Customize DuckDuckGo Appearance or Settings: Step-by-Step Guide.

Customizing DuckDuckGo’s appearance and settings can enhance privacy, accessibility, and usability. Below is a revised guide addressing common user issues and clarifying steps based on DuckDuckGo’s latest interface (v0.97.3+).

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Accessing DuckDuckGo Settings

1. Open DuckDuckGo: Navigate to DuckDuckGo.com in your browser (not the standalone DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser app).
2. Open Settings:

• Click the three horizontal lines (☰) in the top-right corner.
• Select “Settings” from the dropdown menu .

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Appearance Customization

1. Enabling Dark Mode

• Steps:
  1. In Settings, select the “Appearance” tab on the left.
  2. Under “Theme”, choose Dark, Light, or System Default (matches your OS theme).
  3. Click Save and Exit .
• User Feedback Addressed:
  • If pages remain bright white (e.g., Wikipedia), this is because DuckDuckGo’s theme applies to its search interface, not external websites. For system-wide dark mode, enable Dark Mode in Windows/macOS settings or use browser extensions like Dark Reader .

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2. Adjusting Text Size & Font

• Steps:
  1. Under “Appearance”, use the Text Size slider to increase/decrease font size.
  2. Select a Font from the dropdown menu (e.g., Arial, Helvetica).
  3. Click Save and Exit .
• User Feedback Addressed:
  • Text size changes apply only to DuckDuckGo’s search results, not the browser UI or homepage. For larger system-wide text, adjust your OS settings (e.g., Windows Display Settings > Scale) .
  • No “Fonts & Colors” option? DuckDuckGo’s desktop version (v0.97.3+) limits font customization to pre-selected styles. Mobile users may have fewer options .

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Privacy & Search Settings

1. Safe Search & Region

• Safe Search: Under “General” > “Safe Search”, select Off, Moderate, or Strict to filter explicit content.
• Region: Under “General” > “Region”, choose a country to localize results (e.g., UK for British news) .

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2. Disabling Personalized Ads

• Steps:
  1. Go to “Privacy” tab in Settings.
  2. Toggle off “Advertisements” to opt out of personalized ads.
  • Note: DuckDuckGo shows non-tracked ads by default; this setting only disables personalization .
• User Feedback Addressed:
  • If “Advertisements” is missing, ensure you’re on DuckDuckGo.com (not the mobile app) and refresh the page. Ads cannot be fully disabled in the free version .

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Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Missing “Appearance” or Settings

• Ensure you’re using DuckDuckGo.com, not the Privacy Browser app.
• Clear browser cache or update to the latest version.
• Mobile users: Appearance settings are limited; use system-wide accessibility options .

2. Inconsistent Dark Mode

• DuckDuckGo’s theme applies to its search pages only. For dark mode on all websites:
  • Install a dark mode extension (e.g., Dark Reader).
  • Enable Force Dark Mode in Chrome/Firefox flags .

3. Icon Spacing & Size (Mobile)

• DuckDuckGo’s mobile app does not support icon spacing adjustments. Workarounds:
  • Use iOS/Android home screen customization (long-press icons > “Edit Home Screen”).
  • Request this feature via DuckDuckGo’s feedback form .

4. Text Color Conflicts

• DuckDuckGo does not support custom text colors. If light text is unreadable:
  • Switch to Dark Theme in DuckDuckGo.
  • Use browser extensions like Stylus to override CSS .

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Keyboard Shortcuts

• Search Results Navigation:
• J/K or arrow keys to move between results.
• Enter to open, Ctrl/Cmd + Enter to open in background.
• Page Navigation:
• / to jump to the search bar.
• T to return to the top .

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Summary

By adjusting DuckDuckGo’s theme, text size, and privacy settings, you can create a tailored browsing experience. Note that some limitations (e.g., system-wide dark mode) require OS-level changes or third-party tools. For further assistance, visit DuckDuckGo’s Help Pages .

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Key Improvements:

• Clarified steps for desktop vs. mobile users.
• Added troubleshooting for missing settings and inconsistent themes.
• Corrected ad personalization steps and limitations.
• Addressed font size, icon spacing, and text color issues.