Search results
Adjust your DuckDuckGo settings to change the region, language, safe search, instant answers, infinite scroll, autocomplete, and more. You can also enable keyboard shortcuts, units of measure, map rendering, page breaks, and privacy newsletters.
- Duckduckgo Settings
We would like to show you a description here but the site...
- Privacy, simplified.
Make DuckDuckGo your default search engine. Set As Default...
- Duckduckgo Settings
Make DuckDuckGo your default search engine. Set As Default Search. Get Privacy Pro! VPN + 2 more protections in 1 subscription. Learn more. Free. Fast. Private. Get our browser on all your devices. Search and browse more privately with the DuckDuckGo browser. Unlike Chrome and other browsers, we don't track you.
- Most Browsers Already Include DuckDuckGo as a Search Option
- Install the DuckDuckGo Browser Extension
- Use DuckDuckGo for Media, News, Maps, and Directions
- Get Answers Just Like With Google
- Use Bangs to Search Specific Websites
- Don't Forget the DuckDuckGo Mobile App
- Better Privacy While Browsing the Web
- The Best Tech Newsletter Around
DuckDuckGo has been gaining ground for over a decade, finally breaking through to the "mainstream" in September of 2014 when Apple offered it as a default search engine option in Safari for iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite. Later, in November of the same year, Mozilla added it to Firefox 33.1.
Related: What Is DuckDuckGo? Meet the Google Alternative for Privacy
If simply switching your search engine to DuckDuckGo isn't enough, you can go a step further and install the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials browser extension instead. The extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Opera.
The extension blocks tracker networks by default, so advertisers will have a much harder time tracking you across the web. You'll also get an idea of who is trying to track you. The extension forces websites to use an encrypted connection (denoted by https:// in the address bar) where possible to help hide your browsing habits from ISPs and other snoopers.
Just like Google and other big search engines, DuckDuckGo allows you to filter results by type, including videos and images. After you've searched for something, you can click on the various filters at the top of the page, just like you would in Google.
In addition to media searches, DuckDuckGo can also show you news results, recipes, and places. You can search for "pizza near me," then share your location to get localized results on a map. You can also just use DuckDuckGo as a mapping tool for directions or reference thanks to Apple's MapKit integration.
To do this, either search for "map of Australia" (replacing Australia with wherever it is that you're searching for) or search for the place name, then click on Maps. Though DuckDuckGo uses Apple's map API, no identifying information is shared with Apple, so your privacy remains unaffected.
Since this is the same mapping solution built into macOS and seen on the iPhone and iPad, you can use it to get directions, view satellite imagery, or see businesses on a map. Click on the map pin in the top-right corner of the page to share your location (DuckDuckGo promises not to store this data).
When you ask Google a question, you often get a reply in the form of a snippet of relevant information at the top of the search results. DuckDuckGo performs a similar task, so try asking questions to get what the search engine calls Instant Answers.
This also applies to functions found in other search engines, like simple math calculations ("what is 2+2"), unit conversion ("2oz in grams"), and exchange rates ("10 USD in AUD"). You can also use DuckDuckGo to define words ("define malware") or to find synonyms ("thesaurus happy").
Bangs are qualifiers that you can add to your search query to limit your search results to a particular website. For example, to search How-To Geek, you can add !howtogeek to your search query, e.g. "!howtogeek windows networking".
There are thousands of bangs available for all sorts of websites, from the obvious ones like !youtube and !reddit to niche services. If you use a website that doesn't currently have a bang, you can submit it. Keep in mind that DuckDuckGo has previously purged a lot of bangs for liability reasons, including websites that enable piracy.
Last, but certainly not least, is the DuckDuckGo mobile app, available for both iPhone and iPad as well as Android. This app is optional, and you can likely already switch to DuckDuckGo in your mobile browser of choice, whether it's Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
It's most comparable to the Google app for iPhone and iPad in that it functions as a web browser, except that it replaces Google's data collection and tracking for DuckDuckGo's private browsing approach.
The app makes it easy to quickly switch your default browser to DuckDuckGo as well as providing many of the other benefits found in the browser extension. This includes making it as difficult as possible for advertisers to track you and providing forced encryption and a privacy grade for each website you visit.
The browser also includes a Fire Button, which burns your entire browsing history and currently open tabs in a single tap. You can also secure the browser with a fingerprint or facial recognition for added security.
Google is an advertising company. The more it knows about you, the better it can serve you relevant advertisements. This is why the company tracks so much of what you do online. Google's algorithms take into account everything from the videos you watch on YouTube to the websites you browse that use Google Analytics to build a profile of your interests for advertisers to target.
DuckDuckGo makes money from ads served by Microsoft and affiliates like Amazon and eBay, but they do so in a manner that doesn't track or identify you. Learn more about how DuckDuckGo makes its money.
While Google may be the more powerful search engine, using it comes at the cost of privacy. Ditching Google in favor of a search engine like DuckDuckGo is one small change you can make for a more private online experience.
Looking for something a little different? Take a look at Ecosia, a not-for-profit search engine that uses its revenue to plant trees.
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.
Share Share Share Share Share
Copy
Email
Share
Share Share Share Share Share
Jan 27, 2023 · Go to Settings (the three vertical dots at the top right of your browser bar) > Search engine > Manage search engine. Click the vertical dots next to DuckDuckGo and select Make default.
Apr 16, 2018 · Value your online privacy? Then start using a search engine that respects it - DuckDuckGo. This video shows you how to set D...
- 5 min
- 94.3K
- Web Dev with Matt
Dec 21, 2021 · Setting DuckDuckGo as your default web search engine is a simple process that only takes a minute or two. Here's how to do it in Google Chrome , Safari and Firefox . You can even use...
Learn how to make DuckDuckGo your default search engine in popular browsers. Learn More. How to change your default search engine in Google Chrome. How to change your default search engine in Safari. How to change your default search engine in Firefox.
