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[ARTICLE · art-135155] src=seroundtable.com ↗ pub= topic=ai-search verified=true sentiment=↓ negative

Google Web Guide Classic Search Button Doesn't Take You To Classic Search

Google's beta Web Guide search feature contains a bug that prevents users from returning to classic search, according to SEO analyst Damien Andell, who reported on X that clicking the "Classic search" button always redirects back to Web Guide. Glenn Gabe confirmed the issue on X, writing, "Ah, new bug as of this morning. I am sometimes stuck in Web Guide and can't get out," and Andell also noted a separate error where a link returns "null://null" instead of the site name. Search Engine Roundtable's Barry Schwartz replicated the behavior, which reloads the same results instead of exiting Web Guide.

by read2 min views1 publishedSep 20, 2026
Google Web Guide Classic Search Button Doesn't Take You To Classic Search
Image: Seroundtable (auto-discovered)

Google Search has this beta opt-in feature named Web Guide, it is like a mix of its AI search results interface and web search interface - in one. That being said, there seems to be a bug where, when you click the button that says "Classic search," it does not take you out of Web Guide and into classic search.

Damien Andell first spotted this and posted about it on X - he said, "Google search bug: impossible to return to "classic search," it always redirects to Web Guide. There's another error with a link that returns "null://null" instead of the site name."

I tried replicating it and it does seem to be a bug - here is a GIF of it in action:

You can see, it just reloads the same results.

Glenn Gabe, who knows the Google Web Guide way better than I do, added on X, "Ah, new bug as of this morning. I am sometimes stuck in Web Guide and can't get out. Just tried again, and I was able to get the standard SERPs. So a weird one."

Damien took my video and added, "In the first image, in addition to the bug, you can see the text from the Web Guide below the knowledge panel, which shouldn't be there; you can also see a bit of "Access". And in the second image, you can see what you should see if you click on "Classic Search"."

I am not sure what it should be doing? don't use web guide much - @glenngabe might know more? this is what I see, which is similar but it triggers slightly different results? LinkedIn, Google Search Profile and that Wix site @MordyOberstein made pic.twitter.com/5nmxrM11Zk

September 20, 2026 In the first image, in addition to the bug, you can see the text from the Web Guide below the knowledge panel, which shouldn't be there; you can also see a bit of "Access".

And in the second image, you can see what you should see if you click on "Classic Search". pic.twitter.com/2gVJCNG7Tp

September 20, 2026 Most searchers are not using Web Guide but this just seems weird.

Forum discussion at X.

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