# Google AI Mode: how to turn it off, and what you can't > Google says AI Overviews can't be turned off. Here is what you can switch off, delete or skip, and who can use AI Mode at all. URL: https://claudegpt.si/news/google-ai-mode-how-to-turn-off Published: 2026-10-31T14:51:09.179Z Author: ClaudeGPT Si Newsroom Section: Guides Topics: Google, Google search, AI Mode, AI Overviews Publisher: ClaudeGPT Si ## Key takeaways - Google's help page says AI Overviews cannot be turned off, and the pages we read give no setting that removes AI Mode. - You can toggle the AI Mode experiment in Search Labs, delete AI Mode history, and pick the Web filter to see results without AI Overviews. - AI Mode availability depends on country, language, age and account type, and Search Labs isn't available for Workspace accounts. You can't fully turn off Google AI Mode, and you can't turn off AI Overviews either. Google's [help page on AI Overviews](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683) says these features cannot be turned off. What you can do is switch off the Search Labs experiment, delete your AI Mode history, and use the Web filter to see results without AI Overviews. This guide covers each one, plus how to turn AI Mode on and what the help pages say when it is missing. Everything here is as of October 31, 2026, and Google says its Search settings are being updated, so your screens may differ. ## What can and can't be turned off | What | Can you turn it off? | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | AI Overviews (the AI summary above results) | No. Google lists it as a core Search feature. | [AI Overviews help](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683) | | AI Mode in Search | Google's pages we read give no setting for it. AI Mode is a tab you choose to open. | [AI Mode help](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16011537) | | The "AI Mode" Search Labs experiment | Yes, with a toggle in Labs. | [Search Labs help](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16296315) | | The "AI in Search" Labs email notices | Yes, with a toggle in Labs. This is not documented as stopping AI Overviews. | [AI Overviews help](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683) | | AI Mode history | You can delete it. | [AI Mode help](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16011537) | | AI Overviews on a results page | You can skip them by choosing the Web filter. | [AI Overviews help](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683) | The practical answer: AI Mode only runs when you open it, so not opening it is the nearest thing to an off switch. Google doesn't document a setting that removes the AI Mode button. ## How to turn on Google AI Mode Google gives three ways in: 1. Go to google.com/ai. 2. On www.google.com, type a question in the search bar and tap **AI Mode**. 3. In the Google app, tap **AI Mode** on the home screen. Once inside, type into the "Ask anything" bar, tap the microphone to speak, or use the menu to upload images, PDFs or files. You can also paste a web page address and ask about it. AI Mode works without a history, but you can't pick up earlier searches. Personalized answers need you to be 18 or older, with history and personalized recommendations turned on. ### Turn the AI Mode experiment on in Search Labs Google also runs "AI Mode" as a Search Labs experiment for early features. On a computer: 1. Open any browser, sign in to your Google Account and click **New tab**. 2. At the top of the page, click the Search Labs icon, then **Manage**. 3. Toggle **AI Mode** on. You need to be 18 or older and use a personal Google Account. Google says Search Labs isn't available for Google Workspace accounts, including education accounts. ## How to turn off the AI Mode experiment Follow the same Labs steps and toggle **AI Mode** off. Google's page describes this only as the toggle for the Labs experiment. It doesn't say that doing so removes AI Mode from Search for everyone, so don't expect it to. To stop the Labs emails about new AI experiments, Google gives these steps for "AI in Search": 1. On a computer, open any browser and sign in to your Google Account with Incognito mode off. 2. Click **New tab**. 3. Click **Labs**, then **Manage**. 4. Toggle **AI in Search** off. Google's page does not say this stops AI Overviews from appearing. ## How to delete your AI Mode history On a computer: 1. Go to AI Mode. 2. Click **AI Mode history** on the left. 3. To delete one search, select it, click **More**, then **Delete**. 4. To delete everything, click **More** at the top of AI Mode history, then **Delete all**. You can also delete AI Mode activity from your Search History page. Google says deleted items may still show in My Activity for a while but are removed automatically in under 24 hours. Deleting history means AI Mode can't continue earlier searches. ## How to get results without AI Overviews Run a search, then pick the **Web** filter. Google says it shows only text-based links, without features like AI Overviews. You have to choose it on each search. ## Google AI Mode not working or missing Google's help pages we read have no troubleshooting article for a missing AI Mode. They do list conditions that decide who gets it: - **Country and language.** AI Mode is available in many countries, territories and languages, and Google keeps a list. If yours isn't on it, you won't see AI Mode. - **Age.** Personalization and the Labs experiment need you to be 18 or older. - **Account type.** Search Labs isn't available for Workspace accounts. For Workspace users with Search and Assistant turned off, history is unavailable, and only an administrator can turn it on. - **Supervised accounts.** Child accounts are managed through the Family Link app. - **Gemini 4 Argon in AI Mode.** It has its own shorter country list and needs a personal Google Account with a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, and you must be 18 or older. It has daily usage limits. If AI Mode works but gives a poor answer, Google suggests rephrasing the question, checking important information in more than one place, and sending feedback with the thumbs up or thumbs down. Which of these conditions applies to you is for you or your administrator to check. We haven't tested any of this on a live account. ## What to watch Google says the settings behind these pages are being updated, so the toggles may move. Check the linked help pages if a step doesn't match your screen. For how AI Mode is changing on the ad side, see our report on [ads in AI Mode reaching 10 more countries](https://claudegpt.si/news/ads-in-ai-mode-10-more-countries). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can you turn off AI Overviews in Google Search? No. Google's help page calls AI Overviews a core Search feature and says features cannot be turned off. The Web filter shows text-based links without them, but you pick it on each search. ### How do I turn on Google AI Mode? Go to google.com/ai, tap AI Mode under the search bar on www.google.com, or tap AI Mode on the Google app home screen. It must be available in your country and language. ### Why is Google AI Mode not working or not showing? Google's pages say AI Mode depends on country and language, and that Search Labs and personalization need a personal account and an age of 18 or older. Workspace admins and Family Link also control some access. Google has no troubleshooting article we could find. ### How do I delete my AI Mode history? On a computer, open AI Mode, click AI Mode history, then use More and Delete for one search or Delete all for everything. Google says deleted items clear from My Activity in under 24 hours. ## Sources - [Google Search Help: AI Overviews](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/14901683), Google Search Help - [Get AI-powered responses with AI Mode in Google Search](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16011537), Google Search Help - [AI Mode in Search Labs](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16296315), Google Search Help