Update2: Google has killed this trick. You can’t access the old classic interface using the hl=all parameter now. :(
Update: Here is a browser search plugin: http://blog.arpitnext.com/old-google/, created by me. Install this plugin to your browser – and enjoy the old design easily. :)
Google recently changed the look and feel of its search engine result page. The new design looks colourful, and the left navigation bar is now featured with more options. But, I’m not much impressed with the new design. :( It feels crowded with many useless options.
Here is a trick to get back the old layout of Google.com in Chrome browser:
- Go to Options > Basics from the wrench/tools menu.
- Move to “Default search”, and click on the “Manage” button.
- Here, add a new search engine with the following parameters:
Name: Old Google (or desired)
Keyword: old (or desired)
URL: http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all#hl=all&source=hp&q=%s
Click the OK button, and this will add a new search engine to the Chrome. Now make it your default search engine. You are done!
Now, the next time you search anything on Google.com from the omnibar of Chrome – you will get the old (and clean) design. Users can make similar changes in Firefox and Opera browsers.
:)
[ Thanks Alex! ]
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Thank you I was despairing!
I’ve done this, but it’s not working for me. I’m in England, so could it be because I’m using google.co.uk? I tried using the URL you gave and then I tried using the same URL but with .co.uk instead of .com, and it still didn’t work. Do you have any suggestions?
Oh, wait, never mind! It works if I’m using the search box at the top, I see now. Thanks!!!
You could just use http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all for the link instead.
People preferred Google over Yahoo! because of the way it looked. Now, I suppose as Google is also at the same level, I might as well use Yahoo!
As expected, this was going to happen. Anyways, I got upgraded to new design today only and will consider it if I feel bored with new one.
How do we do this in Firefox? The new side bar is really stupid. Google must be on drugs to make us waste all this space with their dorky left sidebar
Try this user style for firefox: http://userstyles.org/styles/29418
Thanks Matthew
Thanks :-)
this tweak rocks .. almost back to “no nonsense” google ui
though top tabs still come in fading..
any one who know if this can be tweaked also?
back to the old google.. just put:
http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=all
see ya
Thanks for the working tip. I love the old google design! Easiest way to get back the old google layout.
>> why to create a new search engine – I hav edited the existing Google search engine.
You rock…..
What about google.com.tr how do we do that in basic old style?
@Rose: the process is same for all international domains. Just replace .com with your tld (.com.tr or .co.in)
legend, thank you so much can’t stand the clutter in their “improved” design. same with what they did to youtube, is there anyway of fixing that?
Awesome! I’ve been trying to find this for a few days; somebody linked to you over on LifeHacker. Thanks so much.
Only problem with this is that the top bar gets pared down to Web, Images, Directory, and Groups. No “More” pulldown, even. Web and Images are certainly the most common, but sometimes I want Shopping, Maps, or News.
The Groups results page does include the pulldown, so you can get there, it just takes an extra step or two.
So, not perfect, but definitely an improvement over Google’s redesign! Thanks.
Thank you very much, my anxiety levels were really high.
I’m sure if you’ve been looking, you know that going to Google with “?hl=all” at the moment disables the damn sidebar.
@grunthos: Thanks.
Opera has built-in function to create custom Search engines, similar to Chrome. :)
tried http://blog.arpitnext.com/old-google/ in Internet explorer. simplest way, thanks man
For some reason I can’t download the plug-in (when I click on the link on the page, it doesn’t do anything), and even though the original “Old Google” trick has been working for weeks, it’s suddenly not working for me anymore! What should I do?
As of today, hl=all also gives me the hideous new design. Argh. Any other way to fix this?
yeah … so sad. Google killed this tricky way to access the classic interface. :( :(
Yes, this will not only remove the new sidebar but restore all the old CSS styles of text/searchbox etc. This script requires greasemonkey to work
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/76161
If they don’t revert it back or give you an option to switch, simply use another search engine. If enough people would stop searching with Google because of this for a while; who knows maybe some Executive would notice ;-)