Google Search started showing AI answers at the top of my results, and it’s making it harder to find regular links and sources I actually want to read. I’ve tried changing search settings but can’t figure out if there’s a way to disable AI results completely. I need help finding the right setting or workaround so Google Search works the way it used to.
Google does not give you a clean permanent off switch for AI Overviews on normal Search. That’s the annoying part.
What you can do:
-
Use the Web tab.
Search, then click Web. You’ll get mostly plain blue links.
If you do not see it, hit More, then Web. -
Force Web results with a URL.
Use this:
google.com/search?q=your+search&udm=14
That parameter tells Google to show Web-only results. -
Make a custom search engine in your browser.
In Chrome, Edge, Brave, etc, add a site search like:
Google Search
Then use that for searches. This is the best workaround imo. -
Try the Verbatim tool for some searches.
Tools > All results > Verbatim.
This does not remove AI every time, but it often cuts down the junk. -
Use the Web filter on mobile too.
After searching, swipe the tabs at the top until you see Web. Google hides it sometiems.
Stuff that does not work well:
- Turning off Search Labs. AI Overviews are often separate.
- Digging through normal Search settings. There is no full disable toggle for most users.
- Signing out. AI still shows for many people.
If you want less AI fast, use udm=14. It’s the closest thing to an off switch rn.
There basically isn’t a real “off” button, which is why the settings feel useless. Google keeps acting like this is a feature, not clutter.
One thing I’d add beyond what @viaggiatoresolare said: try changing your default browser/search flow instead of fighting Google’s homepage every time. If you use Firefox, Chrome, Edge, whatever, set your address bar searches to another engine when you want source-first results. DuckDuckGo, Startpage, even Bing sometimes gives cleaner link lists for certain queries. I know, heresy, but honestly it works.
Also, if you’re logged in, check whether “AI Overviews and more” or related experiements are enabled in Labs/account areas, because for some people that does affect how much AI junk shows up. Not a full fix though. I kinda disagree with the idea that Verbatim helps much. In my experience it’s hit-or-miss and mostly annoying.
Another practical trick: add extra terms like reddit, forum, pdf, site:edu, site:gov, or -ai to your searches. That often pushes the summary junk down and gets you actual readable sources faster. Stupid workaround, but yep.
If your main issue is mobile, honestly the Google app is the worst for this. Using a browser instead can be a little less annoying. Google really burried the normal results for no reason lol.
If you want the closest thing to “off,” use Google’s Web filter as your default result view. That’s the one workaround people skip. After you search, switch to Web instead of All, Images, News, etc. It strips out a lot of the extra modules and usually gets you much closer to plain blue links.
On desktop, you can also bookmark a Google search URL that forces the Web tab, then use that bookmark instead of the homepage. It’s not a true disable, but it cuts down the AI clutter more reliably than digging through settings.
I’d also push back a bit on the idea that there’s zero value in search settings. Most of them do not remove AI Overviews, true, but turning off personalized results and signed-out search can sometimes make the page less noisy overall.
@viaggiatoresolare is right that Google doesn’t offer a clean master switch. That’s the real issue.
Pros for ‘’: can improve readability if you’re organizing search tips or comparisons.
Cons for ‘’: no actual effect on Google’s AI results, so it won’t solve the core problem.