The Cluttered Omnibox
When you type a query into the Google Chrome address bar (the Omnibox) and press Enter, Chrome normally takes you directly to a standard Google Search results page. However, Chrome occasionally tests and rolls out experimental UI features, such as “Journeys” or grouped search histories. Instead of a clean list of links, Chrome might automatically group your search results into cards or categorized clusters based on your recent browsing history regarding that topic. For users who prefer a straightforward, chronological, and un-curated list of raw search results, this automatic grouping feels intrusive and cluttered.
Disabling History Journeys in Chrome
To stop Google Chrome from automatically grouping your search results and history queries into categorized clusters, you need to disable the Journeys feature within the browser’s settings.
Open Google Chrome. Click the three vertical dots (menu icon) in the top right corner and select Settings. In the left-hand navigation pane, click on You and Google. Look for the section labeled Sync and Google services. Scroll down until you find the option labeled Show Journeys on the History page (or similar phrasing depending on your Chrome version). Toggle this switch to the Off position. If you are experiencing this grouping directly on the Google Search webpage rather than within Chrome’s UI, the grouping is a server-side Google Search feature, not a browser feature. In that case, you cannot disable it via Chrome settings; you must rely on third-party extensions that force classic Google Search layouts, or append `&udm=14` to your search queries to force the “Web” only view, stripping away AI overviews and complex grouping cards.