Google has aggressively integrated artificial intelligence throughout its product ecosystem, from search results and email to mobile devices and browser functionality, making it increasingly difficult for users to avoid AI-powered features without explicit intervention. This comprehensive report examines the various methods available to disable, bypass, or minimize AI features across Google’s platforms, encompassing search interfaces, messaging systems, device-level features, and workspace applications. Through detailed examination of desktop and mobile solutions, browser-based workarounds, administrative controls, and privacy considerations, this analysis provides users with complete guidance on reclaiming control over their Google experience by eliminating unwanted AI interactions. The report addresses the technical, practical, and strategic dimensions of AI disabling across Google services, including the significant limitation that many AI features cannot be completely turned off but rather bypassed through alternative search methods or feature toggles, reflecting Google’s corporate commitment to making AI increasingly central to its business model and user engagement strategy.
Understanding Google’s AI Mode and Its Scope Across Products
Google’s strategic integration of artificial intelligence spans a remarkably broad range of consumer and enterprise products, making the concept of “AI Mode” complex and multifaceted. Rather than a single toggle, Google has embedded AI capabilities into dozens of features across Search, Gmail, Chrome, Google Photos, Workspace applications, and Android devices. The primary AI features that users encounter include AI Overviews in search results (previously called Search Generative Experience or SGE), Gemini digital assistant integration, Smart Compose predictive writing in Gmail and Docs, Circle to Search on Pixel phones, smart features in various Workspace apps, and AI-driven recommendations throughout the ecosystem. Google’s approach to these features reveals a company philosophy that prioritizes AI integration by default, with opt-out functionality either limited, buried in settings, or entirely unavailable. According to privacy advocates and industry observers, this strategy reflects Google’s broader vision of a future where AI becomes as personal as possible, with the company representative Robby Stein explaining in a podcast with Silicon Valley Girl that “we want people to be able to help Google and help the services know more about you so that it can be more helpful,” which indicates Google’s explicit intention to use personal data from emails, calendar events, and files in Google Drive to power increasingly personalized AI responses.
The scope of AI Mode on Google extends far beyond simple search enhancements. When users sign into a Google Account across multiple services, their activity, preferences, and data inform AI-generated suggestions throughout their digital experience. This interconnected ecosystem means that disabling AI in one location may not address AI functionality elsewhere, requiring users to navigate multiple settings across different applications and platforms. The challenge intensifies because Google has deployed AI capabilities inconsistently across its services, with some features offering obvious toggles while others remain hidden or inaccessible to individual users. Furthermore, Google’s rollout of AI features has been gradual and region-specific, with some users having experimental access through Search Labs while others face features automatically enabled without notification. Understanding this landscape requires recognizing that “turning off AI on Google” is not a singular action but rather a collection of interventions across multiple product categories and platforms.
Disabling AI Overviews in Google Search on Desktop Computers
The most visible AI feature in Google’s ecosystem is AI Overviews, which appears at the top of search results as a large colored box containing an AI-generated summary of the query along with highlighted key points and source citations. Unlike some Google AI features, users discovered that Google does not provide a straightforward “off” switch in standard settings, but rather offers several workaround methods to bypass these results entirely. The most reliable desktop approach involves creating a custom search engine that automatically appends a parameter to all Google searches, effectively instructing Google to display traditional web results instead of AI-enhanced searches. Specifically, adding the parameter “&udm=14” to Google search URLs filters out AI Overviews and returns only traditional blue-link results, a method that has proven consistent across browser configurations.
To implement this solution on desktop Chrome, users should navigate to Chrome’s search engine settings by typing “chrome://settings/searchEngines” directly into the address bar. This opens the Search Engine management page where users can click the “Add” button next to “Site Search” to create a new custom search engine. The configuration requires entering three pieces of information: the search engine name (for example, “Google Web” or “AI-Free Web”), a keyboard shortcut or keyword (such as “@web” or “@classic”), and critically, the URL formatted as “{google:baseURL}search?q=%s&udm=14”. After saving this custom search engine, users must locate the newly created entry in the search engine list and click the three-dot menu next to it, then select “Make Default.” Once configured as the default search engine, every search typed into Chrome’s address bar or search box will automatically route through this custom URL, bypassing AI Overviews entirely and presenting only traditional search results.
An alternative manual method exists for users who do not wish to permanently reconfigure their default search engine. When an AI Overview appears in search results, users can look for a “Web” filter option in the results page header, usually appearing alongside other filter options like Images, Videos, and News. Clicking this “Web” filter communicates to Google that the user prefers traditional results and refreshes the page to show only the standard blue-link format without AI summaries. However, this method requires manual action for each search and does not persist across different search queries, making it less convenient than the permanent default search engine modification.
For users who prefer not to modify their browser settings directly, several browser extensions have been developed specifically to hide or block Google AI Overviews. The “Hide Google AI Overviews” extension, available in the Chrome Web Store, automatically removes the AI summary box from search results without requiring any additional configuration from the user. Once installed, the extension runs silently in the background, stripping out AI-generated content from every Google search result page encountered. According to the Chrome Web Store listing for this extension, it has been downloaded by over 200,000 users and maintains a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 856 user reviews, suggesting reliable functionality and user satisfaction. The extension is open-source, allowing privacy-conscious users to review the code themselves before installation, and the developer explicitly states that the extension collects no user data.
Another technique available to desktop users involves the “uBlock Origin” ad blocker extension, which supports custom filtering rules that can target and hide AI Overview elements. Users who already employ uBlock Origin for ad blocking can add a custom filter to simultaneously block the AI Overviews by accessing the uBlock Origin dashboard, navigating to the “My Filters” tab, and adding specific CSS selectors designed to hide the AI Overview container. This approach requires more technical knowledge than installing a dedicated extension but provides additional filtering flexibility for advanced users.
Disabling AI Overviews in Google Search on Mobile Devices
Mobile devices present a different technical landscape for disabling Google AI Overviews because mobile browsers typically do not allow manual URL parameter manipulation or extensive customization of search engines through traditional settings interfaces. However, Google’s release of the “Web” filter in May 2025 provided a solution specifically addressing mobile users’ needs. The most straightforward mobile method involves visiting a intermediary website called “tenbluelinks.org,” which serves as a helpful resource that configures Chrome’s mobile search engine settings to automatically append the &udm=14 parameter to Google searches, effectively disabling AI Overviews on the user’s mobile device.
To implement this solution, mobile users should open Chrome or their mobile browser and navigate to “tenbluelinks.org” while accessing the site from the same device they want to configure. The website provides automatic setup options for different browsers. For Chrome users, the process involves opening a new tab, performing any search on Google.com (this step is technically important as Google notes), then tapping the three-dot menu in the bottom right corner of the browser, selecting “Settings,” then “Search Engine,” and finally choosing “Google Web” from the “Recently Visited” section. This action registers “Google Web” as the default search engine and automatically applies the filter parameter to all future searches, eliminating AI Overviews from mobile search results.
For Firefox users on mobile devices, the process involves more manual configuration. Users should navigate to Firefox’s three-stacked-lines menu, select “Settings,” then “Search,” and tap on the “Default Search Engine” option. From there, they select “Add Search Engine,” fill in the name field with “AI-free Web,” and enter the search string as “google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s”, then save these changes. Subsequently, when users search through Firefox’s mobile interface, they will receive traditional Google results without AI Overviews.
The tenbluelinks.org website also provides educational material explaining how the process works, clarifying that the site does not collect user search data and that all searches continue to route directly to Google rather than through this intermediary website. The website notes that while browsers may display “tenbluelinks.org” as the source for the search engine configuration, the actual search queries remain private and are sent directly to Google’s servers. This transparency about data handling should provide reassurance to privacy-conscious users implementing this solution.
Disabling AI Features in Google Chrome Browser Itself
Beyond search results, Google has begun integrating AI directly into the Chrome browser interface, with AI Mode buttons appearing in the address bar and new tab page. These buttons provide quick access to AI-powered search capabilities and were introduced with Chrome version 141 released in October 2025. While standard Chrome settings do not provide a visible toggle for these features, they can be disabled through Chrome’s experimental flags page, which contains advanced configuration options for developer-focused features and early-stage experimental functionality.
To disable AI Mode buttons from Chrome’s interface, users should navigate to “chrome://flags” in the address bar, which opens the Flags page containing experimental settings that can be modified before they reach mainstream availability. Once on the Flags page, users need to locate and disable four specific experimental features related to AI Mode functionality: “AI Mode Omnibox entrypoint,” “AI Entrypoint Disabled on User Input,” “Omnibox Allow AI Mode Matches,” and “NTP Compose Entrypoint.” Each of these settings should be changed from their default state to “Disabled” using the dropdown menu next to each option. After modifying these four settings, users must click the “Relaunch” button that appears, which restarts Chrome and applies the changes. Upon reopening Chrome and accessing a new tab, the AI Mode button in the address bar and the AI button in the search box on the new tab page will no longer appear, restoring a more traditional browser interface.
It is important to note that these flag-based settings represent experimental features and may not persist across all future Chrome updates. According to technical documentation, Google has not committed to maintaining these specific flags in future releases, meaning that Chrome version updates could potentially eliminate these configuration options altogether. This impermanence reflects the experimental nature of these flags and Google’s potential intention to eventually make these AI features permanent and non-adjustable parts of the Chrome browser experience. Users implementing this solution should be aware that they may need to reapply these changes after Chrome updates if the flags remain available in future versions.
Disabling AI on Google Pixel Phones and Android Devices
Google’s Pixel smartphone line represents a direct showcase for Google’s AI capabilities, with multiple AI-powered features embedded throughout the device experience. These features include Gemini digital assistant integration, Circle to Search, Magic Eraser in Google Photos, Live Translation, and various other computational photography and AI-driven utilities. The approach to disabling these features varies depending on whether users want to disable specific applications or remove AI capabilities entirely.
For users seeking to disable the Gemini digital assistant specifically, the process begins in the device’s Settings application. From Settings, users should navigate to “Apps,” then select “App info” (sometimes appearing as “Installed apps” or “Manage apps”). To access Gemini-related system applications not normally visible in the app list, users must tap the three-dot menu icon and select “Show System apps,” which reveals the complete list of installed applications including Google’s background services. Once visible, users can disable the Gemini app if it was installed as a separate application from the Google Play Store. For the core Gemini functionality integrated into the system, users should search for and select “Gemini” in the app list, tap “App info,” and select the “Disable” option, which removes the app from functionality without completely uninstalling it.
Additionally, users should access the Digital Assistant settings to prevent the system from defaulting to Gemini. In Settings, users should search for “Digital Assistant” or navigate through the system settings to find this option. By default, Google is selected as the digital assistant, and users can change this to “None” to disable the digital assistant functionality entirely. This step is particularly important because even with Gemini disabled as an app, the system may continue attempting to use it as the default digital assistant for voice commands and other triggers.
For users specifically operating Google Pixel 9 and later models who wish to disable a broader range of AI features to improve device performance and battery life, a more comprehensive approach exists. According to technical guides, disabling three specific system applications can reduce the AI footprint and free up system resources. These applications are AI Core, Android System Intelligence, and Private Compute Services, all accessible through the Settings > Apps menu after enabling “Show System apps.” Disabling these three applications removes many local AI capabilities including Summarize in Recorder, Pixel Screenshots recognition, Smart Text selection, Live Translation, and the Now Playing feature that identifies songs playing nearby. Users should navigate to each of these apps individually, select “Disable,” and confirm their choice. After disabling all three applications, a device restart is recommended to ensure the changes take full effect.
Users should be aware that disabling these system applications will not remove all AI features—some Google AI functionality, such as Call Screening, operates through cloud services rather than local processing and therefore cannot be disabled through device-level settings. Additionally, if users later regret disabling these features, they can follow the same process and select “Enable” instead of “Disable” to restore functionality.
For the Circle to Search feature specifically, which allows users to search by drawing circles on their screen and has become increasingly prominent on Pixel devices, users should access Settings > System > Navigation Mode and toggle the “Circle to Search” option to disable it. This feature is controlled through navigation settings rather than app management, making it a simpler one-step toggle compared to disabling system applications.
Disabling AI Features in Gmail and Google Workspace
Smart Compose represents one of the most visible AI features in Gmail, suggesting how to complete sentences as users type emails. Unlike some Google AI features, Smart Compose offers relatively straightforward disabling options accessible through Gmail’s standard settings interface. To disable Smart Compose in Gmail via a web browser, users should open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top-right corner, then select “See all settings” from the dropdown menu. Within the Settings page, under the “General” tab, users should scroll down until they locate the “Smart Compose” section and click the radio button next to “Writing suggestions off.” Users must then scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Save Changes” to apply the modification, though Gmail sometimes automatically saves these settings without requiring explicit confirmation.
Mobile users can disable Smart Compose through the Gmail mobile app by opening the app, tapping the menu icon (three horizontal lines), selecting “Settings,” choosing their account, scrolling down to the “Smart Compose” option, and toggling it off. The mobile interface typically saves changes automatically without requiring a separate save step.
Smart Reply, another AI-powered Gmail feature that suggests one-tap responses to incoming emails, can be disabled using the same process as Smart Compose. Users should access Gmail Settings > General tab, locate the “Smart Reply” section, and select the option to disable suggested quick replies. This prevents the system from displaying suggested single-tap response options below incoming emails, restoring a more manual email composition experience.
The broader “Smart features and personalization” setting controls AI-related functionality across Gmail, Chat, and Meet applications. Unchecking the box for “Smart features and personalization in Gmail, Chat, and Meet” disables numerous AI-powered capabilities including automatic email categorization, Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and summary cards that appear above certain emails (such as travel or package tracking information). This comprehensive setting effectively removes most visible AI functionality from the Gmail experience for individual users.
For Google Workspace administrators managing organizational accounts, more granular control exists through the Admin console. Administrators can navigate to Menu > Apps > Google Workspace > Drive and Docs > Features and Applications, and in the Smart Compose section, select “Do not allow users to see Smart Compose suggestions” to disable the feature organization-wide. This administrative-level setting prevents all users in the organization from accessing Smart Compose across Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drawings applications, regardless of individual user preferences.
In organizations based in the European Economic Area, Japan, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, Workspace smart features including AI capabilities are turned off by default by organizational policy, providing a stark contrast to other regions where they are enabled by default. This regional variation reflects different regulatory environments and user expectations regarding AI integration and data usage.
Disabling AI Features in Google Docs and Other Workspace Applications
Smart Compose functionality extends beyond Gmail into Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Drawings, where it provides writing suggestions and predictive text capabilities. While some Workspace applications allow individual users to disable these features, the disabling process often requires administrative action or may not be fully available to end users. In Google Docs specifically, users can access the Smart Compose toggle through Tools > Preferences, where an option to “Show Smart Compose suggestions” can be unchecked to prevent the feature from appearing during document editing. The straightforward nature of this toggle contrasts with some other Google applications where users lack this level of control.
For organizations using Google Workspace, administrators wield significant power over Smart Compose availability. The default setting across Google Workspace applications is to enable Smart Compose, meaning that unless an administrator specifically disables it, all users will have access to the feature. Administrators who wish to disable Smart Compose organization-wide should follow the administrative procedure outlined above, which immediately restricts the feature from all users regardless of individual preferences. This centralized control reflects Google’s approach to managing AI features through organizational policies rather than individual user choice, a model that prioritizes organizational consistency over personal preference.
Alternative Search Engines and Privacy-First Options
For users seeking more comprehensive solutions beyond disabling individual AI features within Google’s ecosystem, switching to alternative search engines presents a viable long-term strategy. DuckDuckGo explicitly offers users the ability to toggle AI features on and off before initiating a search, providing granular control that Google does not offer. Unlike Google’s approach of enabling AI by default, DuckDuckGo respects user choice by defaulting to non-AI search experiences and allowing users to opt into AI summaries when desired. This inverted default approach represents a fundamentally different philosophy regarding user autonomy and data usage.
Brave Search operates similarly to DuckDuckGo, offering search results without AI-generated summaries and without the tracking infrastructure that Google employs. Ecosia and Startpage represent additional privacy-focused alternatives that do not employ the same aggressive AI integration strategies as Google, instead focusing on minimizing data collection and providing traditional search functionality. For users concerned about the broader implications of Google’s AI integration strategy and data collection practices, switching search engines entirely may prove more effective and reliable than attempting to disable individual AI features within Google’s ecosystem, since each Google update may reintroduce disabled features or add new AI capabilities.
Browser Extensions and Technical Workarounds
Beyond the dedicated “Hide Google AI Overviews” extension discussed earlier, several other browser extensions have emerged to provide various levels of AI feature restriction and privacy enhancement. The extension “No AI Results” for Firefox operates similarly to its Chrome counterpart, automatically removing AI-generated summaries from Google search results through CSS injection and DOM manipulation. Both extensions operate on the principle of removing the visual AI elements from the page rather than fundamentally changing Google’s behavior, meaning the AI Overview data still exists on the page but is hidden from user view.
For technically advanced users, uBlock Origin offers customizable blocking capabilities that extend beyond basic ad blocking to include hiding specific page elements. While uBlock Origin is primarily known as an ad blocker, its custom filtering rules system allows users to target the specific HTML elements and CSS classes that constitute Google’s AI Overview container, effectively hiding these elements from view. This approach requires knowledge of web development concepts such as CSS selectors and element identification but provides maximum flexibility for power users who understand browser structure and uBlock Origin’s filtering syntax.
The technical sophistication required for some of these workarounds reflects the broader challenge that Google has designed its AI features to be deeply integrated into core functionality, making surface-level disabling difficult or impossible without technical intervention. The variety of workarounds available demonstrates that user demand for AI-free experiences has motivated third-party developers to create tools addressing this gap, yet also highlights Google’s implicit position that AI integration is non-negotiable for users who want to continue using Google services.
Limitations, Challenges, and the Reality of Partial Disabling
A critical limitation that users must understand is that Google has designed many AI features to be fundamentally inseparable from core services, meaning that complete disabling is not always possible. According to multiple technical discussions in Google’s support forums, AI Overviews are now a permanent feature of Google Search results with no official way to turn them off completely. While the workarounds discussed in this report effectively bypass AI Overviews by filtering to traditional web results, this represents a filtered view rather than genuine disabling of the AI feature itself. Google’s underlying infrastructure continues to generate AI summaries for all qualifying searches; users simply configure their search parameters to exclude them from their display.
Similarly, while users can disable Gemini in various applications and disable specific AI features throughout Google’s ecosystem, the company has not provided comprehensive “master switches” that eliminate AI from entire services. Instead, Google requires users to navigate multiple settings across different applications, with some features offering no disabling options at all and others providing only partial control. This fragmented approach appears deliberate, reflecting Google’s corporate strategy of making AI increasingly integrated and difficult to avoid without significant technical effort.
The issue of Search Personalization complicates efforts to disable AI features. Even when users disable specific AI features like Smart Compose, their searches continue to be personalized based on their activity history, location, device, and other tracked factors. This underlying personalization feeds AI recommendations and features in other parts of the Google ecosystem, making the act of disabling individual AI features insufficient for users concerned about algorithmic personalization broadly. Users seeking to minimize personalization must take additional steps including turning off Web and App Activity tracking in My Activity settings, which prevents Google from saving search history and personalizing recommendations based on past behavior.
Regional variations in AI feature availability add another layer of complexity. The European Union’s stricter regulations around automated decision-making and data usage have resulted in different default settings and availability of AI features for EU-based users compared to those in North America or other regions. Users in the EU benefit from more restrictive defaults where many AI features are disabled by default and require explicit opt-in, while users elsewhere face the opposite default (enabled) with only opt-out options available. This geographic variation means that the exact process for disabling AI features may differ depending on user location and account settings, requiring users to verify whether specific features are even available in their region.
Future Outlook and Strategic Considerations
Google’s explicit articulation of its AI strategy through statements by company representatives reveals that the direction of travel involves increasing AI personalization and integration rather than providing user choice. The company’s CEO Sundar Pichai and other leadership have repeatedly emphasized AI as central to Google’s future, with the company committing billions to AI research and development. This strategic commitment suggests that the current situation—where AI features are increasingly enabled by default and difficult to disable—will likely intensify rather than improve. Users should anticipate that future Google updates may reintroduce disabled features, eliminate configuration options currently available, or add new AI capabilities to additional services.
The technical landscape of disabling AI features is also precarious because many workarounds depend on Google maintaining certain URLs, flags, and search parameters unchanged. Google reserves the right to modify these technical elements without notice, potentially breaking community-developed solutions overnight. The impermanence of flag-based solutions in Chrome, the vulnerability of browser extensions to browser updates, and the dependence on URL parameters that Google could theoretically deprecate at any time all suggest that no disabling solution should be considered permanently reliable or stable.
For users fundamentally opposed to AI integration in their technology experience, the most robust long-term strategy involves reducing dependence on Google services entirely. Switching to alternative search engines, email providers, productivity software, and mobile operating systems removes the need to continuously adapt to Google’s evolving AI strategy and provides users with greater autonomy and potentially better privacy protection. Services like Proton Mail offer encrypted email with reduced AI integration, while privacy-focused operating systems and applications represent alternatives that do not employ the same aggressive AI and personalization strategies as Google.
Summary of Key Disabling Methods by Platform
The practical approaches to disabling Google AI features vary significantly depending on the specific platform and service involved. For desktop Google Search, the most effective methods include creating a custom Chrome search engine using the “&udm=14” parameter, using the “Web” filter in search results, or installing dedicated browser extensions that hide AI Overviews. For mobile Google Search, the tenbluelinks.org configuration method provides automatic application of the same parameter across searches. For Chrome browser itself, disabling AI Mode buttons requires accessing experimental flags and modifying specific settings before restarting the browser. For Android devices and Google Pixel phones, disabling AI involves navigating system app settings, digital assistant configurations, and individual feature toggles scattered throughout the Settings application. For Gmail and Google Workspace, users can disable Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and related features through Gmail Settings, though administrative-level controls offer organization-wide enforcement of these disabling options.
Your Google Experience, On Your Terms
The landscape of disabling AI features on Google reflects a fundamental tension between user autonomy and corporate strategy. Google has designed its services with AI deeply integrated into core functionality, making complete disabling impossible while offering various partial solutions that allow users to reduce their exposure to AI-powered features. The methods outlined in this report—from custom search engine configurations to browser extensions to mobile device settings modifications—represent the practical toolkit available to users who wish to minimize their interaction with Google’s AI systems without entirely abandoning Google services.
However, the precarious nature of these solutions, the regional variations in feature availability, the fragmented approach to disabling features across different services, and Google’s explicit strategic commitment to increasing AI integration all suggest that users should view the options presented here as temporary measures rather than permanent solutions. The company’s philosophy of making AI increasingly personalized and integrated reflects a business model where AI-generated recommendations, personalized results, and algorithmic decision-making drive user engagement and advertising effectiveness. From Google’s perspective, the various disabling methods represent acceptable concessions to user preferences that do not fundamentally alter the company’s ability to deploy AI throughout its ecosystem.
For users committed to reducing their exposure to Google’s AI systems, a multi-layered approach proves most effective. This includes immediately implementing the technical solutions discussed for specific services, regularly verifying that these solutions continue functioning following Google updates, staying informed about new AI features that Google introduces, and gradually transitioning to alternative services that align more closely with user preferences regarding AI integration and privacy. Users should also recognize that as Google continues advancing AI integration, maintaining an AI-minimized experience using Google services will require increasing technical sophistication and ongoing effort to counteract new features and changes to existing ones.
Ultimately, the question of how to disable Google AI Mode reflects a broader issue about user agency in technology ecosystems dominated by companies whose business models depend on data collection, algorithmic personalization, and increasingly, AI-generated insights. While the technical solutions provided in this report offer immediate relief for users seeking to reduce AI exposure, the more fundamental solution involves supporting and adopting alternative services that provide users with meaningful choice regarding AI integration from the outset, rather than forcing users into an endless cycle of disabling features after they are forced into existence.
