How to Use Autocomplete with Trending Searches Effectively

Launching a search engine and spotting a lineup of popular topics that don’t apply to you makes it easy to feel disconnected.

These suggestions highlight what’s currently gaining attention online, but users often see them as bothersome, unrelated, or invasive.

Whether it’s internet trends, entertainment buzz, or game highlights, such prompts can overcrowd your search view and spark concerns about data tracking.

Many users feel that these trending entries disrupt their original search goal.

Some suspect these recommendations result from their digital activity, while others feel burdened by updates that don’t match their preferences.

Side note:

Experts in search optimization and digital campaigns may still benefit from monitoring real-time trends.

Specialized keyword tracking platforms can provide targeted and valuable insights in these cases.

Why It’s Important

Trending search topics can subtly shape your online experience. While they may seem trivial, they often have a bigger impact than you might realize.

Here’s why you should consider disabling them:

• Privacy concerns: Trending searches can seem intrusive, even though they don’t directly link to your browsing.

• Interruptions: Constant exposure to unrelated trends can distract your attention from what matters most.

• Lack of relevance: These trends rarely match your personal preferences, making them less valuable.

• Influence on thoughts: Trending topics can quietly direct your focus toward irrelevant or popular discussions.

If these trending suggestions aren’t helping and only causing distractions, you can turn them off.

This guide shows you how to disable them on various devices and platforms.

Disable Google Trending Searches: A Quick Guide

If Google shows trending searches that don’t interest you, follow these steps to disable them:

1. Launch the Google app on your Android or iPhone.
2. Tap your profile icon, then go to Settings > General.
3. Toggle off the “Autocomplete with trending searches” option.

Disabling Google Trending Searches on Android

If you want to stop Google from showing trending searches on your Android device, here’s how to adjust the settings in various browsers:

In Chrome:

1. Launch Chrome and head to google.com.
2. Tap the menu icon (three vertical lines) in the upper-left corner.
3. From the sidebar, select “Search settings.”
4. At the top, tap on “Other settings.”
5. Scroll down to find the “Autocomplete with trending searches” option and turn it off.
6. Google will save your preferences automatically.

In Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and navigate to google.com.
2. Scroll down and tap “Settings” at the bottom.
3. Look for the “Autocomplete with trending searches” section and choose the “Do not show popular searches” option.
4. Confirm by tapping “Save.”

In Brave:

1. Open Brave and go to google.com.
2. Tap the menu icon in the upper-left corner.
3. Choose “Search settings.”
4. Select “Other settings” at the top.
5. Scroll to the “Autocomplete with trending searches” section and turn it off.
6. Save your changes by tapping “Save.”

In Microsoft Edge:

1. Open Edge and visit google.com.
2. Tap the three-dot icon in the bottom-right corner and select “Settings.”
3. Go to “Privacy and search” and turn off the autocomplete for trending searches.

Disabling Trending Searches on Windows, Mac, or iPad

To turn off trending searches in major browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge, follow these steps:

1. Launch your browser and visit google.com.
2. In the bottom-right corner of the homepage, click “Settings,” then choose “Search settings.”
3. From the left-hand sidebar, select “Other settings.”
4. Scroll down to the “Autocomplete with trending searches” section and turn it off.
5. Your preferences will be saved automatically by Google.

Turning Off Google Trending Searches on iPhone

For iPhone users, turn off trending searches in different browsers by following these steps:

1. Open your iPhone browser and go to google.com.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left corner.
3. Select “Search settings” from the menu.
4. Tap “Other settings” near the top of the page.
5. Find the “Autocomplete with trending searches” option and turn it off.
6. The system will save your changes automatically.

How to Disable Trending Searches in the Google App

To stop trending searches from showing up in the Google app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Google app on your device.
2. Tap on your profile picture or initials at the top-right corner (the layout may differ if you’re signed in).
3. Go to “Settings.”
4. Tap on “General.”
5. On Android, select “Autocomplete settings” (ignore this step if you’re using an iOS device).
6. Disable the “Autocomplete with trending searches” option.

Resolving Common Issues with Trending Searches

While turning off trending searches is typically easy, some users may face recurring problems. Below are solutions to a few common issues:

• Recurring Google Trending Searches
  
  • Ensure you’re logged into your Google account, as changes will not save if you’re not signed in.
  • Clear your browser’s cache and cookies to avoid conflicts caused by stored data.
  • Restart your browser to apply the updates immediately.
    
• “Autocomplete with Trending Searches” Missing
  • Ensure that your browser or Google app is up to date, as older versions may cause missing options.
  • Use the leading google.com site rather than a regional version (such as google.co.uk or google.ca), since different settings may apply.
    
• Settings Not Syncing Between Devices
  • Google settings do not always sync across devices automatically. Apply the settings on each device individually.
  • Double-check that you’re using the same Google account on all your devices.
    
• Persistent Bugs or Glitches
  • If a bug continues to disrupt the feature, try uninstalling and reinstalling your browser or Google app.
  • Consider switching to another browser temporarily to help identify the issue.

How Turning Off Trending Searches Enhances User Experience

For many, Google’s trending searches can quickly turn from an occasional nuisance to a persistent distraction, cluttering the search results with irrelevant or unwanted topics.

However, users who have chosen to turn off this feature have reported a marked improvement:

“I never realized how much trending searches affected my results until I turned them off.

Now, I find Google more useful for what I need, without being distracted by random trends.” — Reddit user.

“Frustration set in when unrelated topics appeared during my specific searches.

After disabling them, my searches became more focused, and I stopped encountering irrelevant content.”

“In my high-paced work life, distractions are a waste of time. I didn’t realize how those trending suggestions pulled my attention until I turned them off.

Now, I get quicker, more relevant answers without the extra noise.” — Productivity advocate.

These experiences highlight how a simple change in settings can make a significant difference.

Turning off trending searches removes distractions and gives users greater control over their search results.

Additional Ways to Enhance Your Search Experience

• Use incognito mode to keep your search history private, preventing past activity from influencing suggestions.

• Try search engines that prioritize privacy, like DuckDuckGo, which does not show trending topics.

• Regularly update your Google account settings to customize your search results better.

• Turn off location-based suggestions in your Google account to avoid irrelevant results.