How long does DuckDuckGo retain search logs or related metadata?

1. DuckDuckGo’s public claim: “We don’t track you”

DuckDuckGo’s core privacy message — “We don’t track you” — is stated plainly in its privacy policy and repeated across its product and marketing materials; this is the foundation for most summaries that say DuckDuckGo keeps no search logs or user‑identifiable data ^{[1] [2]}. Third‑party guides echo that DuckDuckGo treats each request statelessly, does not create user sessions, and does not store identifying cookies or link behavior across searches ^{[3] [5]}.

2. How that public claim is explained in practice

Explanations in reviews and guides say DuckDuckGo uses techniques like anonymizing or not storing IPs and using randomized nearby locations for local results, deleting that derived location after the search, and handling requests without persistent session identifiers to reduce the chance of retention or linkage ^{[4] [3]}. These descriptions emphasize design choices intended to make long‑term log retention unnecessary because searches are not connected to user identities ^{[3] [2]}.

3. What the sources actually disclose (and what they don’t)

The cited DuckDuckGo policy language and the reviews assert a no‑tracking posture but do not publish a granular retention schedule (e.g., “X days for Y metadata”) in the excerpts provided here; the available sources reiterate non‑storage or temporary use of information without enumerating retention windows ^{[1] [2]}. Therefore, specific numeric retention periods for server logs or system metadata are not found in current reporting (not found in current reporting).

4. Independent coverage and critiques: nuance and caveats

Some third‑party analyses flag limitations or past issues: articles note older desktop browser versions could leave local traces in local storage (reported as true through early‑2025 audits) and caution about potential privacy tradeoffs when DuckDuckGo uses external partners (e.g., ad delivery via Microsoft) or when web technologies are outdated — these critiques suggest technical exceptions where data could be exposed at the device or integration level ^[6]. That coverage does not claim DuckDuckGo retains search logs server‑side long term, but it does highlight points where privacy can be imperfect in practice ^[6].

5. Product areas that do retain or process some data (subscriptions, removals)

DuckDuckGo’s subscription services and certain features necessarily handle some personal information in limited ways: the Subscription product uses a random ID stored to authorize the subscription and may receive confirmation emails from data brokers while performing removal requests, which the company says it deletes within seven days — an explicit retention claim for that narrow workflow ^[7]. This demonstrates DuckDuckGo distinguishes between core search activity (claimed to be non‑logged) and optional, opt‑in services that may retain limited data for operational reasons ^[7].

6. How to interpret the messaging versus measurable guarantees

DuckDuckGo’s repeated messaging and independent guides converge on a privacy‑forward design (no user profiles, stateless requests, ephemeral location handling) that, if implemented correctly, reduces the utility of server‑side logs for profiling ^{[1] [3] [4]}. Critics point out implementation bugs or reliance on third parties can introduce leak vectors ^[6]. Because the provided sources do not publish a definitive retention table for search or metadata logs, claims about exact retention durations cannot be confirmed here and remain based on corporate policy statements and external reviews (not found in current reporting).

7. Practical takeaway and what to watch for

If you need absolute, auditable retention guarantees, the available material is policy and analyst reporting rather than independently verifiable retention schedules; DuckDuckGo publicly states it does not retain identifiable search logs and describes ephemeral handling for some data, while some reporting documents past local‑storage issues and third‑party risks ^{[1] [4] [6]}. To resolve remaining questions about precise retention windows, one should look for a formal retention matrix from DuckDuckGo or third‑party audits; such documents are not present in the sources provided here (not found in current reporting).