How to Turn Off AI Overview on Google (4 Methods for 2026)

Google doesn't give you an official switch to disable AI Overview — it's treated as a core Search feature, the same way Knowledge Panels and Featured Snippets are. That said, you do have real options: the Web filter, the udm=14 URL parameter, the -ai search operator, and browser extensions can all remove AI Overview from your results, either for a single search or permanently.

I'll walk you through every method below, in order of how fast and permanent each one is.

What Is Google AI Overview (And Why You Might Want to Turn It Off)

AI Overview is Google's AI-generated summary that appears at the top of your search results. It's built on what Google originally called the Search Generative Experience, which started as a small opt-in experiment before rolling out to hundreds of millions of users by default.

Sounds convenient, right? Except a lot of people don't love it. Here's why:

• The summaries can be inaccurate or oversimplified
• They push organic search results further down the page
• They slow down how fast you can scan for real answers
• They take up screen space without any way to dismiss them

If you want the bigger picture on where this is all heading, our breakdown of how AI is changing SEO in 2025 covers why Google keeps pushing AI further into search — and what it means for how people find information going forward.

If any of that sounds familiar, here's exactly what you can do about it.

Does Google Let You Officially Disable AI Overview?

No — and this trips a lot of people up.

According to Google's own Search Help documentation, AI Overview is classified as a core Search feature, just like Knowledge Panels. Features in that category don't get individual on/off switches.

There is a slider in Google Search Labs labeled "AI Overviews." Don't get too excited about it, though — the fine print states that turning it off "does not disable AI Overviews in Search outside of Labs." In other words, it's mostly cosmetic.

So if there's no official switch, your best bet is one of the four workarounds below.

Quick Comparison: 4 Ways to Remove AI Overview

Before we get into the step-by-step details, here's a quick rundown of how these four methods stack up against each other.

The Web filter needs no setup at all since it's built right into Google, but it's not permanent — you'll have to click it again on every new search, and it works only in a limited way on mobile. It's best for one-off searches when you just need a quick, clean result.

The udm=14 URL parameter takes a bit more effort upfront (you either add it to the URL manually or set it as your default search engine), but it pays off — it becomes permanent once you set it as your default, and it works on mobile too, though that depends on which browser you're using. This one's best for power users who search constantly and want a fix that just sticks.

The -ai search operator is the simplest of all — no setup, just type it manually at the end of your query. It's not permanent, so you'll need to add it every time, but the upside is that it works reliably on mobile. It's ideal for quick, occasional use when you don't want to commit to anything.

Finally, browser extensions require a one-time install, but after that, they're fully automatic and permanent. The catch is they don't work on mobile browsers — desktop only. These are best if you want a hands-off, "set it and forget it" solution.

Method 1: Use the "Web" Filter (Easiest Option)

Google quietly added a filter called Web that strips your search results down to the classic format — no AI Overview, no ads, no knowledge panels, just plain results.

Step-by-Step

1. Run your Google search as normal
2. Look for the row of tabs (All, Images, News, Videos)
3. Click More
4. Select Web from the dropdown

That's it. You'll instantly see the old-school "ten blue links" layout.

The downside: you have to repeat this on every search. That's where the next method comes in.

Method 2: The udm=14 URL Trick (Best for Daily Use)

When you click the "Web" filter, Google actually adds a parameter to the URL behind the scenes: udm=14. Once you know that, you can build the URL yourself and skip the clicking entirely.

https://www.google.com/search?q=your+query&udm=14

Add that to any search and you'll get AI-free results instantly.

Make It Your Default Search Engine

1. Open your browser settings
2. Go to Search Engine settings
3. Add a custom search engine using: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
4. Set it as default

Now every search automatically skips AI Overview. Sites like udm14.com and tenbluelinks.org exist specifically to make this easier.

One caveat worth knowing: udm=14 isn't officially documented by Google, so it's technically unsupported. It's worked reliably for a long time, but Google could change it without warning.

Method 3: The "-ai" Search Operator (Fastest, No Setup)

Add -ai to the end of any search query, and Google will exclude AI Overview from that specific search.

best running shoes -ai

It's not permanent, but if you just need a clean result once, it's the fastest option on this list — and it works on mobile, unlike some of the other methods.

Method 4: Browser Extensions (Fully Automatic)

Extensions are the "set it and forget it" option. One popular tool, Bye Bye, Google AI, uses simple CSS to hide the AI Overview block — plus ads, shopping blocks, and "people also ask" sections, if you want.

Other extensions automatically append udm=14 to every search, so you never type it manually.

Pros: fully automatic, customizable, free to install.

Cons: relies on Google keeping its page structure stable, and extensions don't work on mobile browsers.

Turning Off AI Overview on Mobile and Safari

Here's something most guides skip: these workarounds behave differently on mobile.

• Chrome on Android/iOS: the udm=14 default-search-engine trick generally doesn't work, since mobile Chrome restricts custom search engine setup.
• Safari (iOS/Mac): you can still manually add &udm=14 to a search URL, or bookmark https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 as a Home Screen shortcut for quick access.
• Firefox mobile: supports custom default search engines, so the udm=14 trick works there — making Firefox the more reliable mobile option if you want a permanent fix.

If you're on Chrome mobile, your most reliable option is simply typing -ai at the end of each search.

Which Method Should You Actually Use?

• Want something instant, no setup? Use the -ai operator.
• Want a permanent fix without installing anything? Set udm=14 as your default search engine.
• Want full control and extra customization? Grab a browser extension.
• On mobile? Use -ai on Chrome, or the udm=14 bookmark trick on Firefox or Safari.

If avoiding AI Overview altogether appeals to you, it's also worth exploring standalone AI search tools built without ads or SEO clutter baked in — our guide to iAsk.ai, an AI-powered search engine, covers one option that takes a different approach entirely.

FAQ: Turning Off Google AI Overview

Is there an official way to turn off AI Overview?

No. Google classifies AI Overview as a core Search feature, similar to Knowledge Panels, and doesn't offer a dedicated toggle for it.

Does udm=14 still work in 2026?

Yes, as of this writing. It's undocumented by Google, though, so it could change without notice.

Can I turn off AI Overview on my phone?

Partially. The -ai operator works on any mobile browser. The udm=14 default-search-engine trick works reliably on Firefox mobile, works with manual bookmarking on Safari, but generally doesn't work on Chrome mobile.

Will these workarounds get me banned from Google Search?

No. These are publicly documented, widely used methods that use Google's own existing "Web" filter — they don't violate any terms of service.

Does the Search Labs "AI Overviews" toggle actually disable it?

Not fully. Google's own fine print says switching it off in Labs doesn't disable AI Overview in the rest of Search.

Final Thoughts

AI Overview isn't going anywhere anytime soon — but you're not stuck with it either.

Between the Web filter, the udm=14 parameter, the -ai operator, and browser extensions, you've got four legitimate ways to get back to clean, classic Google Search results — on both desktop and mobile.

Start with whichever method matches how often you search: the -ai operator for occasional use, or udm=14 as your default for a fix that sticks.