Turn Off YouTube AI Summary on Any Device

You open a YouTube video expecting to watch it your way, and suddenly there is an AI-generated summary, key points, or an ask about this video chat panel telling you what happens before you even press play. If that feels distracting, spoiler-heavy, or just not something you asked for, I’ll show you how to turn it off, or at least reduce it, on web, iPhone, Android, and with browser extensions.

This guide is built for the messy reality: what people call a “YouTube AI Summary” can be a native YouTube experiment, an AI chat experience, or a third-party summarizer that injects itself into the watch page. The steps below help you identify which one you are seeing and remove it without accidentally breaking your recommendations, your workflow, or your device settings.

What is “YouTube AI Summary”?

When people search “youtube turn off ai summary,” they are usually dealing with one of three things:

• Native YouTube AI summaries: Experimental or rolling features inside the YouTube app or YouTube.com that add AI-generated summary panels or “key points” style sections near the video details.
• AI chat or “ask about this video” experiences: Q-and-A style panels that use a mix of the transcript and video metadata to answer questions or generate takeaways.
• Third-party AI summarizers running on top of YouTube: Browser extensions and external tools that summarize a YouTube link by extracting the transcript and then generating a summary, often with timestamps, chapters, and structured sections. Examples you may run into include tools and services such as Memories.ai, NoteGPT, Eightify, Decopy.ai, and Notta, plus exports into Notion, Markdown, or plain text workflows.

Why you may want to disable summaries

• Avoid spoilers and force full-context viewing: Summaries can flatten nuance, which matters for legal, medical, financial, or technical content where the details and framing are the point.
• Reduce distractions, especially on mobile: YouTube is heavily mobile-first, and Shorts are designed to reach the 70-plus percent of YouTube users who scroll on phones. Extra AI panels add more places to tap, skim, and abandon the video.
• Privacy and data signal concerns: AI-driven features rely on signals. YouTube’s 2026 strategy places AI at the centre of moderation, monetisation, and audience experience, including identity and verification experiments. Dig.watch has reported on creator protection experiments involving likeness detection, which can require government-issued identification and a biometric reference video for enrollment. That is separate from summaries, but it is part of the broader expansion of AI surfaces on the platform.
• Accuracy concerns: Many summarizers sound confident even when they miss context, struggle with accents, or misread speaking styles.

Reality check before you start

• Some AI summary features are A-and-B tests, region-limited, account-limited, or Premium-labs-only, so the toggle name may differ or not exist on your account.
• You can usually disable third-party summaries completely. Native YouTube summaries may be only reducible through experimental toggles, personalization controls, or UI workarounds.

Prerequisites and tools needed

Before you start changing settings, make sure you have what you need so you do not waste time chasing missing menus.

Accounts, access, and permissions

• A Google account signed in to YouTube (needed for account-level toggles)
• A device you can unlock, with OS permissions to change app settings
• Admin permission to remove or disable browser extensions (work or school devices may block this)
• Optional: YouTube Premium access, because some “try new features” options are Premium-only depending on rollout

Devices and software

Desktop

• A modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari)
• Access to your extension manager, since many summary tools inject directly into YouTube watch pages

Mobile

• The YouTube app installed (Android or iOS)
• Optional: a mobile browser that supports extensions, since some ecosystems allow add-ons that modify YouTube

Diagnostic items for stubborn cases

• Stable internet so settings pages load reliably
• Ability to restart the app or browser, since many feature flags apply after restart
• Optional: an incognito or private window to compare signed-in versus signed-out behavior
• Optional: a screenshot or short screen recording to document exactly what you are seeing

Time and difficulty planning

• Identify summary source (native vs third-party): 2 to 5 minutes
• Disable a native YouTube experiment (if available): 2 to 10 minutes
• Remove a browser extension or connected tool: 3 to 8 minutes
• Clear site data, restart, verify: 3 to 10 minutes

Step-by-step: How to turn off YouTube AI Summary

Step-by-step

1

🔎
Identify what “AI Summary” you are seeing

Time: 2 to 5 minutes

Do this first. If you remove the wrong thing, you may lose useful tools or disrupt recommendations without fixing the summary panel.

Start by checking where the summary appears:

• On the YouTube watch page near the title or description
• In search results or “Up next”
• In a sidebar or popup that looks like an add-on
• On a separate website where you pasted a YouTube link

Next, use a private or incognito window:

• If the summary disappears when signed out, it is more likely an account-based YouTube feature or personalization-driven.

Then compare devices:

• If it only appears on desktop but not your phone, it may be a browser extension.
• If it only appears in the app but not on YouTube.com, it may be an app-only experiment or OS-level overlay.

Common third-party summarizer signals include:

• They extract transcripts and then summarize the main points.
• They provide timestamps or chapter markers so you can jump to sections.
• They output structured breakdowns and “key takeaways.”
• Some claim results in under 30 seconds, especially when transcripts are readily available.
• They offer export formats like Markdown or plain text, and integrations for note workflows.

Quick checks:

• Look at your browser toolbar for an extension icon that activates on YouTube.
• On mobile, look for bubbles or overlays similar to picture-in-picture, or any app that can “draw over other apps.”

Finally, take one screenshot so you can confirm later whether you actually removed the right thing.

2

⬆️
Update YouTube and your browser (so menus match current rollouts)

Time: 3 to 8 minutes

Feature toggles move during rollouts. Updating prevents you from hunting for a setting that has changed names or location.

• Update the YouTube app from the iOS App Store or Google Play.
• Update your browser on desktop and mobile.
• Restart the device, or at least fully close and reopen YouTube, to re-register feature flags.

Also confirm you are on the right surface:

• YouTube app versus mobile browser versus YouTube.com desktop
• The correct signed-in account, especially if you manage multiple channels or brands

If you are on a managed enterprise or school device, note that policy may force extensions, prevent uninstalling add-ons, or enforce certain AI tooling.

3

🧪
Turn off YouTube experimental AI features (if your account has the toggle)

Time: 2 to 10 minutes

If your AI summary is a native YouTube experiment, this is the cleanest fix.

In YouTube, look for feature testing controls. The names vary, but they are commonly under:

• Settings
• General
• Try new features
• Experimental features (often tied to Premium experiments)

Look for toggles referencing:

• AI summaries
• AI insights
• AI chat, conversation, or chat-with-video
• “Ask” about a video
• Automatically generated “key points”

If you see multiple AI-related toggles, disable them one-by-one and retest after each change.

After toggling off:

• On mobile: force close YouTube, then reopen it.
• On desktop: refresh YouTube.com and reopen the same video.

Validate the result:

• Test a second video so you know it is not video-specific.
• Optionally test on a second network if you suspect caching.

If no toggle exists, assume the feature is not available for your account or region, or it is controlled server-side. Continue to the next steps.

4

⚙️
Reduce native AI panels using personalization and history controls (workaround)

Time: 4 to 10 minutes

This step is a workaround when YouTube does not offer a direct off switch.

Go to YouTube Settings, then look for:

• History and privacy
• Manage all history (often links into Google account activity controls)

Adjust signals that feed personalization features:

• Pause watch history
• Pause search history

If you suspect the summary is repeatedly triggered by a specific topic cluster, clear recent watch and search history, then retest.

Least disruptive approach: Pause history temporarily for testing, then re-enable it if it does not help. Pausing history can degrade recommendations and “continue watching.”

Keep expectations realistic: YouTube’s 2026 strategy places AI at the centre of the audience experience, so some AI-driven UI elements may persist even with reduced personalization.

Privacy context if you are evaluating AI expansion: YouTube has announced experiments in creator protection that can require government-issued identification and a biometric reference video for likeness detection enrollment. That is separate from summaries, but it reflects how central AI features are becoming.

5

🧩
Disable or remove AI summarizer browser extensions

Time: 3 to 8 minutes

Extensions can inject UI that looks native. Always test in an incognito window with extensions disabled if your browser supports that mode.

Open your extension manager:

• Chrome or Edge: the Extensions management page
• Firefox: Add-ons and themes
• Safari: Extensions settings

Identify extensions that do things like:

• “Summarize this video”
• “Key takeaways”
• “AI notes”
• Transcript plus bullet summary
• Sidebar summaries with timestamps and chapters

Best practice:

• Disable the suspected extension first so you can roll back quickly.
• Hard refresh YouTube, then reopen the watch page.
• If confirmed, uninstall the extension and restart the browser.

Check extension permissions:

• If an extension runs on “All sites” or specifically on youtube.com, restrict its site access to “On click” if you want to keep it without auto-summaries.

Verify:

• Load the same video in a normal window after disabling.
• Compare with a private window as a control.

Managed device note: If your device is policy-managed, you may need IT to remove forced extensions. Document the extension name, version, and any policy hints you see.

6

🔌
Turn off external AI summary tools connected to your workflow

Time: 5 to 12 minutes

If you use link-based summarizers, the summary might not be “on YouTube” at all. It might be generated when you paste a URL into a tool, then exported into your notes.

Identify whether you are using a tool where you paste a YouTube URL to generate:

• Summaries
• Timestamps
• Chapters
• Structured notes

Then check the tool’s account settings:

• Revoke integrations if present, especially exports to Notion, Markdown, or plain text workflows that can propagate summaries into shared workspaces.
• Look for auto-save or “memory storage” features. Some platforms store transcripts or summaries only if you opt in, but you should verify your save settings.
• Confirm transcript language settings. Misconfigured language can produce low-quality summaries that look like “YouTube AI errors.”

If the tool offers “chat with video,” disable it if you only want transcripts.

If you share summaries with a team, audit who has access to the workspace or export destination.

7

📱
Remove mobile overlays and accessibility-driven summary widgets (Android and iOS)

Time: 4 to 10 minutes

If the summary appears as a floating bubble, overlay, or persistent widget, it may be OS-level or a third-party app.

First, identify whether it looks like an overlay rather than a YouTube panel.

On Android:

• Check “display over other apps” permissions for any app that could generate summaries.
• Review Accessibility services for apps with broad screen-reading permissions.
• Disable the suspected service and restart YouTube.

On iOS:

• Check Settings for installed keyboard components or extensions and disable what you do not need.

Also check behavior when sharing:

• If the Share sheet shows “summarize” destinations, remove or disable them.

Retest:

• Reboot the phone to clear stuck overlays.
• Force close YouTube, then reopen for a clean session.

Only turn off what you recognize. Accessibility services can be critical for legitimate needs.

8

🧾
Verify the summary is off (and lock in your preferred viewing experience)

Time: 3 to 7 minutes

Verification should be repeatable so you do not mistake caching for a real fix.

Test at least three videos:

• One short video
• One long-form video
• One older upload (to avoid “new UI” bias)

Test in two contexts:

• Signed in
• Signed out, or incognito

If the summary is gone:

• Note what fixed it, such as the toggle you changed or the extension you removed.
• Avoid re-enabling “try new features” without checking AI-related toggles.

Creator note (if you are worried summaries reduce watch time): retention and session strategy still matter.

• Use session CTAs to encourage the next watch and keep viewers in your ecosystem longer, which helps total watch time.
• Structure videos to maintain retention. The “Video 6” framework recommends a teaser in the first 10 to 30 seconds, then clear segments, then a deliberate CTA and outro.
• For Shorts discovery, remember Shorts reach mobile scrollers. Many creators use pacing like a cut about every three seconds and end immediately after the payoff. Some report retention over 100 percent when viewers rewatch because the ending is tight.

Publishing cadence also matters for growth. A commonly recommended strategy reference is two videos each week, balancing long-form and Shorts.

Pros and cons of each method

Turning off YouTube experimental AI features

Adjusting personalization, watch history, and search history

Removing browser extensions

Disabling external summarizer tools and integrations

Removing mobile overlays and accessibility widgets

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming YouTube has a universal “AI Summary off” switch when the feature may be server-side, experimental, or account-limited
• Disabling watch history permanently without realizing it impacts recommendations, “continue watching,” and personalization
• Removing the wrong extension, or missing that a tool has multiple components (extension plus companion web app)
• Testing only one video, since summaries may appear only for some categories like tutorials, lectures, or explainers
• Forgetting to restart YouTube or your browser after toggling experimental features
• Confusing transcripts with summaries, a transcript panel is not the same as an AI-generated summary panel
• On managed devices, troubleshooting locally when the extension or app is enforced by policy
• Overcorrecting privacy settings all at once, then not knowing which change actually worked

Troubleshooting: issue-by-issue fixes

“AI Summary” still shows after disabling toggles

• Confirm you changed the correct Google account, especially with multiple profiles.
• Force close the YouTube app, or on desktop reload the tab.
• Test incognito to rule out extensions and cached UI injection.
• Look for another location of toggles. Some are under “Try new features,” others under “General.”
• If it is an A-and-B test with no opt-out, focus on removing third-party sources and reducing distractions.

Summary disappears in incognito but not in normal browser

This strongly indicates a browser extension or cached site data tied to your profile.

• Disable all extensions temporarily, then re-enable them one-by-one to find the culprit.
• Clear site data for youtube.com (cookies and cache), then log in again.

Summary appears only on the mobile app

• Check YouTube experimental features in-app.
• Look for OS-level overlays or assistant tools.
• Review Accessibility services with screen-reading permissions.
• Update the YouTube app. UI experiments can behave inconsistently on older builds.

You cannot uninstall a summarizer extension or app (work or school device)

• The device may be admin-managed.
• Document the extension or app name and version, where the summary appears (watch page, sidebar, popup), and what you already tried.
• Request admin removal or permission changes.

Summaries are inaccurate or misleading, and you cannot disable them

• Treat summaries as non-authoritative, verify with the actual video segments and the transcript.
• If you are a creator: upload clean captions, not only auto-generated ones, to reduce transcript errors that summaries depend on.
• If you are a creator: add chapter timestamps so viewers can navigate key sections without relying on third-party summaries.

FAQ

Can I completely turn off YouTube’s AI Summary everywhere?

Sometimes yes, if a toggle exists in experimental features. Sometimes no, if it is a server-side experiment. You can always remove third-party summarizers and extensions.

Is an AI summary the same as a transcript?

No. Many AI summarizers first convert speech to text (the transcript), then analyze it to produce condensed key points.

Why do AI summarizers include timestamps and chapters?

They map key themes back to moments in the transcript so you can jump to the most valuable sections quickly.

Do AI tools summarize long videos well, like 60 to 90 minute podcasts?

Many claim support for long, complex videos, but quality varies based on audio clarity, accents, and how well-structured the content is.

How fast are AI summaries generated?

Some tools market generation in under 30 seconds, but speed depends on video length, transcript availability, and server load.

If I’m a creator, can I stop viewers from seeing AI summaries of my videos?

Typically you cannot control viewer-side tools. You can improve transcript and caption quality, add chapters and clear segments, and use CTAs to keep viewers watching.

Will turning off watch history help remove summaries?

It can reduce personalization-driven surfaces, but it also reduces recommendation quality and convenience features.

Are there privacy implications with YouTube’s expanding AI features?

Yes. YouTube’s 2026 roadmap includes AI-led moderation and experimental likeness detection tools. Participation in some creator protection tools can require government ID and a biometric reference video.

Fastest path to remove the summary panel

Turning off an AI summary on YouTube is less about one magic switch and more about identifying the source. Once you know whether it is a native experiment, a browser extension, an external summarizer, or a mobile overlay, the fix is usually quick.

If you want the fastest path, I’ll show you how to prioritize your troubleshooting:

• Start with Step 1: Identify what you are actually seeing.
• On desktop: Jump to Step 5 (extensions), because injected UI is extremely common.
• On the YouTube mobile app: Jump to Step 3 (experimental toggles), then Step 7 (overlays) if it looks like a floating widget.

If you want to pinpoint the cause faster, focus on describing what the summary looks like and where it appears (watch page panel, sidebar, popup, or overlay). That detail is usually enough to narrow it down to native YouTube, a browser add-on, a connected summarizer tool, or an OS-level overlay.