Google’s new AI Overviews feature gives direct answers by summarizing information at the top of search results. Some people find this helpful, but others dislike it. The summaries have been criticized for being inaccurate, odd, or even risky. (I Finally Figured Out How to Turn Off Google's AI Overviews, and Search Is Actually Useful Again, 2024)
Many people still like searching through a list of links to find answers on their own. If you want to bring back the classic Google search, this guide will help. We’ll show you several ways to turn off Google’s AI Overviews.
Can You Officially Turn Off AI Overviews?
Unfortunately, Google does not currently offer a built-in "off" switch for AI Overviews in its main search settings. (How Google’s AI Overviews Work, and How to Turn Them Off (You Can’t), 2023) The feature is being rolled out as a core part of the search experience. (Google expands AI Overviews in Search to more than 100 countries, 2024)
There are a few good ways to hide these AI summaries and return to the usual list of blue links. These options include changing a URL or adding a browser extension.
How to Disable AI Overviews in Google Search
Here are four easy ways to remove AI Overviews from your search results.
Method 1: Use the "Web" Filter
The fastest way to skip AI Overviews is to use Google’s built-in "Web" filter. This filter shows only regular web links and removes the AI summary.
How to do it:
- Perform a search on Google as you normally would.
- After the results page loads, usually with an AI Overview at the top, look for the filter options below the search bar.
- Click on More, and then select Web from the dropdown menu.
- The page will reload, displaying only a list of website links.
The downside of this method is that you need to use the filter for every new search, which can get repetitive.
Method 2: Create a Custom Search Engine in Chrome
To avoid manually selecting the "Web" filter every time, you can creaIf you don’t want to pick the "Web" filter each time, you can make a custom search engine in Google Chrome. This will set the "Web" filter as your default and do the work for you. The dots in the top-right corner and select Settings.
- Go to the Search engine tab and click on Manage search engines and site search.
- Next to "Site search," click the Add button.
- In the pop-up window, fill in the following fields:
- Name: Google Web (or any name you prefer)
- Shortcut: google.com (or your chosen shortcut)
- URL with %s in place of query: {google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14
- Click Add.
- Find the new search engine you just created in the list and click the three dots next to it. Select Make default.
Now, when you search from Chrome’s address bar, it will use the "Web" filter by default and hide AI Overviews.
Method 3: Use Browser Extensions
Some developers have made browser extensions that block Google’s AI Overviews. (Hide Google AI-Overviews, 2025) These extensions work in the background, so you don’t have to do anything extra.
Popular extensions include:
- Hide Google AI Overviews: Available for Chrome, this extension does exactly what its name suggests.
- Bye-bye, Google AI: This is another option for Chrome users that blocks the AI summaries from appearing.
How to install an extension:
- Go to the Chrome Web Store (or the add-on marketplace for your browser, like Firefox).
- Search for one of the extensions mentioned above.
- Click Add to Chrome (or your browser equivalent).
- The extension will be added to your browser and will automatically start blocking AI Overviews.
Using an extension is a simple, hands-off solution. Just remember that, like all browser add-ons, they need certain permissions to work.
Method 4: Use a Different Search Engine
If you’re unhappy with Google’s changes, you could try a different search engine. Many other search engines give great results without using AI summaries.
Popular alternatives include:
- DuckDuckGo: Known for its strong focus on user privacy, DuckDuckGo offers clean search results without tracking your activity. (Does DuckDuckGo Search track you?, n.d.)
- Bing: Microsoft's search engine is a powerful competitor to Google and offers its own set of features, though it also has its own AI integration (Copilot), which you can typically ignore or close. (Copilot Search in Bing, 2025)
- Brave Search: Developed by the makers of the Brave browser, this search engine prioritizes privacy and provides independent search results. (Privacy-preserving Brave Search Replaces Google as the Default Search Engine in the Brave Browser, 2021)
Switching search engines is a bigger step, but it’s a good choice if you want a different kind of search experience.
Get Back to a Simpler Search
Google’s AI Overviews aren’t going away, but you don’t have to use them. Whether you want a quick filter, a browser extension, or a custom search setting, you can bring back the classic search results.
With these methods, you can control your search experience and browse the web your way. Try the "Web" filter first. If you want something more lasting, set up a custom search engine or add an extension for a long-term fix.