How to Make Google Default to the “&udm=14” Web-Only Filter on Desktop, iPhone, and Android

Tired of scrolling past AI Overviews, video carousels, and shopping boxes just to find a plain old link? Adding &udm=14 to a Google search URL appears to switch you to Google’s stripped-down Web tab, based on current observed behavior. Google doesn’t officially document this parameter, so there’s no guarantee it will keep working exactly this way in the future.

On desktop, you can make it permanent by adding a custom search engine in Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Firefox. On iPhone and Android, you’ll need a workaround instead. Once it’s set up, pair it with our guide on How to Block Websites from Google Search Results (2026 Guide).

Quick Reference: Google udm=14 Web-Only Search Default by Platform

Here’s the short version before we get into the clicks.

Platform	Browser or App	Method	Permanent Default?
Windows / macOS	Chrome	Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search > Add	Yes
Windows / macOS	Edge	Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search	Yes
Windows / macOS	Brave	Chromium-style search engine settings (labels may vary)	Yes
Windows / macOS	Firefox	Settings > Search > Search Shortcuts > Add	Yes
iPhone / iPad	Safari	Apple Shortcuts app workaround	No (one-tap substitute)
Android	Chrome	Bookmark or automation app workaround	No

One important catch: based on how custom search engines work in these browsers, the desktop trick is expected to only affect searches you type into the address bar. If you go to google.com and type into the search box on the page, you’ll likely still get the regular cluttered results, so it helps to build the habit of searching from the address bar instead.

What Does Google udm=14 Actually Do?

Think of udm=14 as a filter you add to the end of a Google web address. Based on current, widely observed behavior rather than official Google documentation, it tells Google to show the Web tab instead of the usual All tab. It’s the same thing you’d see if you clicked Web under the search box yourself, and it just saves you that click on every single search.

Here’s what the Web tab usually hides, though the exact mix varies by query, region, and account:

• AI Overviews: The AI summary box at the top is usually gone for most queries.
• Knowledge Panels: Those info cards on the side of the page disappear.
• Carousels and modules: Videos, Images, News, Shopping, and similar “vertical” result types are hidden.
• What you get instead: A more traditional list of blue links to actual websites.

Exactly which elements disappear can vary by query, region, and your own Google account settings, since Google hasn’t published official documentation describing this behavior. Treat the list above as a general pattern rather than a guarantee.

Now the honest part. This is “less clutter,” not “zero clutter.” Ads, sitelinks, and some enhanced results can still show up, and this can vary from search to search. You’ll also lose quick-answer boxes you might actually like, such as a weather card or a sports score. If you also want certain spammy sites gone for good, that’s a separate step, which we cover below and in our guide to blocking websites from Google Search results.

Here’s the URL you’ll paste in every desktop browser below. Chrome documents the %s placeholder for custom search engines, and your browser swaps it in for whatever you type.

Google doesn’t publish official documentation confirming that udm=14 will always work with this exact URL format, so it’s worth testing the result right after you set it up and rechecking occasionally in case it changes.

https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• A current version of Chrome, Edge, Brave, or Firefox on a Windows PC or Mac
• For iPhone or iPad: the Shortcuts app (it comes with iOS and iPadOS, and you can reinstall it from the App Store if you deleted it)
• For Android: a browser you’re comfortable with, plus a way to save bookmarks
• About 5 minutes per browser

The built-in browser methods typically don’t require an account, download, or payment, though this can depend on your specific browser version or any organization-managed settings on your device.

The settings paths are generally similar on Windows and macOS since these are browser-level settings rather than operating-system settings. That said, exact menu names and locations can shift between browser versions, so use the closest matching option if yours looks a little different.

Method 1: Make udm=14 the Default in Google Chrome

Google’s own help page on setting a default search engine and site search shortcuts covers the basics. Here’s how to apply it to the Web-only filter.

On Windows

Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome, then click Settings.

On macOS

Click Chrome in the menu bar at the top of the screen and choose Settings. You can also press Cmd + , instead.

Step 1: Open the Search Engine Settings

In the left sidebar, click Search engine. You can also paste chrome://settings/search into the address bar and press Enter.

Expected result: You’ll see the default search engine dropdown and a link called Manage search engines and site search.

Step 2: Open Manage Search Engines and Site Search

Click Manage search engines and site search. Scroll down to the Site search section and click Add.

Step 3: Fill In the Google Web Entry

Fill in the three boxes like this:

• Name: Google Web
• Shortcut: gweb (anything short works)
• URL with %s in place of query: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14

Click Add.

Expected result: “Google Web” now appears in your Site search list.

Step 4: Make It the Default

Click the three-dot icon next to your new Google Web entry and choose Make default.

Expected result: Google Web moves up into the main search engines list as your default. Type something in the address bar and press Enter. The address should end in &udm=14, and the Web tab should be active.

Method 2: Make udm=14 the Default in Microsoft Edge

Edge works a lot like Chrome (they’re cousins under the hood), but the menu lives in a different spot. Microsoft’s Change your default search engine page is the official reference, though menu names and options can shift between Edge versions, so look for the closest match if a step doesn’t line up exactly.

Step 1: Do One Quick Google Search

Edge sometimes only lists a search engine after you’ve used it. Type google.com in the address bar, open it, and search for anything.

Step 2: Open Address Bar and Search Settings

Click the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search. On a Mac, you can also use Microsoft Edge > Settings in the menu bar.

Step 3: Add the Google Web Engine

Click Manage search engines, then click Add. Enter Google Web as the name, a shortcut like gweb, and the URL https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14. Save it.

Step 4: Set It as the Default

Go back to Address bar and search and choose Google Web from the Search engine used in the address bar dropdown. You can also use the entry’s three-dot menu and pick Make default if you see that option.

Expected result: Address bar searches now open Google with &udm=14 at the end.

Method 3: Make udm=14 the Default in Brave

Brave is built on the same foundation as Chrome, so the steps are nearly identical. Brave doesn’t have an official support page that confirms its current labels, though, so the wording and exact menu locations might differ in your version.

• Click the menu (three lines) > Settings, then find the Search engine section. You can also try pasting brave://settings/search into the address bar.
• Look for Manage search engines and site search (or a similar option) and click Add under Site search.
• Enter Google Web, a shortcut like gweb, and https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14.
• Use the entry’s three-dot menu to choose Make default.

Expected result: Searching from the address bar sends you to Google’s Web tab.

Method 4: Make udm=14 the Default in Firefox

Mozilla covers this in Add a custom search engine in Firefox and Change your default search settings. Firefox updates often, so if a button name looks a little different, look for the closest match.

Step 1: Open Firefox’s Search Settings

Click the menu (three lines) > Settings > Search. Or paste about:preferences#search into the address bar. On a Mac, Cmd + , opens Settings too.

Step 2: Add a Search Shortcut

Scroll to Search Shortcuts and click Add. Fill it in:

• Search engine name: Google Web
• URL with %s in place of search term: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14
• Keyword (optional): @gweb

Click Add Engine.

Step 3: Choose It as Your Default

Scroll back up to Default Search Engine and pick Google Web from the dropdown.

Expected result: Searches you type into Firefox’s address bar now open Google’s Web tab.

Method 5: Get a udm=14 Search on iPhone and iPad

Here’s the bad news. Safari’s built-in settings on iPhone and iPad only let you choose from a fixed list of search engines, so you can’t enter a custom udm=14 URL there. Some third-party Safari extensions on the App Store say they can redirect searches to custom URLs, but we haven’t tested them, so check their permissions and reviews first.

The good news is that a simple Apple Shortcut can give you a one-tap Web-only search without any extra apps.

This workflow isn’t an officially documented Apple workaround, so action names and exact steps may shift between iOS and iPadOS versions — treat it as a helpful starting point rather than a guaranteed recipe. It’s a substitute, not a real setting change, but it works nicely from a Home Screen icon.

On iOS and iPadOS

• Open the Shortcuts app and tap the + button to create a new shortcut.
• Tap Add Action, search for Ask for Input, and add it. Set the input type to Text and type a prompt like “Search Google Web.”
• Add a URL action. Type https://www.google.com/search?q=, insert the Provided Input variable, then type &udm=14 right after it.
• Add an Open URLs action.
• Rename the shortcut “Google Web” and tap Done.

If your searches include characters like &, #, or ?, add a URL Encode action right after Ask for Input and insert its output into the URL instead of Provided Input. That keeps those characters from breaking the search address.

Action names can shift a bit between iOS versions, so pick the closest match if something looks different.

Expected result: Run the shortcut, type your search, and Safari opens Google’s Web tab. To make it faster, add it to your Home Screen from the shortcut’s share menu, add a Shortcuts widget, or ask Siri to run “Google Web.” (It’s especially handy if you use an iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard.)

Method 6: Get a udm=14 Search on Android

There’s no confirmed built-in way to add a custom site search in Chrome for Android the way you can on desktop, based on currently available documentation. So, like the iPhone, Android needs a workaround.

On Android

• Bookmark Trick: Save a bookmark to https://www.google.com/search?q=test&udm=14. When you open it, tap the search box on the results page, swap “test” for your real query, and search. Google usually keeps you on the Web tab, but double-check the tab is still selected.
• Automation App: Some shortcut and automation apps can ask for text and open https://www.google.com/search?q=YOUR-SEARCH&udm=14 with your words inserted. Make sure the app URL-encodes your text (spaces become + or %20), or characters like & can cut your query short. It’s the closest thing to the iPhone Shortcut.
• Try Another Browser: Some third-party Android browsers support custom search engines. Look for Search engines or Default search engine in that browser’s settings and paste in the same %s URL from earlier.

Bonus: Block Annoying Websites From Your Results

The udm=14 trick changes which kind of results you see, not which websites show up. If certain content farms or sites keep popping up, you have two easy options.

• Use the -site: Operator: Add a minus sign and the site to your search. This is a widely used technique that generally works, though Google doesn’t officially document its exact current behavior, so results can vary. It’s manual, but it needs zero setup.

budget laptops -site:example.com

• Use uBlacklist: This browser extension keeps a block list of domains and hides matching sites from your Google results, though how well it works can depend on your browser and the permissions you grant it. We’re keeping this brief since its current version and pricing weren’t verified, so check its store listing before you install.

For a full walkthrough, see How to Block Websites from Google Search Results (2026 Guide).

Configuration: Settings Worth Knowing

• Site Search / Search Shortcut URL: This is the template each browser saves (https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14). It isn’t there by default, so you have to add it yourself. Since Google doesn’t officially document udm=14, keep an eye out in case the URL needs updating later.
• Default Search Engine: This setting decides what runs when you type in the address bar. It’s usually standard Google, not the Web-only version.
• Keep Regular Google as a Shortcut: Don’t delete the normal Google entry. Its shortcut (often google.com) lets you pull up the All tab when you want maps or a weather card.
• Optional udm14 Extensions: Some Chrome Web Store extensions, like this udm14 listing, add udm=14 automatically. They’re convenient, but you’re trusting a third party with browser permissions.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Problem: Chrome won’t save the custom search engine

• Make sure the URL starts with https://.
• Confirm it includes %s exactly once.
• Make sure you clicked Add next to Site search, not some other box.

Problem: Edge doesn’t show an Add option or your engine

• Search once using Google in the address bar.
• Reopen Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search.
• Your engine should now appear so you can select or edit it.

Problem: I still see ads or extra boxes

That’s expected, and it can vary by search. The Web tab tends to reduce clutter, but it doesn’t reliably remove ads, sitelinks, or every enhanced result. Add -site: operators or uBlacklist for more cleanup.

Problem: Searches on google.com still look cluttered

This is expected because custom search engines in these browsers are generally tied to the address bar, not Google’s own on-page search box. Get into the habit of typing searches there instead of on Google’s homepage.

Problem: It doesn’t work in Safari or mobile Chrome

Safari and Chrome on mobile don’t offer a custom search URL option in their built-in settings. Use the Shortcut on iPhone and iPad, or a bookmark, automation app, or a third-party browser that supports custom engines on Android.

• Quick One-Off Switch: On any device, just tap Web under Google’s search box. Sometimes it’s not even under the first row of tabs, so check More.

Wrapping Up

Making Google default to the Web tab takes about five minutes per desktop browser, and it makes everyday searches feel a lot calmer. Phones are the weak spot. You’ll need a Shortcut or bookmark there, and it’s still not a true default.

Honestly, this is the best fix we have until Google adds a real “Web only” setting (don’t hold your breath). Pair it with a domain block list, and your search results start to look like the good old days again.

Step	Action	Applies To
1	Add https://www.google.com/search?q=%s&udm=14 as a custom engine	Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox
2	Set it as the default search engine	Chrome, Edge, Brave, Firefox
3	Build an Ask for Input > URL > Open URLs Shortcut	iPhone, iPad
4	Use a bookmark, automation app, or alternate browser	Android
5	Block domains with -site: or uBlacklist	All platforms

Resources

• Set default search engine and site search shortcuts (Chrome Help)
• Change your default search engine (Microsoft Edge support)
• Add a custom search engine in Firefox (Mozilla Support)
• Change your default search settings in Firefox (Mozilla Support)