How do I set DuckDuckGo to automatically clear cookies on browser exit?
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
DuckDuckGo’s mobile app includes a built‑in “Automatically Clear Data” feature that can clear tabs and browsing data when the app exits or after a period of inactivity; this is the most direct way to clear cookies/data on app close [1]. For desktop browsers using DuckDuckGo.com, clearing on exit is controlled by the browser (not DuckDuckGo), and DuckDuckGo’s own settings are saved in non‑personal cookies unless the user adopts URL parameters or exempts duckduckgo.com from cookie clearing [2].
1. What the user is really asking and the two practical cases
The question collapses into two distinct technical realities: a) using the DuckDuckGo mobile app (where DuckDuckGo provides controls to clear data on exit), and b) using DuckDuckGo as a website/search engine inside a general browser (where cookie clearing on exit is a browser feature, not DuckDuckGo’s) [1] [2]. Any how‑to must therefore give app instructions and explain browser‑level control and the implications for DuckDuckGo’s saved settings [1] [2].
2. How to set automatic clearing in the DuckDuckGo mobile app
On the DuckDuckGo mobile app the relevant control is Settings → Automatically Clear Data; turn it on and pick whether to clear only tabs or both tabs and data, then choose “App exit only” or a timeout (5/15/30/60 minutes) for inactivity — selecting “App exit only” will clear when the app is closed if the user properly exits it [1]. The help and user guides describe these options and warn that “App exit only” requires actually closing the app (swiping it away or force‑quitting) versus merely switching to another app, and that shorter timeouts may remove content unexpectedly [1].
3. Desktop/web: the browser is in charge — and DuckDuckGo’s settings use cookies
When using DuckDuckGo in a desktop browser, automatic cookie removal on exit must be configured inside that browser; DuckDuckGo’s website itself stores its own non‑personal settings via cookies (for example region settings map to a cookie named “l”), so indiscriminate clearing of cookies on exit will erase DuckDuckGo preferences unless the browser exempts duckduckgo.com [2]. DuckDuckGo documents that users who want to avoid cookies entirely can use URL parameters to embed settings in the address bar instead of relying on cookies, or save and restore a settings URL via their Bookmarklets and settings data links [2].
4. Privacy caveats and known limitations
Multiple sources flag edge cases and limitations: DuckDuckGo’s search engine emphasizes limited tracking and the company says it doesn’t keep user search histories the way big trackers do, but that does not eliminate cookies used for site settings [3] [2]. Additionally, a historical iOS issue shows HTML5 localStorage could persist in the DuckDuckGo iOS app even after a force‑stop and clearing, meaning some site data may survive cookie clearing depending on platform behavior — this has been tracked in the project’s issue tracker [4]. Users should be aware that clearing cookies may also remove passwords, shopping carts and other useful session data managed by sites or the browser, as third‑party reporting explains [3].
5. Practical checklist to implement the desired behavior
On mobile: open DuckDuckGo app → Settings → Automatically Clear Data → enable it → choose whether to clear tabs and data and select “App exit only” or a timeout [1]. On desktop: configure the browser to clear cookies on exit (browser instructions vary), and if maintaining DuckDuckGo settings is important, add an exception for duckduckgo.com or use DuckDuckGo’s URL parameter method to store settings without cookies [2]. Monitor platform quirks like persistent localStorage on iOS that may require additional steps or updates from DuckDuckGo [4].
6. Where reporting is thin and what remains uncertain
The provided sources do not offer a single, unified walkthrough for every browser and OS combination, nor do they document whether recent app updates fully resolved the iOS localStorage issue; therefore steps for specific desktop browsers or confirmation of bug fixes should be sought in browser documentation or DuckDuckGo’s current support pages and issue tracker [2] [4]. The Mozilla support thread referenced gives only generic troubleshooting and does not provide a definitive solution for cookie retention in Firefox [5].