How can I clear or control saved data when using DuckDuckGo on mobile and desktop?
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Executive summary
DuckDuckGo offers built-in controls in its mobile privacy browser to clear tabs, cache, cookies and saved searches via a Clear Data / Close Tabs + Clear Data flow and an Auto Clear Data timer; on desktop, however, DuckDuckGo is usually accessed through other browsers and data must be cleared either in those browsers or by using the DuckDuckGo extension (which cannot clear browser cache) — users should therefore combine app controls with their desktop browser’s “Clear browsing data” tools for full control [1] [2] [3].
1. What “clearing data” means in DuckDuckGo’s ecosystem
Clearing data in DuckDuckGo’s mobile app removes local tabs, cached files, cookies and any saved search history stored by the app itself via a Clear Data or Close Tabs + Clear Data action, while DuckDuckGo as a search provider does not keep a personal search history on its servers in the way traditional search engines do — the emphasis is on local data removal and privacy-first defaults [4] [1].
2. How to clear everything inside the DuckDuckGo mobile app (iOS and Android)
Open the DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser app, open its menu or tap the fire icon and choose Close Tabs and Clear Data (or Clear Data in Settings) to delete tabs and clear cached files, cookies and saved searches; the app also exposes an Auto Clear Data feature that will automatically clear tabs and data after a configurable idle period (e.g., 5–60 minutes) so the app looks “brand‑new” on reopen [1] [3] [2].
3. Using the app’s “Auto Clear Data” and trade‑offs to consider
Auto Clear Data can be enabled to automatically erase local app state every time the app is restarted (options include short timers such as 5, 15, 30 or 60 minutes), which maximizes privacy but can make it hard to return to an article or video if it was closed before the timer expired — bookmarks or favorites are recommended workarounds for preserving content while still minimizing stored data [3].
4. How to clear DuckDuckGo data on desktop (via the browser you use)
Because DuckDuckGo on desktop is typically a search engine or extension rather than a standalone browser, users must clear browsing data — cookies, cached images and files, and local history — through their desktop browser’s Clear Browsing Data dialog (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari) and choose the time range and data types to remove; guides describe selecting “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files” then clicking Clear Now [5] [2].
5. The DuckDuckGo extension limitation and why browser-level clearing still matters
The DuckDuckGo extension enhances privacy protections but cannot purge browser-managed cache or cookies created by sites visited in the browser, so clearing cache and cookies in the host browser remains necessary if the objective is to remove locally stored site data or logouts — extension privacy does not substitute for browser data maintenance (p1_s1; [3] snippet).
6. Practical checklist and a note on claims and limits of reporting
For mobile: use the app’s Clear Data/Close Tabs + Clear Data and enable Auto Clear Data if desired; for desktop: run the browser’s Clear Browsing Data and select cookies/cache/images, and remember bookmarks if Auto Clear might delete desired pages [1] [2] [5]. Sources consistently describe the app controls and the necessity of browser-side clearing, but this reporting does not provide step‑by‑step screenshots for every platform or every desktop browser, nor does it replace official DuckDuckGo documentation — if exact menu labels differ on a version or OS, consult the app or browser’s latest support pages [2] [5].