A visual guide showing how to enable or disable Google Search Live AI Mode on Android and iPhone devices.
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1. Introduction
I’ve spent time toggling between Google’s newer AI features and the classic search experience. As Google gradually embeds AI into its search interface, many users ask: How to disable or enable Google Search Live AI Mode on phone (Android & iPhone)? In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps (for both Android and iOS), share tips when toggles aren’t available, and tackle common questions. Let’s dive in.
2. What Is Google Search Live / AI Mode?
“Search Live” is Google’s experimental AI-powered voice / text / interactive mode built into Search. It enables you to talk or type queries, get AI-generated responses, ask follow-ups, and even use your camera in some versions.
It’s part of Google’s broader “AI Mode” (also sometimes called Search Generative Experience, SGE) that fuses traditional search with generative AI summaries and context awareness.
Not all users have the toggle yet—it’s rolling out gradually and may require enrollment in Google’s Search Labs experiment.
3. Why You Might Want to Enable or Disable It
Here are reasons I’ve seen (and sometimes experienced myself) for enabling or disabling:
Reasons to Enable:
You want conversational search where you can ask follow-ups.
You like AI-powered summaries and reduced need to click through multiple links.
You enjoy voice interactions and multimodal queries (text, voice, image).
Reasons to Disable:
You prefer the traditional list of search links without automated AI summaries (the AI overview sometimes feels “opinionated”).
Some AI summaries can be inaccurate—or at least incomplete.
On older phones, performance may suffer.
You want more control over search results.
In short: enabling brings a more conversational, assisted experience. Disabling restores the conventional search interface.
4. How to Enable or Disable on Android
Here’s how I did it on my Android phone (steps may vary slightly depending on device and Android version).
4.1 Enabling AI Mode / Search Live on Android
Open Google app or a browser and make sure you’re signed into your Google account (not in Incognito).
Tap Search Labs (commonly found in the app’s menu or via google.com/searchlabs).
In Labs, find “AI Mode” or “AI Overviews and more” and toggle it ON.
After enabling, open Google and you should see an AI Mode option below the search bar.
You may also see a small Live icon (waveform or sparkle) under the search bar if Search Live voice is available. Tap it to start speaking.
4.2 Disabling / Turning Off AI Mode or Search Live
If you decide you don’t like it, here’s what I did:
Open Google app → tap your profile icon → Settings → Search or General.
Go to Search Labs again, toggle AI Mode / AI Overviews switch OFF.
On some Pixel phones, there’s a specific setting: Customize Pixel Search Box → AI Mode toggle, where you can hide the AI Mode shortcut from the home screen.
Clear or manage your AI Mode history (if desired) under AI Mode history in the app.
Note: If the toggle is missing, your account or region may not have the feature yet. In that case, try the workarounds below.
5. How to Enable or Disable on iPhone (iOS)
The process for iOS is broadly similar, but with slight UI differences.
5.1 Enabling on iPhone
Launch the Google app in iOS and make sure you’re signed in (not incognito).
Tap Labs (commonly via the menu or google.com/searchlabs in a browser) → Manage More → find “AI Overviews and more.”
Toggle it ON. Now when you do a search, the AI overview may appear.
For voice mode, open the Google app and tap the Live icon under the search bar. Follow setup steps.
You may also need to allow Live Activities (iOS feature) to get notifications and keep the conversation active.
5.2 Disabling on iPhone
In the Google app, tap your profile → Settings → Search Settings or Lab experiments.
Find “AI Overviews and more”, toggle it OFF.
If Live mode is active, you can disable Live in the app or revoke permissions.
Use “Web” tab in search to bypass AI overview (more below).
6. Tips & Workarounds (When Direct Toggle Isn’t Available)
Sometimes you may not see the toggle. Or you prefer a faster workaround. Here are some useful tricks I discovered:
Use the “Web” tab: After performing any search, switch from “All” or “AI” to the “Web” tab. That shows the traditional search results without the AI summary. This is one of the most straightforward workarounds.
URL parameter override: Append &udm=14 or udm=14 to Google search URLs to force classic mode.
Browser extension / filter: Some tools (e.g. uBlock Origin) can hide or filter out the AI mode tab or summary by adding custom filters.
Search engine switch: On mobile browsers, temporarily switch the default search engine to one that doesn’t inject AI or use a minimal interface. (This is more of a sledgehammer solution.)
Feedback / Opt-out: Use the three-dot menu beside each AI summary and give Google feedback (“Why hide this?”). Sometimes, in Labs, there’s an opt-out option.
These workarounds help especially when your region or account doesn’t yet have full toggle support.
7. Comparison Table: Android vs iPhone Steps
Step
Android
iPhone / iOS
Access Labs / experiments
Google app → Search Labs
Google app → Labs / searchlabs in browser
Toggle AI Mode / Overviews
Turn ON/OFF via Labs
Turn ON/OFF via Labs / app settings
Voice / Live mode access
Tap Live icon under search bar
Tap Live icon under search bar
Hide shortcut on home / Pixel search box
Use Customize Pixel Search Box → AI Mode toggle
No equivalent universal toggle (depends on UI)
Bypass via Web tab
Switch to Web tab in next search
Same – switch to Web tab
8. FAQs
Q1: What if I don’t see “AI Mode” or “Search Labs” in my Google app?
It’s possible the feature hasn’t rolled out in your region or account yet. Google often launches in waves. Meanwhile, you can use the “Web” tab method or URL override.
Q2: Will disabling AI Mode remove all AI features?
No — it mainly disables the generative summary / conversational interface in Search. Other AI-driven features (autocomplete, suggestions) may still remain.
Q3: Does turning off AI Mode affect my search history or personalization?
Turning off the mode won’t delete your Google history or account personalization. But if you enabled AI Mode, it may have stored some additional “AI Mode history” which you can clear manually.
Q4: Can I enable AI Mode just for certain queries and disable for others?
Yes, in effect. You can start a search in AI Mode (if available), or use the Web tab / classic mode when you prefer traditional results.
Q5: Will the toggle disappear permanently once Google fully launches AI Mode?
That’s uncertain. Google may integrate AI Mode by default in time. But I expect some user opt-out will remain, because many users prefer classic search.
9. Conclusion
Knowing how to disable or enable Google Search Live AI Mode on phone (Android & iPhone) gives you flexibility. You can try the new conversational, AI-driven interface, but if you prefer simplicity, you can switch it off or bypass it. Based on my tests, the Labs toggle (when available) is the smoothest method; the Web tab workaround is a handy fallback.
Ovais Mirza, a seasoned professional blogger, delves into an intriguing blend of subjects with finesse. With a passion for gaming, he navigates virtual realms, unraveling intricacies and sharing insights. His exploration extends to the realm of hacking, where he navigates the fine line between ethical and malicious hacking, offering readers a nuanced perspective. Ovais also demystifies the realm of AI, unraveling its potential and societal impacts. Surprisingly diverse, he sheds light on car donation, intertwining technology and philanthropy. Through his articulate prose, Ovais Mirza captivates audiences, fostering an intellectual journey through gaming, hacking, AI, and charitable endeavors.
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