Where does DuckDuckGo store passwords and autofill data on each operating system (file paths)?

1. DuckDuckGo’s official claim: local, device‑encrypted storage

DuckDuckGo publicly states its password manager encrypts passwords with strong cryptography (256‑bit AES) and “stashes them securely on your device,” emphasizing that, by default, passwords are not stored in the cloud and are encrypted locally so DuckDuckGo “cannot access your data at any time” ^{[1] [3]}. Multiple news outlets repeated the company’s description that passwords and bookmarks live locally until a user opts into the encrypted Sync & Backup feature ^{[2] [5]}.

2. Sync & Backup changes the distribution model — still encrypted, still claim of no access

The February 2024 roll‑out of Sync & Backup introduced a way to move that locally encrypted data across Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone devices using QR codes or alphanumeric recovery codes, and DuckDuckGo and reporting emphasize end‑to‑end encryption so the company says it never sees unencrypted contents ^{[2] [4] [3]}. Coverage frames this as parity with rival browsers’ syncing conveniences, but with a privacy‑forward marketing position ^{[2] [5]}.

3. The reporting gap: no published file paths in available sources

None of the provided DuckDuckGo help pages or subsequent news coverage published OS‑level file paths where the app keeps its encrypted password/autofill stores on disk; the sources describe the storage model and sync UX but do not disclose explicit filesystem locations for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}. Since the sources do not contain those file paths, authoritative claims about exact on‑disk locations cannot be made from this record.

4. Practical management alternatives reported: settings, recovery codes, exports

Reporting and DuckDuckGo documentation point users toward the browser’s Settings > Sync & Backup flows to move data, and stress that the Recovery Code (or QR) is required to access synced data on a new device; the company also notes deleted passwords may be unrecoverable without a backup, reflecting an emphasis on local control of encrypted data ^{[4] [6]}. For users needing to inspect or move saved logins, the UI‑driven export/import and sync mechanisms are the documented methods in these sources rather than manual file editing ^{[5] [3]}.

5. Platform‑specific hints and caveats from related reporting

Coverage contrasts DuckDuckGo’s approach with Chrome and Safari, noting those browsers also encrypt password vaults and often integrate with platform keychains — reporting about “Chrome Safe Storage” on macOS illustrates how some browsers use OS services and how that can surface credential prompts, but that item in the record applies to Chrome, not DuckDuckGo, and thus should not be conflated with DuckDuckGo’s undocumented file layout ^{[7] [5]}. The sources do not confirm whether DuckDuckGo leverages OS keychains or keeps all encrypted blobs in its own app data directories.

6. Conclusion — what can and cannot be answered from available reporting

From the provided sources it can be stated with confidence that DuckDuckGo encrypts and keeps passwords locally by default and offers an end‑to‑end encrypted sync mechanism across Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone without requiring a DuckDuckGo account ^{[1] [2] [4]}, but the exact filesystem paths for stored password and autofill data on each operating system are not published in these sources and therefore cannot be authoritatively listed here ^{[1] [2] [3]}. Users seeking file‑level details must consult DuckDuckGo’s technical documentation beyond these sources, monitor developer releases, or inspect the installed app’s data directories themselves under appropriate technical guidance.