Google AI Overview Not Turning Off: Explained and Solved

I’ve spent hours trying to figure out why Google’s AI Overview won’t turn off, even after disabling everything in Labs and tweaking settings. Like many others, I just want plain search results—no summaries, no hallucinated answers. If you’re in the same boat, I’ve put together everything I’ve found while testing, digging through forums, and trying community-suggested tricks.

This guide explains why it’s happening and shares all the working methods I use to bypass or remove AI Overviews on both desktop and mobile.

Here’s What Actually Works to Use Google Without AI Overviews (quick summary)

That said, there is a reliable workaround I use daily (🌚) to get back the clean, AI-free version of Google Search. 🚩✨🔥

No matter which device you’re using—Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, iPad, Chromebook—you can still access the traditional, non-AI search results by selecting the “Web” filter from the results menu.

When you search something on Google, look for the horizontal menu just below the search bar, where you usually find tabs like “Images,” “Videos,” or “News.” You’ll now notice a tab labeled “Web.” Click or tap it.

This simple action switches your results to the classic format—no AI-generated summaries, no suggested highlights—just plain organic links like before.

If you want to make this even easier, I highly recommend setting UDM14.com as your default search engine. It’s designed to deliver Google search results without AI Overviews, giving you a cleaner experience by default.

So, if you’re tired of AI answers taking over your screen and just want the real websites—use the “Web” tab or switch to UDM14. It’s the closest thing right now to truly disabling Google’s AI layer across all devices. You can also set UDM14.com as your default search engine, which helps you access AI-free results—just like how I bypassed forced overlays when apps were grayed out and not clickable.

Query Method

For this scroll down, you will find out, how to apply this;

Why Google AI Overview Won’t Turn Off

Google AI Overview is powered by systems like query parsing, context vectors, and categorical quality re-ranking. That means even before results are shown, Google has already pre-processed the query for potential AI summary injection.

Even though Search Labs presents the Overview as optional, it isn’t. Google uses entity-oriented search and “semantic grouping” to make AI Overviews appear even for basic queries. This is based on what Google thinks satisfies the user—not what the user actually wants.

So even if you opt out, these semantic interpretations persist.

Google’s Official Position

According to Google’s own documentation, there is no official setting to permanently disable AI Overviews.

Search Labs access is:

• Account-specific
• Region-restricted
• Device-dependent

Even if I turned off every toggle inside Labs, I still saw the Overview. And I wasn’t alone—Reddit and Google support threads are filled with complaints from users who toggled everything off and still got AI summaries.

“I opted out of Search Labs, but still get AI Overviews. It’s like Google is ignoring the settings.” – Reddit user

Proven Ways to Bypass or Disable Google AI Overview (Desktop)

#1. uBlock Origin Method

This is my go-to. It’s easy, fast, and works consistently.

1. Install uBlock Origin on Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
2. Open the uBlock dashboard → My Filters tab.
3. Paste this line:

google.com##.GcKpu

4. Click Apply changes.

“Thank you! That works, AI results are gone.” – r/uBlockOrigin comment

This blocks the DOM element that contains the AI Overview box.

#2. Chrome Extensions

If you don’t use uBlock, there are two solid browser extensions:

• Hide Google AI Overviews
• Bye Bye, Google AI

Both:

• Remove the AI Overview box
• Let you hide other clutter like discussions, shopping blocks, and snippets
• Work in Chrome and Edge

To configure: right-click the icon → Options → choose what you want hidden.

#3. Custom Search Engine with udm=14

I created a custom search engine to force Web-only results using ?udm=14. This tells Google to show the classic 10 blue links.

Steps in Chrome:

1. Settings > Search Engine > Manage Search Engines > Site Search
2. Add:
   • Name: Web Only (No AI)
   • Keyword: gw
   • URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
3. Set it as default.

I use this daily. You can also use udm14.com as a redirect tool.

#4. Search Query Hacks

These quick tricks help for one-time searches:

• Add this to the end of your search: -“ai overview”
• Tap More > Web after searching
• Or just sign out of your Google account

“You only see AI Overviews when signed in. Log out and boom—gone.” – Reddit user

Proven Mobile Workarounds (Android + iOS)

#1. Brave Browser Blocking (Android)

Brave has its own element blocker.

• Open Brave > Tap Brave icon > Block Elements
• Add .GcKpu to block the AI Overview

It works like uBlock, but inside Brave.

#2. Firefox Add-Ons (iOS + Android)

Firefox Mobile supports extensions, and you can use a udm=14 redirector add-on:

• Go to addons.mozilla.org
• Or just use udm14.com directly

#3. Tap “More” > “Web” Method

If AI Overview shows up, tap the “More” tab at the top of results.

• Then tap Web to show standard links

Or just swipe left across result tabs to reach Web.

#4. Account-Related Workaround

Once again, being signed in changes your experience.

• Sign out, or
• Use Incognito Mode

That usually removes AI Overviews.

How to Disable AI Overviews on Mobile Devices: A Comprehensive Guide

#1: Using the Web Filter Method

• Search something on Google.
• Tap More → Web to limit results to traditional links.
• Works across most mobile browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge.
• Must be done every time.

#2: Browser-Specific Solutions for Mobile

Chrome Mobile (Android/iOS)

Custom Search Engine via TenBlueLinks.org

1. Visit tenbluelinks.org
2. Add “Google Web” as a search engine
3. Open a new tab, tap ••• > Settings > Search Engine
4. Set “Google Web” as default

Safari on iOS

Logging Out often removes AI Overviews

• Go to Google.com
• Tap your profile icon
• Choose Sign out

Alternative: Switch search engine in Settings > Safari > Search Engine

Firefox Mobile

1. Go to Settings > Search
2. Add custom search engine:
   • Name: Google Web
   • URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
3. Set it as default

#3: Browser Extensions on Mobile

Android (Kiwi or Firefox)

• Use extensions like Hide Google AI Overviews
• Use uBlock Origin with filter:

google.com##.GcKpu

iOS Limitations

Safari doesn’t support this. Consider switching browsers.

Alternative Mobile Browsers with Built-in Controls

#1: Brave Browser (Android)

1. Tap Brave Shield icon
2. Go to Block Element > Manage Filter
3. Block .GcKpu

DuckDuckGo Browser

No AI Overview by default — use it instead of Google.

External Redirection

Just use:

• udm14.com
• Automatically strips AI Overview in results

Why Some Methods Work Better Than Others

• uBlock Origin and Brave’s element blocker stop the visual box from loading—great if you hate the UI.
• URL tweaks like udm=14 change how Google processes your query before results are shown. This has deeper effects.
• Search Labs toggles do almost nothing due to backend re-ranking using categorical quality.
• Being signed out removes personalization triggers for Overview.

It’s not about one perfect method—it’s about using what works for your platform.

Real User Experiences and Sentiments

People are annoyed, to say the least:

From my experience and the Reddit rabbit holes I went down, uBlock + udm=14 + signing out gives the cleanest results.

What Might Work in the Future

• Google might cave and add a global off switch if backlash continues.
• Alternative search engines are gaining traction fast:
  • DuckDuckGo for privacy
  • Kagi for precision
  • Brave Search for control
  • Whoogle to scrape Google results without AI

Conclusion

If you’re like me, you just want answers—not AI hallucinations. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t let us turn it off easily. But with a few clever workarounds, you can take back control.

I personally use uBlock Origin, a custom search engine with udm=14, and on mobile, I use Firefox with the redirect trick. Sign out if you’re desperate for clarity.

Until Google listens, this is how we reclaim our search.

Ultimate Table: Ways to Turn Off Google AI Overview

Bonus: AI-Free Search Alternatives