What AI Overview is and how to disable it
AI Overview is Google's feature that summarizes search results using artificial intelligence instead of showing you the traditional list of links. It appears at the top of your search results on desktop and mobile. If you do not want to see these AI summaries, you can turn the feature off in your Google Search settings — it takes about 30 seconds.
Google rolled out AI Overview to most users in 2024, and it is on by default. The feature generates a text summary from multiple web pages to answer your question directly. Some people find this helpful; others prefer the old format where they choose which links to click. You can disable it without affecting the rest of your Google Search experience.
Key Takeaways
- AI Overview appears at the top of Google Search results and summarizes information from multiple pages using artificial intelligence.
- You can disable AI Overview by opening Google Search settings and unchecking the AI Overview toggle switch.
- Turning off AI Overview does not affect your search results, your Google account, or any other Google services.
- The setting applies across all your devices when you are signed into your Google account.
- If you change your mind later, you can turn AI Overview back on using the same settings menu.
Disable AI Overview on desktop
Open Google Search in your web browser and perform any search. At the top of the results page, you will see the AI Overview summary box. Look for the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the upper right corner of the AI Overview box itself — not the browser menu, but the small menu within the summary box.
Click that three-dot menu and select "Turn off AI Overview." Google will remove the feature from your search results immediately. The setting saves to your Google account, so the next time you search, the AI summary will not appear.
If you do not see the three-dot menu on the AI Overview box, try an alternative method: go to Google Search settings directly. Click the Settings gear icon at the bottom right of the Google homepage, then select "Settings" from the dropdown. On the left side, click "Search settings." Scroll down until you find the "AI Overview" section and uncheck the box next to "Show AI Overview." Click "Save" at the bottom.
Disable AI Overview on mobile
Open the Google Search app or go to google.com in your mobile browser. Perform a search to see the AI Overview summary. Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮) at the top right of the AI Overview box — again, this is the menu within the summary itself, not your phone's menu.
Select "Turn off AI Overview" from the menu. The feature will disappear from your results. Since this setting is tied to your Google account, it will stay off on all your devices.
If you cannot find the three-dot menu, open the Google app and tap your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Settings," then "Search settings." Scroll to find "AI Overview" and toggle it off. Tap "Save" when done.
What happens after you disable it
Once you turn off AI Overview, your Google Search results return to the traditional format: a list of links ranked by relevance, with page titles and short descriptions. You will see the same search results you always did — nothing changes except the AI summary box disappears.
Your search history, saved searches, and any other Google Search features remain unchanged. Disabling AI Overview does not affect your Google account settings, your privacy, or how Google indexes pages. It is purely a display preference.
Turn AI Overview back on if you change your mind
If you disable AI Overview and later decide you want it back, the process is identical. Go to Google Search settings (either through the three-dot menu on a search result or through Settings > Search settings), find the AI Overview toggle, and check the box to turn it back on.
You can also toggle AI Overview on and off for individual searches without changing your default setting. When you perform a search, look for the "AI Overview" button or toggle near the top of the results. Click it to show or hide the summary for that search only.
Why you might want to disable it
Some people disable AI Overview because they prefer to read the original sources themselves rather than a summary. Others find the summaries sometimes miss important details or context. Some users simply prefer the familiar layout of traditional search results and want to choose which links to click.
There is no right or wrong choice — it depends on how you prefer to search. If you find the AI summary helpful, keep it on. If you find it distracting or unhelpful, turning it off takes seconds and you can always turn it back on later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling AI Overview affect my search results?
No. Your search results remain exactly the same — you will still see the same links in the same order. The only difference is that the AI-generated summary box at the top disappears. You are just changing what Google displays, not how it searches.
Will this setting apply to all my devices?
Yes, as long as you are signed into the same Google account on each device. If you disable AI Overview on your phone, it will also be off on your desktop, tablet, and any other device where you use that account. If you use multiple Google accounts, you can have different settings for each one.
Can I turn off AI Overview for just one search?
Yes. When you see the AI Overview box on a search result, look for a toggle or button near it that lets you hide it for that search only. This does not change your overall setting — the next search will show AI Overview again if you have it enabled globally.
What if I do not see the three-dot menu on the AI Overview box?
Not all users see the menu icon in the same place. Try going directly to Google Search settings instead: click the Settings gear icon on the Google homepage, select "Settings," then "Search settings," and scroll to find the AI Overview toggle. This method works on both desktop and mobile.
Does turning off AI Overview improve my privacy?
Disabling AI Overview does not change what Google collects about your searches. Google still tracks your search activity whether AI Overview is on or off. If privacy is your concern, you would need to adjust your Google account privacy settings separately.