, and user-side options are workarounds rather than official settings. The &udm=14 method is the closest thing to a reliable, supported path — Google created the Web filter intentionally, even if it doesn't advertise it prominently.

Your specific combination of device, browser, technical comfort level, and how consistently you want the override applied will determine which of these approaches is practical for your situation.