How do I disable Google Suggest?

I know I am stupid but I hate the Google thing by which when you enter a word a window drops open to show all the words you might type at that point! How can I get rid of this unwanted prompt that is such a nuisance?

Dave's Answer:

Being baffled by computers hardly makes you stupid. In fact, I'd say it makes you "one of us" since everyone I know gets befuddled by some aspect of technology eventually.

In this instance, you're talking about Google Suggest and it's one of those things where either you love it or you hate it. And it sounds like you've moved along that continuum since you started trying it.

For those of you that haven't tried Google Suggest, here's a screenshot showing how it works with a partially entered search for "halfblood prince":

Google Suggest search for (Harry Potter and the) Half Blood Prince

In this situation, I've typed in halfb and as I've typed each letter, the suggestion list has changed, always showing me the most popular dozen odd searches that match the prefix typed so far.

Cool idea, but I don't use it either, frankly, and I can understand your reluctance to keep it as your own default Google search page.

Fortunately, the Google Suggest FAQ explains exactly how to disable the entire Suggest system, restoring you to your normal Google search page.

Here's what they say:

How do I get back to normal Google?
You can go directly to http://www.google.com, or type http://www.google.com into your browser's address field; either way, you'll be back using ordinary Google search without Google Suggest.

If Google Suggest comes on whenever you open a new browser window, it may be set as your home or start page. To set your start page back to http://www.google.com (or anything else) use your web browser's Options menu.

In Internet Explorer, you can do this by first selecting Tools, then Internet Options. On the Internet Options menu, look for the Home Page section, find the Address: text box, and enter http://www.google.com. Then select OK.
In FireFox, this menu is found under Tools, then Options.
In Mozilla, it is found under Edit, then Preferences.
In Opera, it is found under Edit, then Options.

I think this will get you back to regular Google searches with nary a hiccup!

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Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics (Article 4090, Written by Dave Taylor)
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Reader Comments To Date: 32

ann said, on November 24, 2006 2:44 AM:

how do get off google account?

Matt said, on February 1, 2008 12:14 PM:

This suggestion did not work for this Opera (Linux) user. It still "suggests" when you go to http://www.google.com; even after you follow the Google link off of this page. This is a horrible feature to IMPOSE on everyone, it is counter-productive to someone who wants to do a simple "quick" search as it reloads the page with EVERY letter typed! >:(

VeronikaB said, on August 26, 2008 8:50 AM:

That does not work for me. I found you need to use http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0&hl=en as the default google address.

matt said, on August 26, 2008 7:40 PM:

if the option is not there in firefox 2 (in my case), just block clients1.google.com in BlockSite (a firefox addon)

Jose said, on August 26, 2008 7:57 PM:

Thank you VeronikaB! Google must have made some recent change, because the "default" google page didn't have the "google suggest" until today.

I'm with most people here; google suggest is annoying!

Bri said, on August 27, 2008 4:11 AM:

Thank you, VeronikaB. I agree with Jose (above)...your suggestion works beautifully. I am surprised that Google was no help at all on this.. :-( For example, I checked my 'preferences' page, but no alternative or explanantion was offered. I hope that Google does not make a habit of forcing changes like this.

becca said, on August 28, 2008 1:50 PM:

I have the google toolbar for firefox 3. I use quite a bit the google button to open google in a new tab. It's suddenly started this annoying suggest feature and a can't see a way to turn it off. I want to keep the toolbar and the google button and I want to get the button to revert to its non-suggesting behavior (I don't use blocksite). Any suggestions for accomplishing this?

Adeline said, on October 30, 2008 6:00 PM:

To disable this Google Suggest, you need to go to "Preferences" on the Google homepage (right side of the search box).
At the bottom of the Preferences page, you will have the option "Do not provide query suggestions in the search box". And "Save your preferences".
It should work!

amey said, on January 7, 2009 3:54 PM:

hi there, you know when you have visited a site and after a while you close the page start it up again and for example you type in to google that site name and like the suggestion box it drops down and you can see what you have previously visited... who do i disable it, or turn it off??? can you help me?

Peter Noonan said, on February 6, 2009 6:04 AM:

Hi. I too detest Google Suggest. I have Firefox and have followed your advice to make http://www.google.com/webhp?/complete=0&hl=en my default google address. However, I am still getting Suggest coming up, which is more frustrating than all those 'cos' your worth it' TV ads! Am I doing something wrong or is there another fix I can try
Thanks
Peter

Paul said, on April 6, 2009 10:06 AM:

this does not work, I am already on my default google.com page

Rick Rude said, on April 9, 2009 10:33 AM:

This has got to rate as Google's worst innovation to date! I really really hate those suggestions.

Ray said, on May 10, 2009 10:42 PM:

Ok. Ive figured out how to remove google suggest but unfortunately, it removes the suggestion box for all websites.
For firefox users go to Tools, then Options. Click the Privacy tab and untick "Remember what I enter in forms and the search bar". Click Ok and you are good to go!

Sorry I havent figured out a way for Internet Explorer.

Peter Hermanns said, on June 22, 2009 8:15 AM:

Hi Dave,

How do I temporarily disable Google As my homepage? I want to look for the internet explorer tools drop down menu. However, when I log on to the internet, the google home page fills the whole screen.

Mag said, on June 30, 2009 12:42 PM:

On Internet Explorer the Google toolbar comes with the Google search box on it, but I also have one next to my URL box. I know you can disable this in Firefox, but I can't find out how to in IE. Thanks for the help

Jurn said, on July 1, 2009 1:23 AM:

In Firefox, use the Adblock Plus addon. In Options / My Adblocking Rules, simply block the domain...

clients1.google.com

This is the server that handles Google’s suggestion keywords. Treating it as adware — which indeed it has now become — turns off Suggest.

Jo said, on October 19, 2009 8:07 AM:

This suggest "feature" is causing havoc at our school. Even through strict safesearch is turned on, it still suggests highly unsuitable words when children type.

A pupil mistyped "sun" and put "cun", and before they could correct it, google had suggested its top suggestion of "c*ntface". Brilliant. Thanks Google.

Especially irritating is that the option to disable is a per-user fix "in browser" fix, and we have 400 computers and 1000 users who move around.

Katie Wright said, on January 2, 2010 12:00 PM:

When i click an internet browser link it doesnt open the page i want it just opens http://results2.google.com/ in a new window. How can i prevent this feature?

Jack said, on January 31, 2010 8:01 AM:

cleared everything out and go to two regular sites you say, google.com and still have suggest now.

HELP PLEASE!

Jack said, on January 31, 2010 8:04 AM:

here you go, thisd works great now

Another solution is to bookmark or add as a homepage a modified version of Google's homepage that doesn't use Google Suggest. Here's the link:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 - no more Google Suggest

The "complete" parameter controls the status of Google Suggest. If you like the suggest feature and you want to see it in Google's search results pages, not just on the homepage, bookmark this URL:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1 - Google Suggest on all Google pages

natsumerio said, on September 9, 2010 10:35 AM:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0 STILL makes suggestions, & I even have web history cleared & paused too.

Psychsoftpc said, on September 11, 2010 4:45 AM:

Just an update on this. Google no longer allows you to turn suggestions off. they introed Google instant, which is even more annoying. you can turn this off, but are stuck with Google suggest. for those like me who prefer browser autocomplete which remembers what you actually searched for, making it easier to search for it again, this is particularly annoying.

mark said, on September 14, 2010 1:46 PM:

Thanks for the fix. I find google instant infuriating , and was in the process of uninstalling chrome / google and switching over to 8 / bing,

when will they learn!

Cheryl said, on September 17, 2010 8:35 PM:

OMG, you rock! I spent days trying to remove that annoying search suggest. If you actually search for a solution on Google, it tells you to go to your search history and "simply click Disable Search Customization." That button does not exist. It was so infuriating. Why couldn't they just tell us the way you did?

Thank you thank you thank you.

Alek F said, on September 25, 2010 3:34 PM:

Thanks, people, for the great posts!
I totally agree - this "search suggestion" option is very annoying and useless!!
Google messed-up big time. Shame on Google!!

idid already said, on November 25, 2010 9:35 PM:

Only way so far to stop this absolutely f@$*ed up virus search that we will be forced to take until they f*&% it up some more for all of us by adding another "feature" is search add-ons for firefox and get Adblock Pro (the stop sign one not plain adblock)after it is installed and firefox is restarted go and click on the top right hand corner stop sign (it says ABP across it) select preferences, select filters, select add filter.
then type or copy paste this:
clients1.google.com
into the box.
Then it's gone forever.

Stephanie Figueroa said, on December 7, 2010 2:49 PM:

How bout for Mac? It's annoying the hell outta of me >_< Helpppp!

Anonymous said, on March 9, 2011 4:59 PM:

If using Google:
1. Tools
2. Options
3. Location Bar
4. When using Location Bar:
the drop down click NOTHING option and you will no longer be bothered by annoying suggestions.

Rahul said, on August 14, 2011 12:01 PM:

hey go Google.com select search preference tab on right corner> disable prediction
k>
and clear your mozila firefox history and tell
me..............

minh D said, on August 27, 2011 8:52 PM:

Thanks VeronikaB! tried everything until i read your post,phew! i use http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0&hl=en as my default home page and bingo! it worked. How could something so simple be so complex????

amigo7 said, on December 21, 2012 4:15 PM:

Simply turn javascript off (in Opera: F12 and arrow keys allows you to do it quickly). This solution works fine for me and also prevents from displaying commercials and pop-ups and other spam-like content.

Alice Cornelios said, on May 15, 2013 11:46 PM:

Where to Start with my notion when everybody wants to get rid of Google suggest. I just wonder why do you have to remove it in the first place. Yes, it is a bit nuisance but it is much easier when google will already suggest the pattern of keyword you are going to search. Another important thing is when I try to remember a song and only part of the title I can remember Google does the rest for me. Google suggest have its disadvantages but it wont get in your way.

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

How do I disable Google Suggest?

Reader Comments To Date: 32

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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