How can URL parameters be used to avoid cookies for DuckDuckGo settings?
Executive summary
DuckDuckGo allows users to encode search settings directly into the search URL so those preferences are respected without relying on persistent first‑party cookies; using these URL parameters (for example, adding &kl=us-en or &kp=-1 after ?q=search) lets one operate with settings embedded in the link rather than in cookies [1] [2]. The official help pages explain that settings stored as cookies are simply reflections of those same URL parameters (with slightly different parameter names) and that users who wish to “avoid cookies altogether” can use URL parameters or the Cloud Save/bookmarklet approach to persist settings across sessions or devices [3] [4].
1. How URL parameters map to DuckDuckGo settings and why that matters
DuckDuckGo exposes many search preferences as URL parameters appended to the search URL: the docs and GitHub help pages give the canonical pattern—https://duckduckgo.com/?q=search&kp=-1&kl=us-en—so each option is passed explicitly in the address bar rather than kept only in a cookie [1] [2]. The company notes that the cookies it sets are essentially a mirrored representation of those parameters (the URL uses a “k” prefixed parameter while the cookie uses a different single-letter name; e.g., region appears as kl=ca-en in the URL and as cookie l=ca-en) which explains how URL parameters can fully replace cookie storage for settings [3].
2. Practical ways to avoid cookies using URL parameters
The simplest tactic is to generate a settings URL from DuckDuckGo’s settings page (there’s a “Bookmarklets and settings data” link that shows the settings as a web address), then save that URL as a homepage or bookmark and always start searches from it—DuckDuckGo will respect the parameters in the URL so cookies aren’t necessary to apply those preferences [3]. For browser integration, users can take that URL, append &q=%s (or the equivalent placeholder their browser expects), and register it as a custom search engine so queries inherit the embedded settings without writing persistent cookies (this technique is documented in community answers for Firefox and matches DuckDuckGo’s parameter usage) [5] [1].
3. Examples and syntax to use right away
Concrete examples from DuckDuckGo’s docs show how parameters are placed after the query. For instance, a search URL that forces U.S. English and a specific safe‑search setting might look like: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=search&kl=us-en&kp=-1 [1] [2]. Embedding that full URL as a bookmark or homepage, or wiring it into the browser’s custom search template with &q=%s, causes new searches to carry those preferences in the address bar rather than relying on any stored cookie [5] [3].
4. Limitations, privacy context, and alternate views
DuckDuckGo’s documentation is explicit that cookies used for settings are non‑personal and optional—intended only to store anonymous preferences—so the URL‑parameter approach is an alternative for those who want to avoid any cookie storage; other guides echo that claim and add Cloud Save as a sync option for users willing to store settings in the cloud [4] [3]. Some third‑party coverage and guides have overstated that DuckDuckGo “doesn’t store cookies” entirely; the company actually uses first‑party cookies for settings while offering URL parameters and Cloud Save as cookie‑free options, so readers should treat blanket “no cookies” headlines as oversimplifications [6] [3].
5. Operational caveats and recommended workflow
URL parameters persist only as long as the link is used to initiate searches—if a user navigates away and returns via a different path, or if a device or browser is changed, the parameters won’t magically reapply unless the bookmark/homepage or custom search template is used again; DuckDuckGo warns that if settings keep getting cleared it’s often because cookies are being purged or the user is switching devices, and suggests either making an exception to preserve duckduckgo.com cookies or using the URL/bookmarklet method to avoid cookies entirely [3]. For users who want both convenience and cookie avoidance, the pragmatic flow is: build the parameterized URL via DuckDuckGo’s settings export, save it as the browser’s default search URL with &q=%s, and optionally use Cloud Save if cross‑device persistence is desired [3] [5] [4].