Does DuckDuckGo store or log IP addresses or search queries and what encryption/protections apply to those logs?

1. DuckDuckGo’s declared no‑logging stance — what the company says

DuckDuckGo’s privacy policy repeatedly states it does not save IP addresses or unique identifiers alongside searches and “never log IP addresses or any unique identifiers to disk,” and that anonymous search queries are stored only disconnected from identifiers for short-term trend analysis ^{[1] [5]}. The help pages reiterate that the connection between a user and DuckDuckGo Search is encrypted and that the company “never tracks you” ^{[2] [6] [7]}.

2. How DuckDuckGo handles location and content‑fetching requests

For localized results DuckDuckGo performs a GEO::IP lookup using the IP your device sends, then says it discards both the guessed location and the IP address — “saving none of that info on our servers” ^[3]. For images or other content DuckDuckGo sometimes fetches content through its own servers to prevent external providers from building a search-linked history, which the company says it does over encrypted connections ^{[5] [2]}.

3. Encryption and transport protections DuckDuckGo provides

DuckDuckGo states its search pages are “always encrypted” (HTTPS) and offers “Smarter Encryption” that upgrades known sites to HTTPS via its apps/extensions; the Smarter Encryption service is described as anonymous and its logs “never contain IP addresses or other personal information” ^{[2] [4] [8]}. DuckDuckGo’s docs also say an ISP cannot see the queries because the connection to DuckDuckGo is encrypted ^{[9] [6]}.

4. Temporary use vs. persistent logs — the practical difference

Multiple DuckDuckGo pages and summaries emphasize temporary use of transient network info for security/operational needs (for example, bot detection or location guessing) and assert these are discarded and not tied to queries in stored logs ^{[1] [3]}. Independent explainers echo the claim that DuckDuckGo aims to collect the “bare minimum” and not create per‑user profiles ^{[5] [10]}.

5. Points of caution and third‑party exposure

Outside DuckDuckGo’s own servers, other parties can see your IP or query context: your ISP, hosting providers used on the path, and third‑party sites you click can log the IP that reaches them. Critics note that clicking certain results (ads, maps, shopping) can cause requests to third‑party servers where your IP could be logged — a limitation DuckDuckGo’s no‑log promise cannot erase for downstream sites ^{[1] [11]}. Several consumer guides stress that DuckDuckGo’s protections cover search and its apps/extensions but aren’t an all‑purpose anonymity tool; combining with a VPN offers extra network‑level privacy ^{[10] [12]}.

6. Independent perspectives and critiques

Privacy reviewers and guides generally praise DuckDuckGo for not building search profiles and for encrypting queries, but also caution it’s not foolproof: earlier technical issues and partnerships (e.g., results pulled from other providers) have created concerns about tracker blocking coverage and when third parties may collect data ^{[11] [13] [5]}. Security and VPN outlets repeat DuckDuckGo’s encryption and minimal‑data claims while advising additional tools for full anonymity ^{[10] [14]}.

7. What the available sources do not say or cannot prove

Available sources do not mention any independently verifiable, external audit or publicly disclosed raw server logs that prove the absence of all IP or identifier persistence beyond DuckDuckGo’s statements (not found in current reporting). If you need absolute, third‑party verified proof of no‑logs in all circumstances, the provided reporting does not supply it.

8. Practical takeaway for users deciding on privacy tradeoffs

If your main goal is to avoid a search‑engine‑tied profile, DuckDuckGo’s documented policy and engineering (encrypted transport, smarts to avoid linking queries to identifiers, and Smarter Encryption) align with that aim ^{[1] [4]}. If you need network‑level anonymity from ISPs or full concealment from sites you visit, combine DuckDuckGo with tools like a vetted VPN or Tor — DuckDuckGo docs and third‑party guides all point out those additional measures when complete anonymity is required ^{[9] [10] [12]}.