Google has no official setting that turns AI Overviews off. The most reliable fix is Google’s own Web filter, which returns classic text links without the AI box. You can make it automatic by adding &udm=14 to your search URL or by saving a custom search engine in Chrome or Edge that does it for you.
If you verify claims, write papers, audit rankings or build content for a living, an AI summary sitting above the results isn’t always a help. It can bury primary sources, paraphrase them badly, and skew what you see on the page. Below are the methods that work today, from the quickest to the most permanent, plus what each one costs you.
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Why Google Won’t Let You Switch AI Overviews Off
Google treats AI Overviews as part of the search page itself, in the same way it treats featured snippets or image carousels. That is why you won’t find a toggle in Search settings, your Google Account or Chrome. Every method in this guide is therefore a workaround: it changes which results page you receive rather than disabling a feature. Google can change how these workarounds behave at any time, so treat them as practical tools, not guarantees.
Method 1: Use the Web Filter (Fastest, No Setup)
The Web filter is the only officially supported route. It strips results down to plain blue links, with no AI Overview and fewer enhanced elements.
- Run your search on google.com.
- Under the search bar, click the Web tab. If you don’t see it, open More and choose Web.
- Your results reload as a classic list of links.
On a phone, the same tab sits in the row of filters under the search box; swipe the row if it’s hidden.
The catch: the filter applies to one search only. Every new query starts in the default view again, which is why most people move on to Method 2.
Method 2: Add the udm=14 Parameter to the URL
The Web filter works through a URL parameter called udm. The value udm=14 selects the Web view, so adding it to a Google search address skips the extra click.
Example:
https://www.google.com/search?q=your+search+term&udm=14
You can type it by hand, but that gets old fast. It is useful for one-off checks, for sharing a clean results link with a colleague, or for testing how a query looks without the AI layer. Note that Google doesn’t document udm=14 as a stable public interface, so it could change.
Method 3: Make It Permanent with a Custom Search Engine (Chrome and Edge, Desktop)
This is the best answer to the search that brings most people here: how to get classic Google search results every time. You tell your browser to use Google with udm=14 built in, then make it the default.
In Google Chrome:
- Open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search.
- Under Site search, click Add.
- Fill in the fields:
- Name: Google Web
- Shortcut:
@web - URL with %s in place of query:
https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
- Click Add, then open the three-dot menu next to the new entry and choose Make default.
In Microsoft Edge: go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search > Manage search engines, add the same name, shortcut and URL, then set it as default.
From now on, anything typed into the address bar opens in Web view. If you’d rather keep your normal default, leave the entry as a shortcut instead: type @web, press Tab, then search.
Tip for other countries: if you use a regional version of Google, replace www.google.com with your own domain so results stay localised.
Method 4: Set It Up in Firefox, Safari and on Mobile
These browsers handle custom search engines differently, so expect a little more friction.
- Firefox: it has no built-in form for custom engines. Use a bookmark with a keyword that points to the
udm=14URL, or install a search-engine add-on that lets you add one. - Safari: it doesn’t support custom search engines natively. A content-blocker or extension that appends the parameter is the usual route, otherwise tap the Web tab each time.
- iPhone and Android: mobile browsers mostly lack custom engines. The dependable option is the Web tab, or a bookmark/home-screen shortcut that opens a search page with
udm=14.
Method 5: Hide the Box with a Browser Extension
Dedicated extensions and filter lists hide the AI Overview block after the page loads. They can be handy where custom search engines aren’t allowed, such as on managed or mobile browsers.
Trade-offs to weigh:
- The AI answer is still generated; you simply don’t see it.
- Google changes its page markup often, so hiding rules can break and need updates.
- Extensions read the pages you visit. Check the permissions and the developer’s track record before installing, especially on a work or research machine.
Extensions that redirect searches to udm=14 are generally sturdier than ones that hide page elements, because they request a different page instead of patching the old one.
Method 6: Add “-ai” to the Query (Hit or Miss)
Appending -ai to a search tells Google to exclude pages containing that term. Some people report fewer AI Overviews with this trick, but it changes your results, can remove relevant pages that mention AI, and isn’t reliable. Use it only for casual searching, never for research where completeness matters.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Method | Setup | Lasts across searches | Works on mobile | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web filter tab | None | No | Yes | Occasional use |
| udm=14 in URL | None | No | Yes | Testing and sharing links |
| Custom search engine | 2 minutes | Yes | Mostly desktop | Daily research |
| Extension | 1 minute | Yes | Varies | Locked-down setups |
| -ai operator | None | No | Yes | Casual searches only |
What You Give Up in Web View
Web view is cleaner, but it isn’t identical to the full results page. Expect to lose some features, such as:
- Maps and local packs
- Shopping modules and some knowledge panels
- Certain featured snippets and rich result elements
When you need those, click All to return to the standard page. Many people keep both: @web for research, the default view for local and shopping queries.
Tips by Audience
Researchers and students. AI summaries can compress or misstate what a source actually says. Web view puts the original papers, institutions and datasets in front of you so you can cite the primary source instead of a paraphrase. Always open the source before quoting it.
Fact-checkers. A summary is a claim to verify, not evidence. Use Web view for the first pass, then compare against the standard view when you need to document what Google was showing the public at that time. Take dated screenshots of both.
SEO professionals. Run the same query in the default view and in udm=14 to see how much of the page the AI box takes up, which organic listings sit below it, and whether your tracked keywords trigger an overview at all. Keep in mind that rank-tracking tools and your own browser may show different layouts, so note which view each report uses.
Content creators. If you want more control over how your own pages feed Google’s AI features, Google’s snippet controls (such as nosnippet and max-snippet) limit how much of your text can be shown. Read Google’s current documentation before using them, because they also affect ordinary search snippets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off Google AI Overviews permanently?
Not with an official setting. The closest thing is a custom search engine that always loads Web view (udm=14), which stays in place until you change or remove it.
How do I disable Google AI Overviews in Chrome?
Add a site search with the URL https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 under Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then set it as your default.
How do I get classic Google search results?
Click the Web tab under the search bar, or use &udm=14 in the URL. Both return the traditional list of links.
Does udm=14 remove ads too?
Web view shows fewer enhanced elements, but you shouldn’t assume every ad disappears. Check the results page for your queries.
Will these workarounds keep working?
There’s no guarantee. The Web filter is a documented Google feature, which makes it more durable, while udm=14 is an undocumented parameter that Google could change.
Is turning off AI Overviews the same as turning off Gemini?
No. Gemini in Chrome, Gmail and Photos has its own settings, separate from Search.
The Bottom Line
You can’t flip a switch to remove AI Overviews, but you can reliably stop seeing them. Start with the Web tab, then spend two minutes building the @web search engine so classic results become your default. Keep the standard view a click away for the moments when you do want maps, shopping or a quick summary, and keep verifying whatever you read, whichever view you use.
