How to Permanently Block Google AI Overviews and Force Clean Web Results (The udm=14 Browser Trick) 

For many long-time internet users, Google Search doesn’t feel like the same tool it used to be. There was a quick search one time that just gave a list of websites and you picked where to get info from. These days, search results are often cluttered with AI-generated summaries, recommendation panels, shopping modules, and other features that shove run-of-the-mill web links further down the page. If you’re hoping to return to Google’s classic search experience, a little known trick called udm=14 could be just what you need. 

Why Users Are Trying to Disable Google AI Overviews

Google has introduced AI Overviews to deliver immediate answers right in search results. The feature is designed to help users find information faster, but not everyone’s sold on it. For many users, AI summaries clutter search pages and often diminish the visibility of the websites they want to visit. Instead of showing a range of sources, users are increasingly being shown a single AI-generated response before they see traditional search results. Research shows this move is altering search behavior. When AI summaries were on the page, a Pew Research Center study found, users were far less likely to click on traditional search results. Other analyses also show that people often refine or repeat searches after viewing AI-generated answers, suggesting they may not fully trust the information provided. The effect can be even more important for publishers and website owners. Now the biggest part of the results page is AI-generated content and the chances for organic traffic keep shrinking. 

The udm=14 Google Search Trick Explained

Many users say that adding a hidden parameter udm=14 to Google Search URLs fixes the problem. Adding this parameter, Google displays a cleaner, web-focused version of the search results. The AI Overviews are mostly gone altogether, along with a number of other interface elements that can distract from the traditional organic results. Those who enable this setting often say they find their search experience to be quite similar to that of Google years ago. Typical modifications are:

• AI Overviews are removed
• Traditional website listings move higher on the page
• Shopping modules are minimized or eliminated
• “People Also Ask” sections become less prominent
• Search results appear in a cleaner web-focused format

For users who simply want a list of websites instead of AI-generated summaries, the difference can be dramatic.

How to Set Up udm=14 Permanently in Chrome

The great thing about this trick is that you don’t need to manually add the parameter every time you search. Chrome users can set it in their default search engine settings. Open Chrome Settings and navigate to the Search Engine. Then click on Manage Search Engines and Site Search. In the Site Search section, click Add and enter the following information: 

Name: AI-Free Google

Shortcut: @web

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

Once saved, click on the three dots next to the new entry and select Make Default. Once enabled, you can perform searches directly from Chrome’s address bar and instantly get a cleaner web-only results view. This method usually works on Chromium based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi.

Other Ways to Reduce AI Overviews

There are a few other options to consider if you don’t want to change your browser settings. A common trick is to append “-ai” to the end of a search query. Many users say Google regularly omits AI Overviews for this modifier. Alternatively, you can search and then switch from the default All tab to the Web filter. This is usually good for organic web results and bad for the visibility of AI generated content. Browser extensions have also been a remedy. There are extensions like Hide Google AI Overviews, Bye Bye Google AI and more that automatically remove AI-generated summaries from search pages. 

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Why the Growing Popularity of udm=14 Matters

The popularity of the udm=14 trick shows a wider debate about the future of online search. As AI-generated answers become more common, users are questioning whether search engines should summarize information or just link to original sources. Website publishers are worried about losing visibility and traffic as more answers appear directly in search results. For many users, the udm=14 workaround is not about opposing AI. It’s about restoring choice. Instead of seeing just one generated answer, they can look at multiple sources and decide for themselves which information to trust. It’s unclear if Google will support the parameter in the future. But for now, it’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to return to a cleaner, more traditional Google Search experience. 

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