How to clear DuckDuckGo browser cachet
Executive summary
DuckDuckGo as a search engine does not track or store personal search history in the way mainstream search engines do, and therefore there is nothing for users to “clear” on DuckDuckGo itself; what people commonly mean when they ask how to clear DuckDuckGo’s cache is clearing the browser cache and cookies held by the browser or extension that runs DuckDuckGo, not DuckDuckGo’s servers [1] [2]. The DuckDuckGo app and extension are designed to minimize tracking, but they rely on the host browser’s data model—so clearing cache must be done in the browser or device settings, or with standard shortcuts such as Ctrl+Shift+Delete on desktop [3] [4].
1. What “clear DuckDuckGo cache” usually means: search engine vs. browser
Confusion stems from DuckDuckGo’s privacy marketing: the search engine doesn’t build a per-user profile or store search history in the way Google does, so there’s not a central DuckDuckGo cache of personal searches to purge, unlike a traditional browser cache or cookies that live on the user’s device [1] [2]. DuckDuckGo does offer features such as the “!cache” bang that points to cached pages via other services (not a private DuckDuckGo stash), which further muddies public understanding of what “cache” means in this context [1].
2. If using DuckDuckGo extension or app: clear the host browser’s cache and cookies
When DuckDuckGo runs as a browser extension or within a standard browser, the extension can’t prevent the browser itself from saving site data like cached images and cookies; clearing that data must therefore be done through the browser’s built-in controls [3] [4]. The universal desktop shortcut to open the “clear browsing data” dialog on many browsers is Ctrl+Shift+Delete, which allows removal of cached images/files and cookies for selected time ranges; this is the practical way to remove locally stored data that could reveal browsing activity [3] [4].
3. DuckDuckGo app specifics and settings persistence
DuckDuckGo’s own mobile or desktop browser implementation backs up certain settings inside the app so that preferences persist even if cookies are cleared or the Fire Button (which removes tabs/data) is used; in other words, some DuckDuckGo settings survive normal cookie or cache clearing to preserve user preferences [5]. The help pages explicitly state that settings are stored within the browser itself and will not be cleared by cookie deletion or the Fire Button, which is an intentional design trade-off to keep user configuration stable [5].
4. Practical step-by-step guidance (what sources support)
For users seeking actionable steps, the supported approach across the reporting is: open the browser you used with DuckDuckGo (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.), open the Clear Browsing Data dialog (often via Ctrl+Shift+Delete on desktop), select “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” choose the desired time range (e.g., All time) and confirm the clear action—this removes local cache and cookies that the DuckDuckGo extension or any visited sites may have created [3] [4] [2]. If using DuckDuckGo’s app, consult its internal settings for the Fire Button or app-specific data-clearing options, but be aware some DuckDuckGo settings are retained by design [5].
5. Caveats, trade-offs and what the sources don’t tell us
Clearing browser cache and cookies will sign users out of websites and may remove shopping-cart contents or saved preferences, a trade-off noted by multiple sources [1] [2] [3]. The available reporting does not provide a device-by-device, DuckDuckGo-app-specific step sequence for every platform; it instead points users to the general browser mechanisms for clearing cache and emphasizes DuckDuckGo’s privacy design choices [5] [2]. Alternative viewpoints exist in coverage that reassures users DuckDuckGo itself does not store personal caches [1], while practical guides emphasize housekeeping in the browser layer [3] [4].