Browser Extensions That Make Google Search Actually Useful Again

Google's results pages have filled up with AI summaries, ads, shopping boxes and forum panels, pushing the plain links further down. A few extensions and settings can bring the links back to the top.

Hide the sections you don't want

Search Cleaner hides sections of Google's results page with a switch for each: the AI Overview, the AI Mode tab, People Also Ask, Discussions and Forums, Things to Know, sponsored results and shopping carousels. Keep the ones you find useful and turn off the rest. It hides sections only; it doesn't block particular websites.

Block websites you never want to see

uBlacklist is a free, open-source extension that adds a "Block this site" option to Google results. Once you block a site, it's hidden from your results from then on, and you can sync your list across computers. It's the closest thing to the site blocking Google removed years ago. For other ways, see how to block sites from Google results.

Get plain links with no extension at all

Google's Web filter (under the search box, sometimes under More) shows only links, without AI Overviews. You can make it Chrome's default search so every address bar search uses it. The steps are in how to search Google without AI answers.

Reach pages that changed or disappeared

Google no longer offers cached copies of pages, so a result that's gone or changed is a dead end. Wayback Quick Access shows the latest Wayback Machine copy of the page you're on and opens all its older captures in one click.

Search smarter with operators

No extension needed for these:

• "exact words" for a phrase in that order.
• -word to leave a word out.
• site:reddit.com to search one site.
• Tools → Verbatim to stop Google from swapping in words you didn't type.

Keep it lean

Extensions that change Google's pages need access to them, and Google changes its layout often. Install only what you'll use, choose ones that are updated regularly, and avoid "search enhancers" that also want access to every site you visit. If an extension starts changing your default search engine or adding results, remove it: that's a common sign of adware.