Disable Google Instant: How To TURN OFF Google's New Feature

Google unveiled a new feature, Google Instant, at a press conference Wednesday.

The "psychic" new search tool "shows results as you type," as Google explained in a blog post. (Learn more about Google Instant here)

Google's Marissa Mayer, Vice President of Search Products and User Experience, said that a "very small percentage" of users decided to turn off Google Instant when the company was testing the feature, noting that many disabled it for "connection speed reasons." (Read users' reviews of the tool.)

Wondering how to disable Google Instant?

"If you don't want to see results as you type, you can turn off Google Instant by clicking the link next to the search box on any search results page, or by visiting your Preferences [http://www.google.com/preferences] page," Google tells users.

See the screenshots below for step-by-step directions on how to disable Google Instant.
Locate the text to the right of the search box reading "Instant is on."

Click "Instant is on," then select "off.

UPDATE: Some users have reported troubles disabling Google Instant. Google's help forum has more information. If you're struggling, keep in mind that while you may have turned off Google Instant, it appears Google may have removed the option to disable the autocomplete "Query Suggestions" feature.

Comments

[emrecio]

08:03 PM on 10/20/2010

This is the most annoying feature. Worst of all if I type a search phrase, then clear say the last word to type a different word and click enter, it takes me back to the original search phrase... so much for saving time. I have to retype everything again, and turn off Instant On for the 30 millionth time. AND YES I tried clearing my cookies, and making sure that I dont auto delete my cookies when I close my browser. LISTEN I have a google account, cant I save the instant OFF there? GRRRRRR. This is google's first fail in my eyes.

[Guy in AZ]

02:00 AM on 10/02/2010

The methods described only work if you're willing either to turn it off manually every time you use google or allow google to store cookies on your computer. Let google store cookies? I don't think so. Firefox users have a better method:

http://www­.ehow.com/­how_719005­4_disable-­instant-se­arch-perma­nently-fir­efox.html

I didn't find much value in the instant search, but it didn't really annoy me until google put those blue arrows on the page that hijack the up and down arrow keys. To me, that crossed a line.

[SparkyDash]

10:06 AM on 09/11/2010

I get the feeling that many folks who use and like google Instant move on from this post without comment :)

[Imzadi]

09:56 AM on 09/11/2010

Done!


Thanks for the info.

[Bob Clarke]

07:28 AM on 09/11/2010

One "interesti­ng undocument­ed feature" of the default Instant Search is that the "search within results" is disabled (it does not show at all on the bottom of the search results page). To get "search within results" back, you have to go into Preference­s and turn Instant Search OFF. What are these people thinking?!­?!?!? Whoever created this "thing" should be forced to use it. I can't wait to see what the next hot, zippy upgrade will be. Google, the former Gold Standard is now somewhat tarnished brass.

[Acert]

01:48 PM on 09/10/2010

I've made a point of using other search engines whenever possible because of google's selling out on net neutrality­.

[Chucktheman]

11:48 PM on 09/10/2010

fanned for supporting net neutrality­. Its a first amendment issue.

[Argenis hernandez]

11:18 AM on 09/10/2010

Its Soooo Annoyying. It Distracts me more than help me.

[twoto2]

10:00 AM on 09/10/2010

This is not so new. I use netflix and as you type it gives you a list of movies and the list changes with every key stroke to zone in on what you want. Also, ten years ago at work I would just write a wide search with an SQL statement and it would give me back all the words that 'sound' like the word I was searching for even if I had misspelled it. Just not impressed with this feature.

[NotEasilyFooled]

08:22 AM on 09/10/2010

I like it.

[istvan13]

08:18 AM on 09/10/2010

The easiest way to turn off this feature, is to stop using Google. It has become a greedy corporatio­n. There are plenty of other choices.

[MrBen]

09:16 AM on 09/10/2010

yeah! Like using that plucky little site "Bing" from some company called "Microsoft­" (I hope I spelled that right). They're so indie, they aren't even based in California­, let alone Silicon Valley.

[KevG]

11:09 AM on 09/10/2010

Please list out the ways Microsoft is currently making it its corporate mission to destroy net neutrailty­. Then list all the ways Google has improved society compared to the Gates Foundation­. Then come back and be snarky again.

[istvan13]

03:38 PM on 09/10/2010

Here are some other options:
http://www­.mamma.com­/
http://www­.dogpile.c­om/
http://www­.altavista­.com/
http://www­.cuil.com/
http://www­.ask.com/
http://www­.webcrawle­r.com/
http://www­.metacrawl­er.com/
http://sea­rch.aol.co­m/aol/webh­ome

[Robert Gearhart]

05:12 AM on 09/10/2010

I use google chrome, I never have to see google's front page, just type into the address bar to search

[MrBen]

09:19 AM on 09/10/2010

good point, I use chrome too, so every time I see a news article like "whats up with Google's homepage?" I have no idea what they're referring to. Also... people do realize that Firefox has that extra search bar to the right of the address bar, right?
Instant search is the kind of feature that people who type "Facebook.­com" into Google are confused about.

[Thabor]

04:49 AM on 09/10/2010

I wonder how many people here realize that in order to turn something like this off you have to allow Google to store cookies that could potentiall­y be used to help track your internet browsing.. Otherwise you would have to turn it off manually every time you go to use their search.

[royevatom]

03:38 AM on 09/10/2010

I am going to turn it off. Thanks for the how too.
Usually when I search I have something very specific in mind as I am usually occupied, in fact I don't do any random searching at all.
Perhaps I will start; I don't have much to do anyway and as long as there are lots of pictures and I don't have to read much, you know. Who can complain?
Also Google is sounding pretty authoritar­ian these days. How can you go from something with good intentions to something monstrous so easily? I bet it is that Corporatio­n thing that just seems to be nasty from front to back.
Oh well, guess I'll try some instant searching for a while, ytadsiuyg, beufvbv, rew8qegayd­,,,,,,,,,,­,,,,,

[ibwilliamsi]

02:38 AM on 09/10/2010

Thank you! Did it at the google.com­/preferenc­es page. Worked like a charm!

[SageSpencer]

01:45 AM on 09/10/2010

@DragonFly

"Thanks for the link.

IXQUICK proxy is exactly what I've been looking for. "
----------­----------­---------
@AKAGoldfi­sh

"Thanks for that link. I added it to my firefox search engine list. I'll give it a shot. if it can perform half as good as old google I may start using it exclusivel­y."
----------­----------­----------­----------­--
You are both welcome. I have been using non-Google search engines since Google announced its proposal to abandon Net Neutrality­. I have used Ixquick 80-90% of the time. I have also tried and used others like Bing, Scroogle and DuckDuckGo­. I like Ixquick the best.