Google's AI-generated overviews in search results can be useful for some, providing a quick summary of content, but they also have their drawbacks. These overviews are powered by artificial intelligence, which compiles information from various sources to give users a quick answer at the top of the search results. However, the AI-generated summaries can sometimes be inaccurate or misleading, based on data from less reliable sources. For those who prefer to bypass these overviews, there are ways to hide them and return to a more traditional search results experience.
Whether you want faster, cleaner results, or you simply find the AI snippets aesthetically distracting, there are methods to remove them from your Google search results. This article covers two different ways to hide Google AI overviews, depending on your preferences and how permanent you want the solution to be. Let's dive into both options: one for those who want to change their search engine settings permanently and another for those who need a quick workaround.
Why You Might Want to Hide Google’s AI Overviews
Before we dive into the steps for hiding AI overviews, let’s take a quick look at why you might want to do this in the first place. Google’s AI overviews aim to simplify your search experience by providing you with a summary of the page content, usually in a boxed format at the top of the search results. This can be helpful for quickly answering questions or getting a snapshot of information.
However, there are several reasons you might want to hide these overviews:
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Factually Incorrect Information: Google's AI is only as good as the data it pulls from. Sometimes, the overviews can display factually incorrect or misleading information due to unreliable sources.
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Distraction: For some users, the AI overviews take up valuable space at the top of the search results, which could make it harder to immediately find what they're looking for.
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Aesthetic Preference: You might simply prefer a cleaner, simpler look for your search results page without the AI box cluttering up the top of the page.
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Faster Search Results: With fewer results on the page, you might find that your search results load quicker, giving you faster access to the links that matter most.
Whatever your reason, the following methods will help you hide these overviews.
Method 1: Hide Google AI Overviews by Modifying Search Engine Settings
This first method involves making a small change to your browser's search engine settings. By creating a custom search engine that avoids the AI-generated overviews, you can enjoy a simpler, more streamlined search experience. The process doesn’t require any browser extensions, and it works on browsers like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. It should also work on mobile browsers, such as Chrome on Android.
Steps to Follow:
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Open Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on your device.
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Click on the Three-Dot Menu: In the top-right corner of your browser, you’ll see three vertical dots (the menu icon). Click on it to open the dropdown menu.
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Go to Settings: From the menu, select "Settings" to open the settings page.
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Navigate to Search Engine: In the Settings page, look for the "Search engine" section on the left side of the screen. Click on it to manage your search settings.
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Manage Search Engines and Site Search: Select the "Manage search engines and site search" option. This will allow you to configure the search engines used by your browser.
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Add a Custom Search Engine: Scroll down to the "Site search" section, and click on the "Add" button. A new window will pop up, where you can configure your custom search engine.
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Enter Custom Search Engine Details:
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In the Search engine field, name your custom search engine (e.g., "Google without AI").
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In the URL field, paste the following text:
This URL will instruct Google to return search results without displaying the AI overview at the top.
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Save and Set as Default: Once you've entered the details, click "Save." After saving, click on the three-dot menu next to the new search engine and select "Make default."
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Start Searching: Now, when you type a search term in the browser's address bar and hit "Enter," you will see search results without the AI-powered overviews.
Why This Works:
This method works because you're configuring a custom search URL that omits the AI overview ("udm=14" in the URL is the key parameter). As a result, you get a cleaner and more straightforward set of search results. The best part is that this solution is permanent, so all future searches will follow this new setup, even if you close and reopen your browser.
Method 2: Quick and Irreverent Trick - Use Swear Words
For users who don't want to go through the trouble of changing browser settings or are using someone else's device, there's a quicker method to get rid of Google’s AI overviews. It involves using an irreverent yet effective trick—adding an expletive at the beginning of your search query.
While it may sound strange, it works. Adding certain swear words or vulgar terms at the beginning of your search query will make Google skip the AI overview box and show traditional search results.
Steps to Follow:
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Open Google Chrome (on your smartphone or desktop computer).
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Type Your Search Query: In the search bar, type in your search term as usual.
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Add an Expletive: Add a swear word at the start of your query. For example, you might enter something like:
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"damn weather forecast"
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"sh**t art supplies"
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Press Enter: Hit "Enter" to see the search results. The AI overview should no longer appear at the top, and you'll be able to scroll through the search results without the AI-powered box.
Why This Works:
The trick works because Google seems to interpret the use of expletives as an indication that the user wants a more straightforward, no-frills search. While it’s not the most refined approach, it’s a quick way to bypass the AI overview without making any permanent changes.