On my Android phone, out of nowhere pops up a Google AI Overview that I did not ask for and do not want. In fact, I’ve never found it useful.

It just pops up on its own, seemingly – and wastes my time and makes using my Android phone super annoying to the point I’m considering switching to iPhone. Way to go Google!

“Circle to Search” gesture
It activates when you:

• long‑press the home button, or
• long‑press the navigation bar, or
• accidentally touch the bottom edge of the screen while scrolling

This instantly launches a Google AI overlay with a “select area of screen” tool.

Google App “AI Overview” auto‑trigger

Google has been testing a feature that pops up AI summaries when browsing certain pages.
It can appear:

• when scrolling
• when tapping text
• when the Google app thinks you’re “researching” something

You never asked for it, but it shows up anyway.

Chrome’s “Search with Google Lens” gesture

Chrome sometimes interprets a long‑press or drag as a Lens search, which opens the same overlay.

How to turn this off

These steps work on the Galaxy S21 running Android 13 or 14. It may be different on other phones or versions of Android.

Step 1 — Disable Circle to Search

This fixes the issue for most people.

Settings → Display → Navigation bar → Toggle OFF “Circle to Search”

If you don’t see it there:

Settings → Advanced features → “Circle to Search” → OFF

Step 2 — Disable Google AI Overview in the Google App

Google hides this setting, but it exists.

1. Open the Google app
2. Tap your profile icon
3. Go to Settings
4. Tap Search
5. Look for AI Overview or Search Generative Experience (SGE)
6. Turn it OFF

If you don’t see the toggle, it means Google hasn’t officially rolled it out to your account — but the pop‑ups can still appear due to Circle to Search, so Step 1 is still essential.

Google – profile icon – Settings – Google Assistant – Digital Assistants from Google – scroll to the bottom and there is some text and a link to turn off the digital assistant.

Step 3 — Disable Chrome’s Lens / AI search triggers

In Chrome:

1. Tap the three dots
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap Google Services
4. Turn off:
   • “Search with Google Lens”
   • “AI-powered search suggestions”
   • “Contextual search”

This stops Chrome from launching the overlay when you long‑press anything.

Step 4 — Disable Google Assistant gesture triggers

Sometimes Assistant triggers the same overlay.

Settings → Apps → Default apps → Digital assistant app → Set to “None”

or

Settings → Advanced features → Side key → Turn OFF “Press and hold for Assistant”

If it STILL pops up

There is one more nuclear option:

Disable the Google App entirely

This removes AI Overview, Lens, and Assistant in one shot.

Settings → Apps → Google → Disable

Your phone will still work normally:

• Chrome works
• Gmail works
• Maps works
• Play Store works

You just lose the Google feed and Assistant.