Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Not from the New Tab page itself, at least according to Google’s current desktop Chrome Help instructions (25 October 2026). Google documents how to open AI Mode from the New Tab page, but it does not document a user-facing switch that removes that entry. You can hide AI Mode from the address bar, or turn off the separate AI Mode experiment in Search Labs if you opted into it. Those controls affect different surfaces, so disabling one does not automatically remove the New Tab page entry.

What can you turn off in Chrome, and where?

Chrome now exposes several AI-related controls that look similar but govern different parts of the browser. Identify the location first; otherwise you may change a setting without affecting the button you are trying to remove.

Where you see AI Mode Available control What it changes Who controls it
New Tab page search box No documented personal off switch Google’s desktop instructions do not describe removing the entry Google’s rollout and, in managed environments, an administrator policy
Address bar Right-click the bar and clear Always show AI Mode Hides AI Mode and Add tabs and more in the address bar Individual user, unless browser policy is enforcing a configuration
Search Labs experiment Search Labs > Manage > turn off AI Mode Turns off the experimental Search feature for an opted-in account Individual Google Account user
Managed Chrome integrations Google AI Mode integrations policy Can control integrations in the address bar and New Tab page search box Employer or school administrator; applies when Chrome is the default search engine

Can you remove AI Mode from Chrome’s New Tab page?

Google does not currently document a New Tab page removal switch for individual desktop users. The current Chrome Help page explains how to open AI Mode from the New Tab page, but it does not provide a setting, menu command, or preference for deleting that entry. That means the presence of the New Tab control is not evidence that a corresponding “turn off” option exists in Chrome’s normal settings.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Do not treat the address-bar preference as a workaround for the New Tab page. Clearing Always show AI Mode changes only the address bar, and Google’s Search Labs instructions describe managing an experiment rather than removing a Chrome New Tab element. Neither action is documented as suppressing the New Tab page search entry.

#1 Best Overall
HP 14" HD Chromebook Laptop for Students, Intel Quad-Core N4120(> N4020), 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, WiFi, Webcam, HDMI, USB-A&C, 14 Hours Battery Life, Zoom, Chrome OS, CUE Accessories
  • Intel Celeron N4120: 4 Cores & Threads, 1.1GHz Base Clock, Up to 2.6GHz Boost Clock, 4MB Cache, Intel UHD Graphics 600. The perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and value helps your device handle multitasking smoothly and reliably with four processing cores to divide up the work.

If your goal is simply to avoid using the feature, leave the New Tab control untouched and use the ordinary search field or your preferred navigation method. If your goal is to remove a visible button for every person using a managed computer, the administrator-policy route described below is the only documented control that explicitly includes the New Tab page search box.

How do I hide AI Mode from Chrome’s address bar?

Use the address bar’s context menu. This is the direct personal setting for the AI Mode button shown in the bar at the top of a desktop Chrome window.

  1. Open Chrome on your computer.
  2. Right-click inside the address bar (the field where you type a web address or search).
  3. Find Always show AI Mode in the context menu.
  4. Click it so the check mark is removed.

Google says this setting hides AI Mode and Add tabs and more from the address bar. It does not claim to remove the AI Mode entry from the New Tab page, alter the Search Labs experiment, or change your search provider. If the item is already unchecked, the address-bar control is not what is keeping a button visible elsewhere.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

To restore the address-bar controls, repeat the same process and select Always show AI Mode again. A policy set by an organization may make the menu item unavailable or may reapply a managed preference after you change it.

How do I turn off the AI Mode Search Labs experiment?

Search Labs provides a separate account-level toggle for people who opted into the experiment. Google’s instructions use the following path on a computer:

  1. Sign in to the Google Account that joined the experiment.
  2. Open a new tab in Chrome.
  3. Click Search Labs.
  4. Choose Manage.
  5. Toggle AI Mode off.

This turns off the Search Labs experiment associated with that account. Google’s wording does not say that it removes the Chrome New Tab page entry, so check the location of the control before judging the result. If the New Tab page still shows an AI Mode entry afterward, that is consistent with the two settings governing different surfaces.

Google also warns that Search service settings are being updated. Labels, placement, or the exact management screen can therefore differ from the sequence above. The Search Labs article applies to users who opted into the experiment; someone who never joined it may not see an AI Mode toggle there.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Can an employer or school administrator remove AI Mode?

Administrators have a policy-based option that individual users do not. Chrome Enterprise documentation describes a Google AI Mode integrations policy covering integrations in both the address bar and the New Tab page search box. The policy applies only when Chrome is configured to use Google as its default search engine.

Rank #3
ASUS 2026 15" FHD IPS Chromebook, Intel Processor Up to 2.80GHz, 4GB DDR4, 128GB Storage, HDMI, Super-Fast WiFi, Chrome OS, Pastel Silver (Renewed)
  • Intel Processor Up to 2.80GHz, 4GB DDR4, 128GB Storage
  • 15" FHD IPS Display, Intel UHD Graphics
  • 1x USB Type C, 1 x USB Type A, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, HDMI
  • Fast WiFi and Bluetooth, Integrated Webcam
  • Chrome OS, AC Charger Included, Pastel Silver

On a managed computer, the browser may show a “managed by your organization” notice, disable a local control, or restore a setting after you change it. The practical contact is your IT administrator: explain whether the unwanted entry is in the New Tab page search box, the address bar, or both. Those locations matter because the policy and the visible behavior may be configured separately.

Home users generally cannot reproduce an administrator policy through Chrome’s ordinary settings. Avoid registry edits, renamed profile files, or unofficial policy templates unless your organization’s administrator provides them; Google’s documented user path is the address-bar menu, while policy configuration belongs to the administrator.

Why is the AI Mode control missing on my computer?

Google says Chrome AI Mode is not available to everyone or on every device. The feature is rolling out gradually beyond the United States and to additional non-English languages, so two otherwise similar Chrome installations can show different controls.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
  • Your Google Account may not be included in the current rollout.
  • Your device or Chrome channel may not yet support the feature.
  • Your language or region may be outside the active availability range.
  • An administrator may be controlling the integration.
  • The Search Labs experiment may not be enabled for your account.

A missing Always show AI Mode item does not prove that Chrome is malfunctioning; it can mean that AI Mode is unavailable or that policy controls the interface. Conversely, seeing the New Tab entry does not guarantee that Search Labs will display a matching toggle.

Rank #4
Sale
Lenovo Chromebook 2-in-1 - Lightweight Laptop - Google Gemini - Intel® N150 CPU - 14" WUXGA IPS Touchscreen Display - 4GB RAM - 128GB UFS Storage - Integrated Intel® Graphics - Luna Grey
  • THE BETTER WAY TO LAPTOP – Imagine a Chromebook that’s as flexible as your day: thin and lightweight with built-in Google apps and stress-free security.
  • TAKE HITS KEEP MOVING – Sleek, light, and built to last- the Chromebook 2-in-1 is just 0.69” thick and 3.3lbs. Enjoy long-lasting battery life, fast charging, and military-grade durability for nonstop productivity wherever life takes you.
  • PERFORMANCE THAT MATCHES YOUR HUSTLE – Fuel your ideas with an Intel Core processor and 128GB storage. Boot up in under 10 seconds to start the day powerfully efficient.
  • FLEX YOUR CREATIVITY ANYWHERE, ANYTIME – Create, work, or unwind your way with a versatile 2-in-1 design. Flip easily between laptop, tent, and tablet modes with a responsive touchscreen built for flexibility.
  • BRILLIANT VIEWS AND IMMERSIVE AUDIO – See, hear, and create with awesome clarity. The WUXGA display brings rich detail to your work and play, while audio tuned by Waves MaxxAudio provides immersive, balanced sound.

What should I do when the setting does not change the button I see?

Use the visible location as a decision tree rather than trying every AI preference in sequence.

  1. Button in the New Tab page search box: Google’s current desktop instructions do not provide an individual off switch. Check whether the browser is managed; otherwise there is no documented personal removal step.
  2. Button or label in the address bar: Right-click the bar and clear Always show AI Mode. This is the setting designed for that surface.
  3. Feature enabled through Search Labs: Open Search Labs, select Manage, and turn off AI Mode while signed in to the account that opted in.
  4. Control unavailable or forced back on: Check for an organization-management notice and ask the administrator whether the Google AI Mode integrations policy is active.

After changing a setting, open a fresh tab or restart Chrome so you are checking the same surface under the updated session. If only the New Tab entry remains, that result does not show that the address-bar or Search Labs change failed; it shows that the New Tab page control is separate.

Does turning off Gemini’s icon hide New Tab AI Mode?

No documented connection exists between those controls. Google’s Gemini in Chrome help covers visibility preferences for the Gemini icon, while the New Tab page AI Mode entry is described in separate Chrome and Search documentation. Hiding a Gemini icon should therefore not be presented as a method for removing AI Mode from the New Tab page.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

When troubleshooting, name the icon or label exactly as it appears and record its location. “Gemini,” “AI Mode,” and “Add tabs and more” can refer to different interface elements with different settings.

Best Value
HP Chromebook 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4120, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB eMMC, 14" HD Display, Chrome OS, Thin Design, 4K Graphics, Long Battery Life, Ash Gray Keyboard (14a-na0226nr, 2022, Mineral Silver)
  • FOR HOME, WORK, & SCHOOL – With an Intel processor, 14-inch display, custom-tuned stereo speakers, and long battery life, this Chromebook laptop lets you knock out any assignment or binge-watch your favorite shows..Voltage:5.0 volts
  • HD DISPLAY, PORTABLE DESIGN – See every bit of detail on this micro-edge, anti-glare, 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display (1); easily take this thin and lightweight laptop PC from room to room, on trips, or in a backpack.
  • ALL-DAY PERFORMANCE – Reliably tackle all your assignments at once with the quad-core, Intel Celeron N4120—the perfect processor for performance, power consumption, and value (2).
  • 4K READY – Smoothly stream 4K content and play your favorite next-gen games with Intel UHD Graphics 600 (3) (4).
  • MEMORY AND STORAGE – Enjoy a boost to your system’s performance with 4 GB of RAM while saving more of your favorite memories with 64 GB of reliable flash-based eMMC storage (5).
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Will Google add a New Tab page off switch later?

Google’s interfaces are changing as Search settings are updated and AI Mode expands to more devices, regions, and languages. The absence of a documented switch on 25 October 2026 is not a promise that the design will never change; it means the current official instructions do not offer one.

If a future Chrome Help page adds a New Tab preference, it should identify the setting by its exact label and location. Until then, use the address-bar preference only for the address bar, Search Labs only for the experiment, and administrator policy only for managed integrations.

What is the practical answer for your situation?

  • You want the New Tab page entry gone: There is no documented personal off switch in the current desktop guidance.
  • You want the address-bar AI button gone: Right-click the address bar and unselect Always show AI Mode.
  • You joined AI Mode through Search Labs: Sign in, open a new tab, choose Search Labs, select Manage, and turn the experiment off.
  • You use a work or school browser: Ask the administrator about the Google AI Mode integrations policy, which applies when Google is Chrome’s default search engine.
  • You cannot find any control: Availability is still being rolled out, and controls can differ by device, region, language, account, and management status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Search Labs change my default search engine?

Google’s Search Labs instructions describe turning an experiment on or off; they do not state that this toggle changes Chrome’s default search engine. Default-search configuration is a separate browser or administrator setting.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Why did the “Add tabs and more” option disappear with AI Mode?

Google groups those two address-bar items under the same Always show AI Mode preference. Clearing it can therefore hide both labels together, even though the New Tab page has its own separate entry.

Why can a friend see an AI Mode switch when I cannot?

Google is releasing Chrome AI Mode gradually across devices, regions, and languages. Account eligibility, rollout timing, and organization policies can all produce different menus on otherwise similar computers.

Is the New Tab AI Mode setting the same on phones and computers?

The documented instructions discussed here are for desktop Chrome. Google says availability varies by device, so you should not assume that a desktop control or its absence describes Chrome on a phone or tablet.

What if Search Labs has no AI Mode item at all?

The Search Labs instructions apply to people who opted into the experiment. If the account was never enrolled, the feature is not available in that rollout, or an administrator controls it, the management item may not appear.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.