Google AI shows up above search results, inside Gmail, and even when you search your photos. There’s no single iPhone switch that turns it all off, but there are controls for individual features. Start with the quick Search fix below, then tackle the Google apps where you want AI out of the way.
Use the Web filter for Google results without AI Overviews
AI Overviews are built into Google Search, so switching between Safari, Chrome, and the Google app doesn’t remove them.
Run a Google search.
Select Web in the results filters to see text links without AI Overviews.
Select Web again for each subsequent search. Google has no global AI Overviews off switch, so this filter applies to the results you’re viewing.
Leave the Search Labs AI experiments
Open Google Search in an iPhone browser while signed in to your Google account and outside Incognito.
Tap Labs.
Select Manage.
Turn off AI in Search.
If your account also shows the separate AI Mode experiment, open Search Labs > Manage.
Turn off AI Mode to leave that experiment.
Keep using the Web filter for text results without AI Overviews; leaving Labs controls experimental participation, not the generally available Search AI features.
Change your search engine for address-bar searches
Want to stop sending your everyday searches to Google? Change the search engine your browser uses. This avoids Google Search through the address bar, but another provider’s own AI features are a separate matter.
For Safari, open Settings > Apps > Safari > Search Engine.
Choose a provider other than Google.
For Chrome, open More > Settings > Search engine.
Select a non-Google provider.
Enter your next search in the browser’s address field. Opening google.com directly still uses Google, regardless of your chosen search engine.
If you still see Google AI results, try a fresh search from the address field instead of the Google website or Google app. For searches you want to keep on Google, select Web.
Hide AI panels while keeping Google in Safari
Core AI Overviews remain part of Google’s results after you leave Search Labs.
For automatic hiding in Safari, install Block AI Overviews for Safari from the App Store. The extension requires iOS 15 or later.
On current iOS, open Settings > Apps > Safari > Extensions.
Enable Block AI Overviews for Safari.
Allow access to Google Search when prompted.
Reopen Safari.
Run a Google search to check that the panels are hidden.
The extension hides AI Overview panels in Safari. It doesn’t disable Google’s AI processing or affect Chrome or the Google app. Its continued effectiveness depends on compatibility with Google’s page changes.
For manual hiding in Safari on iOS 26, open the results page’s Page Menu > Hide Distracting Items.
Select the AI panel.
Tap Hide.
Tap the checkmark button to finish.
This changes the page’s appearance. It provides no permanent filter for future search results.
Turn off Gemini features in Gmail
Open Gmail’s Menu > Settings.
Under General, open Data privacy > Google Workspace smart features.
Turn off Smart features in Google Workspace. This disables Workspace Gemini experiences, including Gmail search AI Overviews where available, along with other Workspace smart features.
Tap Done.
To stop Workspace data from personalizing other Google services too, return to Google Workspace smart features.
Turn off Smart features in other Google products. This separate switch controls Workspace-powered personalization, including Personal Intelligence.
Tap Done.
For shared Gmail, Chat, and Meet features such as categorization, Smart Compose, Smart Reply, and summary cards, return to Data privacy.
Turn off Smart features. Some Chat features have separate controls.
To remove only Gmail’s typing suggestions instead, open Menu > Settings.
Under Compose and Reply, turn off Smart compose.
For short suggested email replies, open Smart reply in the same settings group.
Turn off Smart Reply in email.
Stick with the individual compose and reply switches if those suggestions are all you want to remove.
Stop Gemini-powered searches in Google Photos
Ask Photos supplies Gemini-powered search answers when that feature is enabled in Google Photos.
On an account with Ask Photos, tap your profile photo or initial in Google Photos.
Open Google Photos settings > Preferences > Gemini features in Photos.
Turn off Search with Ask Photos.
For the broader Gemini control, open your account profile.
Go to Photos settings > Preferences > Gemini features in Photos.
Turn off Use Gemini in Photos. This covers more than Ask Photos search, without providing an off switch for every machine-learning feature in Photos.
To stop donating Ask Photos queries separately, open Help us improve photos within Gemini features in Photos.
Turn off Allow us to access your queries. This controls query donation; it leaves the feature’s availability unchanged.
Limit Gemini’s connections, memory, and saved activity
Use these controls if you want to keep Gemini while reducing its access to personal information. Personal Intelligence requires an eligible personal account with rollout access; its controls aren’t available for work, school, or supervised accounts.
In Gemini, open Menu.
Tap your profile picture or initial.
Open Connected Apps, or Personal Intelligence > Connected Apps on accounts that group connections there.
Turn off a connection you want to remove. Available Personal Intelligence connections include Contacts, Google Photos, Google Workspace, Search services, and YouTube.
Complete any confirmation prompt.
Repeat for each unwanted connection. Gemini retains access to public information from some Google services after you disconnect apps.
To stop personalization from past chats, open Menu.
Tap your profile.
Open Personal Intelligence.
Turn off Memory.
To disable saved instructions too, open Instructions for Gemini in the same menu.
Turn off Instructions for Gemini.
For activity storage, open Menu.
Tap your profile.
Open Gemini Apps Activity > On.
Select Turn off, or choose Turn off and delete activity to remove saved activity too. Gemini remains usable, with a retention window of up to 72 hours for conversations even when activity saving is off.
For an occasional conversation without personalized responses, open Menu.
Tap Temporary chat beside New chat. Temporary chats also exclude Connected Apps that require Keep Activity. You’re still using Gemini, with different privacy controls.
Remove Gemini when you no longer want the app
Deleting Gemini removes the app from your iPhone. It doesn’t cancel subscriptions or disable Google AI in other apps and websites.
Before deleting it, open your profile in Gemini.
Open Scheduled actions.
Turn off each action you want to pause. Turning off notifications alone leaves scheduled processing running.
Touch and hold the Gemini app.
Tap Remove App.
Select Delete App.
Tap Delete to confirm. Choosing Remove from Home Screen alone leaves the app installed.
If AI still appears after you remove Gemini, use the control for the app displaying it: Web in Google Search, Smart features in Google Workspace in Gmail, or Gemini features in Photos in Google Photos.
Block a child’s Gemini access with Family Link
Family Link can disable Gemini account access for supported supervised accounts belonging to children under 13 or the applicable age in their country.
Open Family Link or familylink.google.com and select your child. Go to Controls > Gemini > Gemini Apps, then turn off Gemini Apps.
This controls the child’s access to Gemini Apps. AI Overviews in Google Search remain separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Apple Intelligence also turn off Google AI?
No. Apple Intelligence and Siri settings don’t provide a global switch for Google Search AI.
How do I change which browser opens links on my iPhone?
Open Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App. Select your preferred browser. Configure its search engine separately; changing the default browser alone doesn’t disable Google AI.
How do I stop a Google AI voice conversation immediately?
In Gemini Live, tap End or swipe right. In Search Live in the Google app, tap Exit. Mute stops microphone input but leaves the conversation active.
What if I use a work or school Google account?
Your administrator manages Gemini app access and activity controls. They can disable Gemini app access separately from Workspace AI features. App-access changes take up to 24 hours.
