How can I search the forum without using this annoying AI?
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Currently, searching for any topic on the forum is disappointing: I don’t understand how to search directly within the topics without going through this annoying AI. Is there any way to do this?
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I just found out how this is done:
So I’ll rephrase the question: why all the complication? Can’t the search process be clearer without this inconvenient AI? If I’m on a forum, I want answers from the forum, not from a computer program.
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Hello!
Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback, I understand what you’re getting at.
The forum search can feel a bit confusing at first, especially if it looks like results are being influenced by AI.
The important thing to know is that you’re not forced to use it. You can always use the search button at the top of the forums to look up topics directly, and that will show existing forum discussions without needing to go through any AI-assisted flow.
The AI element is simply there as an additional way to help surface relevant answers faster, but it doesn’t replace the forum itself. If you prefer a more traditional experience, you can continue using the standard search and browse topics normally, nothing changes there.
Regarding your question about “why the complication,” the intention is mainly to help users find useful answers more quickly, especially when there are many similar discussions. That said, we understand that not everyone prefers this approach, and feedback like yours is valuable in helping improve clarity and usability.
Also, if you ever see a topic that you feel needs staff attention, you can add the modlook tag to it. This ensures it gets flagged for review so a staff member can take a look.
When staff reply, their username will clearly show the word “Staff” next to it, so it’s easy to identify official responses: https://wordpress.com/support/help-support-options/getting-help-in-the-forums/#help-from-moderators-and-staff
Let me know if you have any other questions, I’ll be happy to help!
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Ok. Let me add something: when I’m viewing this on my phone, the direct search box doesn’t appear.
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Hi @radtrad,
Thanks for the additional clarification and the screenshot.
I can confirm I’m also seeing the behavior you described on mobile, where the direct forum search option is much less visible compared to desktop. That definitely makes the experience more confusing when you’re specifically trying to search forum discussions directly instead of using the AI-assisted flow.
I’ve shared this feedback internally as a usability concern, especially regarding the mobile Support Center and Forums experience. Clearer visibility for the direct forum search would certainly help users who prefer the traditional browsing/search approach.
We appreciate you taking the time to point this out and provide screenshots/examples.
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