5 Ways to Disable Google's New Search UI Style
Don't like change? Where there's a will, there's a way.
Google recently changed the layout of its search page, adding a side panel with all of the different search options to the left hand side of results. While Google obviously likes the new layout and assumed everyone else would too, not everyone is digging this side panel. The search giant has already said it won't be offering a way for users to change back to the old, classic Google. That said, if you're dying to get your clean and clutter-free search results back, it is possible.
The first and easiest way, is to change your homepage to this:
http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all&tab=iw
This will bring you back to the Google you were used to seeing until last week came along and everything was ruined.
(via The Next Web)
This second way involves installing a greasemonkey script (located here). It's obviously not as easy as just bookmarking the link above but no one knows how permanent that solution is so if the quick and dirty way stops working, greasemonkey's got your back.
(Via LifeHacker)
There's another Greasemonkey script that will do the same job, it's called Google Classic. Again, not as easy as the first solution but it's probably more permanent.
If you're using Chrome, you can try installing the Hide Google Options add-on. There's also a similar add-on for Firefox users who don't want to go the Greasemonkey route and it can be found here.
(Via WebTrickz)
If you don't like any of the options listed above, you can take the lazy and annoying approach and join or create a group on Facebook. It's not a solution, but you'll get to have a good aul' moan and really, it's Monday, so whinging is mandatory. Just don't invite all your friends. You might feel like you're working toward a solution by doing that but I promise you, people will find it annoying.
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I think everyone thanks you for the great news, Jane!
Thx for the info. I do find the new Google layout very, very annoying.
I guess I am int he minority but I tend to embrace these kinds of changes. Even *GASP* a Facebook layout change...
change or no change, I still like Google.
Thanks i knew there would be a solution for this. I did it before when google rolled out the new iGoogle, i wish I could make this change for my IE8 google search provider does anybody know how?
Oh wow, I didn't even notice the new sidebar until this article just mentioned it. Apparently I am fail.
But, I guess it doesn't bother me.
I think everyone thanks you for the great news, Jane!
Here to serve!
The new google is horrible.
Haha.. The new layout does suck. Google should switch back. Why do companies always take something that's already the best thing and think that they have to improve it? Never found any flaws with the plane style.
Haha.. The new layout does suck. Google should switch back. Why do companies always take something that's already the best thing and think that they have to improve it? Never found any flaws with the plane style.
*plain style*
I have been using the Google (Complete) site http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en
it seems unaffected.
Thx for the info. Hide google options works like a charm.
Haha.. The new layout does suck. Google should switch back. Why do companies always take something that's already the best thing and think that they have to improve it? Never found any flaws with the plane style.
Yahoo said Google had to diversify more... I guess this is Google's response
Google annoying? Nah, can't be. This must be a first in world history.
You can get rid of all the crap they have on the page with adblock+ either using the element hiding helper or with these adblock+ rules:
google.com##DIV#leftnav
google.com##DIV#guser
google.com##DIV#gbar
google.com##A#logo
google.com##P#bfl
google.com##DIV#fll
Here's how it looks:
[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c224/kelemvor4/th_chromesux.jpg[/IMG]
Um...I was unaware that Google had changed there page and just went there to check it out...same page it has been...no side bars on anything else mentioned in this article. It actually is almost nothing but the search box like it has been for quite some time so what is this article talking about?
Edit: I clicked the link at the beginning of the article and the page they are showing there is not what I see at www.google.com and like I said it is the same page it has always been.
I kind of like the extra stuff out of the way.
there is an elegance to simplicity
I switched to Bing right after google changed and I like it better so far
There are people that don't like the new sidebar? Its been around for a while for their other searches (video, books, etc) and I always wondered why (and was annoyed that) they didn't have it for regular search. I often want to filter by date ranges.
I don't know why people call it iGoogle, does Apple have something similar? To me, it reminds me of how NewEgg's site has been for the last 4 years or so.
I like the convenience of refining your search, but it doesnt offer anything that my firefox with "Google Enhancer" add-on doesnt allow for. It even lets you search by file type.
I like the convenience of refining your search, but it doesnt offer anything that my firefox with "Google Enhancer" add-on doesnt allow for. It even lets you search by file type.
You can already search by file type with regular google (even before the update) using filetype
You can get rid of all the crap they have on the page with adblock+ either using the element hiding helper or with these adblock+ rules:google.com##DIV#leftnavgoogle.com##DIV#gusergoogle.com##DIV#gbargoogle.com##A#logogoogle.com##P#bflgoogle.com##DIV#fllHere's how it looks:[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c224/kelemvor4/th_chromesux.jpg[/IMG]
Yeah that works to remove the elements, but the main thing i have a problem with is how there is still so much white space to the left of all the search results. Need some way to remove that now
This is NOT a solution: it only sets your homepage so it only works the first time you perform a search. As soon as you do a second search it'll be back to the annoying sidebar version.
BTW: what were they thinking at google? Sure the extra menu could come in handy sometimes (if it actually contained useful options that is) but can't they at least give you the option to hide it, or better yet, hide it on default and only pop it out when the user requests it?
This is NOT a solution: it only sets your homepage so it only works the first time you perform a search. As soon as you do a second search it'll be back to the annoying sidebar version.
You could try any of the other solutions; those are a little more permanent.
You could try any of the other solutions; those are a little more permanent.
The hide google options add-on kinda works in Chrome, but it has one major flaw: you can't opt to show the options when you search for images, it works fine when looking on the web, but not for images.
Is there a way to shut down that annoying language selection pop-up on Tom's Hardware? I'd really like that (and no, English is not my native language).
Why don't these companies learn, if it aint broke don't fix it!...damn.
If you're like me and have Google set as my default search provider up in the address bar, you can set it to display your results in the old format...here's how:
1. Using the drop down arrow select "Find More Providers"
2. Scroll all the way down and click "Create your own Search Provider"
3. Open a tab/window and go to the old Google search http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all&tab=iw and follow the directions... search for TEST.
4. Paste the resulting URL, name it and you can add it as a Search Provider in IE8 at least.
Now when I search via the box it gives me results in the old format..thanks Jane you da man!..errr girl!
Well it seems to be the hl=all that really does it. I was trying to change the URL for my Google default address in IE in the registry and in the URL string I added the hl=all& after search? which took it back to classic view. Thanks for the info.