How to Turn Off AI Overviews in Google Chrome

Google’s AI Overviews have sparked a debate among users regarding their efficiency and impact on web traffic. As a tech blogger, I find myself questioning the accuracy of these AI-generated answers, which often leads to additional time spent verifying their correctness. While these AI responses can be helpful, they sometimes lack accuracy, as noted in various discussions but not always.

Moreover, the implications of AI Overviews are significant. If AI systems provide answers sourced from websites that rely on user visits, what happens when users no longer visit those sites due to AI providing instant answers? This raises concerns about the sustainability of content creation and the future of writing for online platforms, especially when seeking specific information, such as the TSA’s latest lithium-ion battery regulations.

Interestingly, when searching for instructions on how to disable AI Overviews in Chrome, the first result does not adequately address the issue. The entry from Google Support refers to earlier experimental phases of AI Overviews managed through Google Labs. A closer look reveals the following important note:

Note: Turning off “AI Overviews and more” in Search Labs will not disable all AI Overviews in Search. AI Overviews are part of Google Search like other features, such as knowledge panels, and can’t be turned off.

Fortunately, I have access to knowledgeable colleagues who have shared a straightforward method to ensure that each search performed in a Chrome browser bypasses the AI Overview feature, allowing users to access results exclusively from the Web tab. Here’s how you can avoid wasting time and ensure a more traditional search experience.

How to Turn Off AI Overviews in Chrome on Desktop

1. Click the three dots in the upper right corner of your Chrome browser.

2. Navigate to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and search.

3. Under Site search, click the Add button.

4. Enter Name: Google/Web.

5. Enter Shortcut: https://www.google.com/.

6. Enter URL: {google:baseURL}search?udm=14&q=%s.

7. Click Add.

Next, (hat tip to Tom’s Hardware for helping me figure this bit out) set the search type to default by clicking the three dots next to the shortcut you just created and selecting Make default.

Now, you can search for “the best laptop power banks” and click on the Engadget entry (usually appearing within the first four results). Take a moment to review the ads and the accompanying images before moving on, ensuring that content creators like myself can continue to thrive in 2026.

Other Methods for Turning Off AI Overviews in Google Chrome

In the same Tom’s Hardware article, Avram Piltch provides a link to the extension he developed, which offers a simple way to hide AI Overviews from view. While this method still generates the AI response, it prevents it from being displayed. Personally, I prefer the Web method outlined above to minimize unnecessary processing on my part, but the extension is user-friendly and maintains the familiar “All” search results tab, complete with knowledge panels and video results.

For those looking to disable AI Overviews in Google Chrome on mobile devices, I recommend visiting the helpful guide provided by tenbluelinks. Simply open the link in your phone’s browser and follow the instructions for either Android or iOS.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at Engadget.