What data remains on my device or servers after clearing history in DuckDuckGo app versus extension?
Executive summary
DuckDuckGo’s core design avoids storing tied search histories: the search engine says it does not track or retain personal search history; instead, browsing history lives with your browser or device [1] [2]. Clearing "history" in the DuckDuckGo mobile app or browser typically removes local data (tabs, cookies, cache) via the Fire/clear controls, but whether that erases every trace depends on the client (app vs extension) and the underlying browser’s storage [3] [4].
1. What DuckDuckGo itself says — no profile, no retained history
DuckDuckGo’s publicly stated design choice is to avoid recording users’ search histories and building personalized profiles; it delivers ads based on the immediate search query rather than long-term tracking [2] [1]. Multiple explainers reiterate that DuckDuckGo “does not track your searches or personalize results based on your search history” and therefore does not keep an identifiable search history on its servers [1] [5].
2. Where the data actually lives — your browser and device
Private-search messaging does not remove the browser or device from the equation: your local browser (or mobile OS) keeps browsing history, cookies, cache and session data unless you clear it. Guides and reviews emphasize that complete privacy after using DuckDuckGo requires clearing the browser’s own history and cookies because DuckDuckGo’s non-retention doesn’t affect local storage [1] [4].
3. DuckDuckGo app vs extension — local storage and controls
Guides focused on the DuckDuckGo mobile browser show an obvious “fire” or clear-data control that closes tabs and clears local data instantly, indicating the app stores session data locally and exposes a single-button purging action [3]. Extensions and the browser integration are different: extensions may store some data locally in the browser profile and clearing must be done either via the extension’s settings or the browser’s “Clear browsing data” flow [1] [4]. Available sources note that the steps vary by client but consistently point to local (not DuckDuckGo-server) storage as the place to clear [1] [4].
4. What clearing history actually removes — practical limits
Sources describe that clearing via the DuckDuckGo app removes open tabs and local cached data (the “fire” feature) and that browser clearing removes cookies, cache and history entries through the browser’s Clear Browsing Data interface [3] [4]. They also warn that some features — for example sites or extensions set to persist data (“fireproofed” sites in some browsers) — can be excluded from automatic purges, a common caveat reported in privacy reviews [2]. The sources do not provide a definitive forensic list of every artifact that might remain after clearing.
5. Server-side vs client-side ambiguity — what sources don’t claim
The reviewed material repeatedly states DuckDuckGo “doesn’t record your search history” [1] [2], and multiple how‑to guides focus on client-side clearing. None of the supplied sources assert that DuckDuckGo leaves identifiable search histories on its servers after you clear local history; however, the sources also do not produce a formal, itemized audit proving no server-side logs exist. Therefore: available sources do not mention a definitive server-side audit or legal‑grade disclosure showing every retained/retained‑for‑x‑days log type.
6. Practical advice drawn from the reporting
If you want local privacy on a shared device, use DuckDuckGo’s app “clear” button (fire icon) to wipe tabs and local data and also run your browser’s Clear Browsing Data to remove cookies and cache [3] [4]. If using an extension, clear the browser profile data or check the extension’s settings — the extension may leave local artifacts that only the browser can purge [1]. Reviewers highlight that power users should check for “fireproofed” exceptions and remember that the OS or other apps may hold separate records [2].
7. Competing perspectives and remaining uncertainties
Most sources present a consistent narrative: DuckDuckGo avoids tracking/search logging [1] [5] [2], while practical guides focus on client-side clearing steps [3] [4]. The tension is between corporate privacy claims and the reality that browsers/devices retain data; the supplied reporting stresses that clearing on DuckDuckGo is as much about clearing local browser/device storage as it is about the search engine’s non-retention [1] [4]. The sources do not settle whether any ephemeral server-side metadata is ever retained, nor do they quote an independent third-party audit.
Limitations: This analysis relies solely on the provided guide and review excerpts; the sources repeat DuckDuckGo’s privacy posture and outline client-side clearing steps but do not include a full technical or legal disclosure of every log type or retention period [1] [2].