How Can I Block Ads While Using DuckDuckGo

If you enjoy DuckDuckGo for its privacy-first approach but find ads distracting, you may be wondering how to block or reduce them. While DuckDuckGo itself displays fewer ads than some other search engines, the results page and websites you visit can still include sponsored links and banner ads. The good news is that there are multiple ways to minimize or completely block ads while keeping your browsing smooth and private.

This tutorial walks you through several step-by-step methods so you can choose the one that fits your device and browsing habits best.

Method 1: Turn Off Ads in DuckDuckGo Settings

DuckDuckGo allows you to disable its own ads, which appear as sponsored links at the top of results.

Steps:

1. Open duckduckgo.com.
2. In a new tab, search for anything so that the search results page loads.
3. Look for the three horizontal lines (≡) next to the DuckDuckGo search bar.
   • Important: do not click the three dots at the very top of the browser next to the webpage address. That opens your browser’s menu, not DuckDuckGo’s menu.
4. Click the three lines (≡) and select Settings.
5. Scroll to General Settings.
6. Find Advertisements and toggle it Off.
7. While there, you can also turn off any other options you don’t want.
8. Hit Save at the bottom of the page.

Once saved, the sponsored ads in your DuckDuckGo results will disappear.

Method 2: Use an Ad-Blocking Browser Extension

Browser extensions are the most reliable way to block ads not only in DuckDuckGo results but also on the websites you visit afterward.

Popular options include:

• uBlock Origin (lightweight, effective, open-source)
• AdGuard (feature-rich with custom filters)
• Privacy Badger (focuses on trackers, blocks some ads too)

Steps to install uBlock Origin (example):

1. Open your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Brave).
2. Go to the extension or add-on store.
3. Search for uBlock Origin.
4. Click Add to Browser.
5. Confirm installation.
6. Once installed, the extension automatically blocks most ads.

Method 3: Use a Privacy-Focused Browser with Built-In Ad Blocker

Some browsers come with strong ad-blocking features built in, which can make your DuckDuckGo experience ad-free without extra setup.

Recommended browsers:

• Brave Browser – blocks ads and trackers by default
• Opera – built-in ad blocker you can toggle in settings
• Vivaldi – includes advanced ad-blocking rules

Steps with Brave (example):

1. Download Brave from brave.com.
2. Install and open the browser.
3. Set DuckDuckGo as your default search engine.
4. Browse normally, ads and trackers will already be blocked.

Method 4: Use DuckDuckGo’s Own Privacy Browser (Mobile)

On smartphones, the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser (available on iOS and Android) automatically blocks many third-party trackers and some ads while you search.

Steps:

1. Download DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Open the app.
3. Set DuckDuckGo as the default search (already enabled by default).
4. Browse through the app, ads and trackers will be minimized automatically.

Method 5: Use a DNS-Based Ad Blocker

A DNS-based ad blocker stops ad requests before they even load. This works across your entire device (or even your whole network), not just DuckDuckGo.

Options include:

• AdGuard DNS
• NextDNS
• Pi-hole (advanced, for whole-home blocking)

Steps with AdGuard DNS (example):

1. Go to AdGuard DNS.
2. Follow their setup guide for your device (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or router).
3. Once configured, your device will use AdGuard’s DNS servers, filtering out known ad domains.

Method 6: Combine Multiple Layers for Maximum Ad Blocking

If you want the cleanest browsing experience possible, you can combine several of the methods above. Disable ads in DuckDuckGo settings, add an ad-blocking extension like uBlock Origin, use a privacy browser such as Brave, and add DNS-level filtering for device-wide coverage. This layered approach ensures that if one blocker misses an ad, another will catch it.

Things to Keep in Mind

Some websites rely on ads for revenue. Blocking all ads may interfere with their content loading or reduce free features. You may need to whitelist certain sites you want to support, which is easy to do in extensions like uBlock Origin. Overlapping blockers can occasionally cause slowdowns or conflicts. If pages break, try disabling one layer at a time.

Our Take

Blocking ads while using DuckDuckGo is simple and flexible, with options ranging from a quick settings tweak to full network-wide blocking. The easiest way is to disable DuckDuckGo’s ads in settings (just make sure you’re clicking the three lines next to the search bar, not your browser menu). For a complete solution, installing uBlock Origin or switching to Brave Browser provides a much smoother, ad-free experience. If you want total control across all apps and devices, a DNS-based solution like AdGuard DNS or Pi-hole is the most powerful.

In short, start simple, test what works best for your setup, and layer methods if you want a truly distraction-free DuckDuckGo experience.