Yes, you can disable AI Overview, but the option is not always visible and Google controls when it appears
Google's AI Overview — the box of AI-generated text that appears at the top of some search results — can be turned off on a per-search basis, but there is no permanent setting to remove it from all your searches. When AI Overview shows up, a small menu icon (three dots) appears in the top right corner of the box. Clicking that icon gives you the option to hide it for that single search. The next time you search, AI Overview may appear again on a different query.
Google decides which searches trigger AI Overview based on the type of question you ask. You cannot prevent it from appearing on certain topics or force it to appear on others. The feature rolls out gradually across regions and devices, so you may not see it on every search even if you want to test it.
Key Takeaways
- AI Overview appears as a box at the top of some search results, and you can hide it for that search by clicking the three-dot menu and selecting the hide option.
- There is no global setting to disable AI Overview permanently across all your searches — you must hide it individually each time it appears.
- Google controls which searches show AI Overview; you cannot turn it on for specific topics or turn it off for others.
- Disabling AI Overview does not change how Google ranks regular search results below it.
How to hide AI Overview on a single search
When AI Overview appears on your search results page, look for the three vertical dots (the menu icon) in the top right corner of the AI Overview box itself — not the three dots next to individual search results. Click that icon and select "Hide this overview" or "Don't show for this search," depending on your region and device.
After you hide it, the AI Overview box disappears and you see the regular search results below. If you search again, AI Overview may reappear on a different query. This is a temporary action for that single search only.
Why Google does not offer a permanent off switch
Google treats AI Overview as a feature that improves search results for certain types of questions — like how-to queries, comparisons, or summaries. Rather than let you disable it globally, Google designed the system so you can reject it one search at a time. The company also uses your feedback (hiding it, clicking on regular results instead) to decide which searches should show AI Overview in the future.
From Google's perspective, a permanent off switch would prevent them from learning which searches benefit from AI-generated summaries and which do not. They also want to avoid users accidentally disabling the feature and then forgetting it is off.
What happens to your search results if you hide AI Overview
Hiding AI Overview does not change the ranking or order of the regular search results below it. The websites that appear in positions 1 through 10 stay in the same order. AI Overview sits above those results as a separate element, so removing it just gives you more screen space to see the traditional blue links.
Your search history and preferences are not affected by hiding AI Overview on individual searches. Google does not create a profile of "users who hide AI Overview" that changes how it treats you on future searches.
Differences between devices and browsers
AI Overview appears most consistently on Google Search on mobile devices and the Google app. On desktop, it may appear less frequently. The feature also rolls out unevenly — some regions and countries see it before others, and some user accounts may not see it at all yet.
Using a different browser (Firefox, Safari, Edge) instead of Chrome does not disable AI Overview if you are still using Google Search. The feature is part of Google's search results page, not your browser. However, using a search engine other than Google (DuckDuckGo, Bing, Ecosia) will not show you AI Overview at all, since those services do not have this feature.
How disabling AI Overview affects your computer's performance
Hiding AI Overview on individual searches has no measurable impact on your computer's speed or memory use. AI Overview is generated on Google's servers before the page reaches your device, so whether it appears or not does not change how much data your computer processes or how much power it uses.
If you are concerned about performance because your device is slow, hiding AI Overview will not solve the underlying problem. The slowness is more likely caused by too many browser tabs open, outdated browser software, or insufficient RAM. Clearing your browser cache and closing unused tabs will have a much larger effect on speed than hiding AI Overview.
Controlling what Google knows about your searches
If your concern is privacy rather than performance, hiding AI Overview does not stop Google from recording your search queries. Google logs every search you perform when you are signed into your account, regardless of whether AI Overview appears. The search itself — not the AI summary — is what Google stores and uses to build a profile of your interests.
To limit what Google records, you can turn on Search History off in your Google Account settings (myaccount.google.com), use Incognito mode in Chrome or Private Browsing in other browsers, or switch to a search engine that does not log queries. These actions affect your entire search activity, not just whether AI Overview appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does hiding AI Overview make Google Search faster?
No. AI Overview is generated on Google's servers before it reaches your device, so hiding it does not reduce the amount of data your computer processes or the time the page takes to load. If your searches feel slow, the cause is usually your internet connection, browser performance, or device resources, not AI Overview.
Will Google stop showing me AI Overview if I hide it every time?
Google may learn over time that you prefer not to see AI Overview and show it less often, but there is no may provide. The company does not publish how much feedback it needs before it stops showing the feature to a specific user. Hiding it is a signal, not a permanent setting.
Can I disable AI Overview on my phone but keep it on my computer?
No. AI Overview is tied to your Google account and search preferences, not to individual devices. If you hide it on your phone, it may still appear on your computer, but that is because Google shows it based on the search query, not because of a device-specific setting.
Does AI Overview collect more data about me than regular search results?
AI Overview does not collect additional data beyond what Google already gathers from your search query itself. Google records what you search for whether AI Overview appears or not. Hiding AI Overview does not reduce the information Google collects about your search activity.
What if I want AI Overview back after hiding it?
straightforward perform another search. AI Overview may appear on your next query, depending on the type of question you ask. There is no way to force it to reappear on a specific search, but it will show up again on searches where Google decides it is useful.