Yes, you can disable AI Overview, but the option is not always visible and Google controls whether it appears for your searches

Google's AI Overview — the AI-generated summary that appears at the top of some search results — can be turned off, but not in the way you might expect. You cannot flip a permanent switch in your Google account settings. Instead, Google shows a "Hide AI Overview" button on individual search results when the feature is active for that particular query. If you do not see the button, it means Google has not generated an AI Overview for that search, or the feature is not available in your region or browser.

The core limitation is this: Google decides which searches get an AI Overview in the first place. You can hide it for one search at a time, but you cannot prevent Google from showing it on future searches. If you want a more permanent solution, your options are narrower — you can use a different search engine, adjust your Google Search settings to limit personalization, or use browser extensions that block certain elements, though none of these fully disable the feature across all your searches.

Key Takeaways

  • The "Hide AI Overview" button appears directly on search results when Google has generated an AI Overview for that query, and clicking it removes the summary from that single search.
  • Hiding an AI Overview on one search does not prevent it from appearing on your next search — you must hide it each time you see it.
  • Google controls which searches show an AI Overview; you cannot disable the feature globally from your account settings.
  • Switching to a different search engine like DuckDuckGo or Bing is the only way to avoid AI Overviews entirely, since those engines do not use this feature.
  • Browser extensions that block page elements may hide AI Overviews, but they do not disable the feature — Google still generates the summary behind the scenes.

How to hide an AI Overview on a single search

When Google generates an AI Overview for your search, a small menu icon (three vertical dots) appears in the top right corner of the summary box. Click that icon, and you will see the option "Hide AI Overview." Clicking it removes the summary from your current search results page.

The exact location of this menu varies slightly depending on your device. On desktop, the three-dot icon sits inside the AI Overview box itself. On mobile, it may appear as a menu button near the top of the summary. If you do not see a menu icon at all, Google has not generated an AI Overview for that search, so there is nothing to hide.

This action is immediate and affects only that one search. The next time you search for something else — or even search for the same thing again in a new tab — Google may show you an AI Overview again, and you will need to hide it again if you want to.

Why you cannot disable AI Overview permanently from settings

Google Search does not have a master toggle to turn off AI Overviews across all your searches. This is a deliberate design choice. Google treats AI Overview as a feature it controls at the query level, not as a user preference you can manage like dark mode or search history.

The company has stated that it shows AI Overviews only for searches where it believes the feature is helpful — typically informational queries like "how to" questions or definitions. For other searches, Google simply does not generate an AI Overview, so there is nothing to hide. This means the feature is already "off" for many of your searches by default.

If you find yourself hiding AI Overviews frequently, it suggests Google is showing them for searches where you do not find them useful. In that case, switching search engines is more practical than hiding the summary each time.

Using a different search engine to avoid AI Overviews

The most reliable way to avoid AI Overviews is to stop using Google Search. DuckDuckGo, Bing, and other search engines do not currently offer an equivalent feature, so you will not see AI-generated summaries at the top of your results.

Switching search engines is straightforward on most browsers. In Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, you can change your default search engine in settings. Go to Settings, then Search Engine, and select a different option from the list. DuckDuckGo and Bing are usually available as built-in choices. Once you change the default, your search bar will use that engine instead of Google.

The trade-off is that Google Search often returns more relevant results for complex queries, and you may notice a difference in result quality depending on what you search for. If you want to keep using Google for most searches but avoid AI Overviews for specific queries, you can set Google as your default and manually visit DuckDuckGo or Bing for searches where you do not want an AI Overview.

What browser extensions can and cannot do

Some browser extensions claim to block or hide AI Overviews. Extensions like uBlock Origin or custom CSS blockers can hide the visual summary box from your screen, making it appear as though the feature is disabled. However, this is a visual trick — Google still generates the AI Overview on its servers; the extension just prevents you from seeing it.

If your concern is privacy — that Google is processing your search query to generate an AI Overview — hiding it visually does not address that concern. Google has already analyzed your search and created the summary before your browser even receives the page. Blocking the display does not stop that process.

Extensions can be useful if your only concern is clutter on the search results page, but they are not a true solution for disabling the feature. They also require maintenance; if Google changes how it displays AI Overviews, the extension may break and need updating.

Understanding what data Google uses for AI Overviews

AI Overviews are generated from content already published on the web — primarily from websites that appear in your search results. Google does not use your personal search history, location, or account information to create the summary itself. The overview is the same for everyone who searches the same query, regardless of who they are.

However, Google does log that you performed the search and may have seen the AI Overview. This information is tied to your Google account if you are signed in. If you want to limit what Google knows about your searches, you can use Incognito mode (in Chrome) or Private Browsing (in Firefox or Safari), which prevents Google from linking your searches to your account. This does not disable AI Overviews, but it does prevent Google from storing the search in your account history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hiding an AI Overview teach Google not to show them to me?

No. Hiding an AI Overview on one search does not change what Google shows you on future searches. Google does not have a feedback system that learns from your hide actions. Each search is treated independently based on Google's own assessment of whether an AI Overview would be useful for that query.

Can I disable AI Overview on mobile but keep it on desktop?

Not directly. AI Overview availability depends on your search query and region, not on your device type. If Google shows an AI Overview for a search on desktop, it will likely show it on mobile too. However, you can use different search engines on different devices — for example, Google on desktop and DuckDuckGo on mobile — to have different experiences.

Will AI Overviews appear if I use Google in Incognito mode?

Yes. Incognito mode prevents Google from storing your search history in your account, but it does not disable AI Overviews. Google will still generate and display them for queries where it normally would. If you want to avoid them entirely, you need to use a different search engine or hide them individually.

What if AI Overview is showing me incorrect information?

You can report it to Google using the feedback option in the AI Overview menu (the three-dot icon). Click the menu and select "Send feedback." Google uses these reports to improve the feature, but reporting does not remove the summary from your current search. To stop seeing it immediately, click "Hide AI Overview" from the same menu.

Is there a way to disable AI Overview for specific types of searches?

Not through Google's settings. You cannot tell Google "show me AI Overviews for recipes but not for news." Your only options are to hide them individually as they appear, use a different search engine entirely, or use browser extensions to block them visually. If you find AI Overviews unhelpful for most of your searches, switching engines is simpler than managing them one at a time.