If you’re tired of Google’s AI Overview interfering with your search experience, you’re not alone. Many users in the UK are looking for ways to remove or bypass this AI-generated feature. Whether you’re on a desktop, Android, or iPhone, this full guide will walk you through every method available to regain control over your search results. We’ll also explore alternative tools and expert-backed insights to make your browsing experience more accurate, private, and AI-free.
What is the Google AI Overview and Why is it Showing in Sarch Results?
Google AI Overview is a new feature introduced in Google Search that generates AI-powered summaries and quick answers to search queries. These AI-generated responses often appear at the top of the search results, above organic listings, providing an instant response or overview to your question.
- These summaries aim to save time but may oversimplify complex topics.
- AI Overviews may pull content from sources without properly verifying credibility.
How does Google AI Overview affect your search experience?
- It may replace traditional blue-link results with AI summaries
- It sometimes shows incomplete or misleading information
- It can reduce user control over which sources to read
- It’s automatically enabled for many users
Can you Turn Off Google AI Overview Manually?
Currently, Google does not provide a dedicated toggle in settings to completely disable AI Overview. However, users can work around this by tweaking search settings or using alternative approaches.
- Use region-specific search preferences that prioritise traditional results.
- Explore third-party search wrappers that fetch Google results but exclude AI content.
How to Disable Google AI Overview on Desktop?
What are the steps to bypass AI Overview using traditional Google settings?
While there’s no “off” switch, you can reduce AI Overviews by:
- Clicking “More” and selecting “Web” in Google Search
- Bookmarking or directly visiting:
https://www.google.com/search?q=your+query&udm=14 - Changing your default search engine to a more traditional one like DuckDuckGo or Startpage
Can browser extensions help suppress AI Overviews?
Yes. Popular extensions include:
- uBlock Origin with custom filters to hide AI boxes
- Hide Google AI Overviews (Chrome Web Store)
- Web-only Google Search (open-source projects)
Are there Google Labs settings you can adjust?
In some regions, opting out of Google Search Labs experiments can help:
- Go to
https://labs.google.com/search - Toggle off any AI-related experiments if available
How to Turn Off Google AI on Mobile?
How to turn off AI Overview Google on Android?
For Android users, AI Overviews can be limited using these steps:
- Open the Google app
- Tap your profile photo in the top right corner
- Navigate to Settings > Search Settings
- Scroll to the AI Overview or Search Generative Experience section (if available)
- Toggle off AI-related features (only if shown in your region)
- Alternatively, use mobile browser with Web filter:
&udm=14
How to turn off AI Overview Google Chrome on mobile?
If you’re using Chrome on Android or iOS:
- Type your search in Chrome, then tap More > Web to get traditional results
- Add
&udm=14to the search URL to bypass AI Overview - You can also set bookmarks with the Web filter enabled
- Consider using Chrome extensions for mobile (via Kiwi Browser, which supports extensions)
How to turn off Google AI on iPhone?
If you’re an iPhone user and want to avoid AI Overviews:
- Open Safari or another browser
- Visit
https://www.google.com/preferences - Look for options like AI Overview or Search Generative Experience (if visible)
- Choose to turn them off, and save preferences
- You can also append
&udm=14to any search query URL to bypass AI results - Try using privacy-focused search apps like DuckDuckGo or Startpage on iOS
Are there Google settings to change in mobile browsers?
- Visit
https://www.google.com/preferencesin your mobile browser - Choose the Do not show AI results option if available
- Save your preferences to apply them across searches
Why are people turning off Google AI Overview?
What are the most common complaints?
- Reduced trust in AI-generated answers
- Preference for seeing original website sources
- Inaccuracy in AI content
- Unwanted interference in the search experience
“When I search, I want the facts from websites, not a machine’s guesswork,” says tech journalist Jane Wakefield from the BBC.
How do AI-free alternatives compare to Google Search?
| Feature | Google AI Overview | Traditional Google | DuckDuckGo | Startpage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Summaries | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ads in Search | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Privacy Focused | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Customisable Results | Low | Medium | High | Medium |
What Future Updates may Impact the AI Overview Toggle?
Is Google planning a native disable feature?
As of now, Google hasn’t announced an official opt-out. However, backlash may lead to an option being introduced.
- User demand continues to rise for more transparent AI controls in search.
- Developers and privacy advocates are calling for an AI toggle as a standard feature.
Are there regulatory concerns about AI Overview in the UK?
Yes, UK regulators like the CMA are evaluating AI transparency. A report may push Google to offer more user controls.
- The UK government has shown growing interest in regulating generative AI for public safety.
- Consumer watchdogs are advocating for clearer labelling of AI-generated content to avoid misinformation.
What does AI regulation mean for UK users?
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofcom are actively investigating how generative AI impacts consumer rights. This includes:
- Transparency of AI content in search
- Whether users can opt out of AI features
- Data handling and privacy practices
This evolving landscape might pressure Google to offer AI disablement features tailored to UK users.
Conclusion: How to take back control from Google AI Overview
To turn off or bypass Google AI Overview, users can:
- Use the “Web” tab filter or URL trick (
&udm=14) - Install browser extensions to block AI elements
- Switch to privacy-friendly alternatives like DuckDuckGo
- Monitor Google’s updates for any official opt-out options
By staying informed and using the right tools, you can customise your search experience and avoid unwanted AI summaries.
FAQs
Can I permanently disable Google AI Overview?
No, there’s no official toggle yet. But workarounds like the Web filter and extensions help.
Will using incognito mode stop AI Overviews?
No, incognito mode doesn’t affect AI features.
Does Google penalise users for avoiding AI Overviews?
Not at all. Choosing how to search is entirely up to users.
What is the best AI-free search engine?
DuckDuckGo is highly rated for privacy and no AI summaries.
Is Google planning to make AI Overview mandatory?
There’s no official word yet, but user feedback could shape future decisions.
