Does DuckDuckGo track IP addresses or store search queries?

1. What DuckDuckGo’s policy states — “We don’t log IPs or unique IDs”

DuckDuckGo’s public privacy policy is explicit: the company states it “never log[s] IP addresses or any unique identifiers to disk,” and that this design prevents creating search histories tied to individuals, meaning search results are “anonymous” by their account ^[1]. Company help pages reiterate the tagline “DuckDuckGo never tracks you,” framing their business model as contextual ads rather than profile-driven advertising ^{[3] [1]}.

2. How localization works — temporary GEO::IP use, then discard

To provide localized results (weather, nearby businesses), DuckDuckGo says it performs a GEO::IP lookup using the IP address automatically sent by your device, then “throw[s] away both the guessed location and the IP address” per its documentation ^[2]. That is framed as a one-off inference used to improve a single results page, not to build a persistent profile ^[2].

3. What “never log … to disk” practically implies and its limits

DuckDuckGo’s phrasing — not logging IPs or unique IDs “to disk” — is presented as meaning they have “no way to create a history of your search queries or the sites you browse” ^[1]. Coverage and guides summarizing DuckDuckGo’s stance treat this as the core privacy guarantee: searches are not associated with a persistent identifier and are treated as isolated events ^{[4] [5]}.

4. Third-party caveats and remaining exposures

Even if DuckDuckGo doesn’t store IPs, other entities can still see your IP and queries. DuckDuckGo itself warns that visiting other sites exposes you to those sites’ policies and that embedded third‑party content (YouTube, social widgets) can access an IP and other identifiers when they load ^{[3] [1]}. Multiple explainers note DuckDuckGo does not stop your ISP or visited websites from seeing your IP address or traffic unless you use additional tools like a VPN ^{[6] [7] [8]}.

5. Independent commentary and reiteration in media/FAQ pieces

Several technology guides and blogs restate DuckDuckGo’s claims: they typically conclude DuckDuckGo “does not track your searches” or “does not store your IP address,” echoing the company position and explaining the product’s privacy tradeoffs ^{[9] [10] [11] [8]}. These pieces often advise combining DuckDuckGo with other privacy tools for stronger anonymity ^{[7] [6]}.

6. What is not covered in the provided sources — audits and contrary reporting

Available sources do not mention independent third‑party audits, server‑level logs analysis, or reporting that contradicts DuckDuckGo’s stated practices. They also do not supply technical details about retention windows for transient, in‑memory use, nor do they cite examples where DuckDuckGo turned over stored search logs to authorities (available sources do not mention independent audits or contrary evidence).

7. Practical takeaways for users deciding whether DuckDuckGo meets their needs

If your main concern is that the search engine itself builds long‑term search profiles tied to your IP or a persistent identifier, DuckDuckGo’s documented policy and multiple explainers say it does not do that and disposes of IP‑derived location info after use ^{[1] [2]}. If you need protection against your ISP, network operator, or some embedded third parties seeing your IP or requests, DuckDuckGo alone is insufficient; guides recommend adding a VPN or other network‑level privacy tools ^{[6] [7]}.

Final note: the picture assembled here relies on DuckDuckGo’s official documentation and explanatory articles that restate it; the set of sources provided does not include external audits or investigative reporting that would independently verify or challenge DuckDuckGo’s statements (available sources do not mention independent verification).