Clear Search History On DuckDuckGo: Step-By-Step Guide In 2021

Clearing Search History on DuckDuckGo: A Step-By-Step Guide

In an era where online privacy is increasingly important, using a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo has become a popular choice for many users. However, unlike other search engines, DuckDuckGo does not store your search history, but there are still steps you can take to ensure your browsing data remains private and secure.

Understanding DuckDuckGo's Privacy Features

DuckDuckGo is designed to protect user privacy by not collecting or logging any personal information, including search history and IP addresses. This means that there is no traditional search history to clear within the DuckDuckGo app or browser itself.

Clearing Browsing Data on the DuckDuckGo App

To maintain privacy and clear any open tabs and data on the DuckDuckGo app, follow these steps:

1. Open the DuckDuckGo App: Launch the DuckDuckGo application on your device.
2. Access Settings: Tap on the three-dot icon or the gear icon located at the top right corner of the screen to open the settings menu.
3. Navigate to Privacy Settings: Scroll down to the "Privacy" tab within the settings interface.
4. Enable Auto Clear Data: Find the option for "Automatically Clear Data" and toggle the switch to enable it. You can choose to clear either "Tabs Only" or "Tabs and Data," and set the timing for when this action should occur (e.g., when you quit the app).

Manual Clearing of Tabs and Data

If you prefer to clear your data manually, you can do so as follows:

1. Open the DuckDuckGo App: Launch the app on your device.
2. Access the Fire Icon: Tap on the fire icon typically located at the bottom of the screen.
3. Confirm Clearing: You will be prompted to confirm whether you want to close tabs and clear data. Select this option to delete all open tabs and associated data. Note that this action is irreversible, so ensure you are ready to lose all open websites.

Managing Bookmarks and Favorite Websites

While clearing tabs and data, your bookmarks and favorite websites will remain intact. If you wish to delete these, you need to:

1. Open the Bookmarks Section: Navigate to the bookmarks or favorites section within the app.
2. Edit and Delete: Click on "Edit," select the items you wish to remove, and then click "Delete".

Using the DuckDuckGo Browser or Chrome Extension

If you are using DuckDuckGo through a browser or the Chrome extension, the process is slightly different:

Browser History

Since DuckDuckGo itself does not store search history, you can view and clear the browsing history through your browser's settings. For example:

• In Chrome, click on the three-dot icon in the upper right-hand corner, then click on "History."
• In Firefox, click the Library icon in the upper right-hand corner, then click on "History".

Chrome Extension

For the DuckDuckGo Chrome extension:

1. Open DuckDuckGo: Access the DuckDuckGo search engine through the Chrome extension.
2. Access Settings: Click on the dots at the top right corner.
3. Delete Activity: Click on "Delete activity by" and select "All Time."
4. Confirm Deletion: Press "Delete" to clear the activity.

Incognito Mode for Enhanced Privacy

To further enhance your privacy, you can use incognito mode in your browser. Here’s how to do it in Chrome:

1. Open Chrome: Launch the Chrome browser on your device.
2. New Incognito Tab: Click on the three vertical dots (More), then select "New Incognito Tab."
3. Start Browsing Incognito: You are now browsing in incognito mode, which does not track your search history.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your browsing experience on DuckDuckGo remains private and secure, aligning with the search engine's core principles of user privacy and data protection.