How do I shut off autocomplete in the new Google?

August 9, 2011 5:01 PM

My old way of shutting off Google's autocomplete/suggest function doesn't seem to work anymore. Is there a new way to turn it off?

When Google began adding the suggestions that appear under the box as you type, I disliked it and sought a way to turn that feature off. I read somewhere at the time that using www.google.com/webhp?complete=0&hl=en as my google bookmark would do the trick, and it did, until last night it seems.

Now when I type in a search and hit enter, the screen changes for a second and then reverts back to the Google home page. If I actually push the "Google Search" button I do get results, but then if I try a new search from that results page, it gives the same set of results from my last search (whether I use the button or hit enter).

I have a Google+ account but this happens even when I'm not signed in. I'm using Firefox 5.0 in Windows 7.

Is there a way I can approximate my Google experience of last week, with no autocomplete or suggestions, just the Firefox listing of the searches it remembers?

posted by gubo to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Best answer: When you're signed in, click the little gear up on the right side of the black bar next to your email address. Scroll down to Google Instant and click "do not use Google Instant." That should take care of you while you're signed in. (Can't help you if you don't want to be signed in, though.)
posted by phunniemee at 5:15 PM on August 9, 2011

Response by poster: That seems to do the trick, phunniemee, thanks!
posted by gubo at 5:20 PM on August 9, 2011

you can also use the NoScript extension to disable google javascript.
However, if you have a google account, that's probably not desirable behavior.
posted by namewithoutwords at 6:18 AM on August 10, 2011