Google's AI Overview shows AI-generated summaries at the top of your search results, and you can disable it in your account settings

Google's AI Overview (formerly called Search Generative Experience, or SGE) automatically appears above your regular search results on many queries. It pulls information from web pages and presents a summary written by Google's AI. If you prefer to see traditional search results without the AI summary, you can turn this feature off in a few steps.

The setting lives in your Google Account preferences, not in your browser. This means the change applies across all your devices when you are signed into that account — your phone, tablet, and computer will all respect the same preference.

Key Takeaways

  • AI Overview is controlled through your Google Account settings, not your browser, so one change affects all your devices.
  • You access the setting by going to Google Search Settings and looking for the "AI Overview" or "Generative AI" toggle.
  • Turning off AI Overview removes the summary box but does not change your regular search results.
  • If you cannot find the setting, your account or region may not have AI Overview enabled yet, since Google is rolling it out gradually.

Steps to disable AI Overview on desktop

Step 1: Go to Google Search Settings. Open Google.com in your browser and look for the "Settings" link at the bottom right of the page. Click it, then select "Search Settings" from the menu.

Step 2: Find the AI Overview toggle. Scroll down the settings page until you see a section labeled "AI Overview" or "Generative AI experiences." You may need to scroll past several other options first.

Step 3: Turn off the toggle. Click the toggle switch next to "AI Overview" to turn it off. The switch should change color or position to show it is now disabled. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Save" to confirm your change.

Your search results will no longer show the AI-generated summary box. Regular search results will appear as they normally do, starting with the first link.

Steps to disable AI Overview on mobile

The process on your phone is similar but the layout is slightly different. Open the Google app or go to Google.com in your mobile browser and tap the "Settings" option (usually three horizontal lines or a gear icon). Select "Search Settings," then scroll to find the AI Overview toggle and turn it off.

If you are using the Google app on iPhone or Android, you may see the setting under "Generative AI" instead of "AI Overview." The function is the same — toggling it off removes the AI summary from your results.

What happens after you disable it

Once you turn off AI Overview, you will see only traditional search results when you search Google. The blue links, snippets, and knowledge panels will appear as they did before AI Overview was introduced. You can turn the feature back on at any time by returning to Search Settings and toggling it back on.

Disabling AI Overview does not affect your search history, your saved preferences, or any other Google services. It only removes the AI-generated summary box from the top of your results page.

If you cannot find the AI Overview setting

Google is rolling out AI Overview gradually, which means not all accounts or regions have access to it yet. If you do not see the toggle in your Search Settings, your account may not have the feature enabled. In this case, there is nothing to disable — you are already not seeing AI Overview.

You can also check whether AI Overview is available to you by performing a search. If the feature is active on your account, you will see a box labeled "AI Overview" or "Generated by Google" at the top of your results. If you do not see this box, the feature is either not available to you yet or you have already disabled it.

Why you might want to disable AI Overview

Some people prefer traditional search results because they want to read the original sources directly rather than a summary. Others find the AI summary takes up screen space on mobile devices. Some users are concerned about the accuracy of AI-generated content and prefer to evaluate sources themselves.

Your preference is entirely personal. Google makes it easy to switch between having AI Overview on and off, so you can experiment and see which approach works better for your search habits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling AI Overview change my regular search results?

No. Turning off AI Overview only removes the summary box at the top of the page. Your regular search results — the links, snippets, and other information — remain exactly the same.

Will my change apply to all my devices?

Yes, as long as you are signed into the same Google Account on all devices. The setting is stored in your account, not on your device, so your phone, tablet, and computer will all follow the same preference.

Can I turn AI Overview back on later?

Yes. Go back to Search Settings, find the AI Overview toggle, and turn it back on. You can switch between having it on and off as many times as you want.

What if I only want to disable AI Overview sometimes?

The setting is all-or-nothing — you cannot disable it for certain searches and keep it for others. You would need to toggle it on or off in Search Settings each time you want to change it.

Is AI Overview available in all countries?

No. Google is rolling out AI Overview to different regions at different times. If you travel or use a VPN, you may see different availability depending on your location settings.