2026 Update: How to Turn Off AI Overview – Easy Steps

Over the past few years,  Google search engine has made numerous changes to its search process. It is now able to give results related to a specific query in a more efficient way than ever before. One change among others was the implementation of AI Overview, which is a way for Google to show its AI-generated summary snippets that sit at the top of the search results respectively. This feature may sometimes help users get quick answers. A lot of them think it covers the genuine sites, cuts off their participation and at times causes humans to be misinformed or tell the wrong facts about the provided information.

If your question is “How to Disable AI Overview Google?” then this post is for you. We present thoroughly in this 2026 update, straightforward, safe, and effective methods of hiding or disabling AI Overview. The content is very accessible, broken down into steps that are great for beginners, marketers, and professionals collaborating with an AI digital marketing agency.

What Is Google’s AI Overview & Why You Might Want to Turn It Off

AI Overview is Google’s AI generated summary box that is positioned at the top of the regular search results. It extracts data from various sites and presents a concise answer right before the organic listings.

Top reasons on why users want to disable AI Overview

  • It gives less prominence to genuine websites
  • Sometimes it provides wrong or outdated information
  • It diminishes the visibility of organic traffic
  • It restricts in-depth research
  • It changes the traditional search experience

SEO experts, bloggers, and users who highly value accuracy may increasingly feel the need to figure out How to Turn Off AI Overview.

Does Google Offer the Ability to Turn off AI Overview?

By 2026, Google will not have a simple toggle button for AI Overview in account settings that allows users to turn it on or off. In other words, there is no built-in method to completely disable it at once.

But, it’s a relief to know that by utilizing different tricks, you can still manage to hide or get away from AI Overview during your ​‍​‌‍​‍‌searches.

Easy​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Way #1: Use Google’s “Web” Filter for Hiding AI Overview

This is basically the most straightforward method and requires no tools.

How to Disable Google AI Overview Steps 1 Do a Google search for whatever you want 2 Click “Web” under the search box 3 Google will reload the results without AI Overview ✓ Pros Does not require any extensions It is a safe and official method Works on both desktop and mobile ✗ Cons The user has to do it for every search It is not a permanent change

You can say that this is a very quick hack if you need to hide AI Overview without changing the default settings.

Easy Way #2: Use a Browser Extension to Disable AI Overview

A Hide Google AI Overviews Chrome Extension might be a very handy tool, if you want a more permanent solution.

How browser extensions work

They work by automatically removing or hiding the AI Overview from the displayed search results. In fact, these extensions do not alter Google itself but simply modify the appearance of the pages within your browser.

Chrome Extension Method

Chrome Extension Method

Disable Google AI Overview Automatically

Steps
  • 1
    Find Chrome Web Store
  • 2
    Look for Hide Google AI Overview
  • 3
    Choose and install a reliable extension
  • 4
    Do a Google Search refresh
Benefits
Hiding of AI Overview is done automatically
No need to repeat the steps
Helps in maintaining the clarity and neatness of the content

This is definitely one of the user-favorite methods when it comes to the How to Disable AI Overview Google ​‍​‌‍​‍‌question.

Advanced Method: Custom Search Engine Trick (Permanent)

This method is complex but still very powerful.

How it works

The technique consists of creating a special Google search URL that compels the AI Overview result to be excluded from the loading process.

Chrome Settings Method

Chrome Settings Method

Configure Default Search Engine

Steps
  • 1
    Open Chrome Settings
  • 2
    Go to Search Engine > Manage Search Engines
  • 3
    Add the new search engine
  • 4
    For search URL format, use:
    https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
  • 5
    Set it as default

Why this works

With the UDM 14 parameter, Google is instructed to show only the classic web results.

So this method sorts out a lot of inquiries such as How to get rid of AI overview & UDM 14. It is also by the large SEO professionals and AI digital marketing agency teams who use it.

Mobile Browsers: Can You Turn Off AI Overview on Phones?

Mobile users have limited possibilities, however, there are still some ways to go about it.

Mobile Methods

Mobile Methods

Disable Google AI Overview on Mobile Devices

📱Android 📲iPhone
Manually use Web filter
Customize your search by using UDM 14 with Chrome
Use Firefox with add-ons
Use Safari along with Web filter
Switch to other browsers like Brave

Currently, there is no permanent native disabling option on mobile devices, but these workarounds can help minimize the presence of AI Overview.

Pro Tips & Extra Tricks

  • Add &udm=14 manually to search URLs
  • Bookmark Web‑only search links
  • Use privacy‑focused browsers
  • Clear cache if AI Overview keeps reappearing
  • Combine Web filter with extensions

These tips improve control and search clarity in 2026.

Safety Warning: Be Careful With Extensions

The security of all extensions is not guaranteed.

  • What to review prior to installation
  • Reviews and ratings
  • Last update date
  • Permissions requested
  • Information about the developer

Do not use any extensions that require unnecessary access. Always use trusted sources for downloading.

Conclusion

AI Overview is going to be around for quite some time, but it does not have to be your choice. Although Google does not provide a built-in switch to turn it off, there are many safe and effective ways to do so. It is up to you to decide whether you will use the Web filter, browser extensions, or the advanced UDM 14 trick to reclaim control of your search experience. For users, marketers, and AI digital marketing agency professionals, knowing How to Turn Off AI Overview is now a must-have skill in 2026. Take full control of your Google search experience in 2026 with clear, expert guides from Webdesign Discovery.

FAQ Section

1. Can I disable AI Overview for good?

There is no official switch for permanent disabling, but UDM 14 or a browser extension can come very close to permanent results.

2. Will AI Overview being turned off affect Google Search quality?

No. You still receive the same organic results, just without AI-generated summaries.

3. Is this applicable for all browsers?

Most methods apply for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave. Safari has limited support.

4. How can I remove AI overview & UDM 14?

Use the &udm=14 parameter in search URLs or set it as a default custom search engine.

5. How do I make Google search 2026 free of AI?

The complete removal of AI is not possible, but the above-mentioned methods can hide AI Overview.

6. Why does Google AI Overview come into the picture?

Its main purpose is to give quicker replies and shorten the search time, although it is not always correct.

7. Is there a way to totally turn off AI on Google?

Not to the full extent. You can only hide or bypass AI Overview but not entirely disable Google AI.