How can I securely wipe browser cache, cookies, and form history in DuckDuckGo on desktop platforms?

1. Why this matters and who actually stores the data

DuckDuckGo’s value proposition is that it does not track or retain users’ search histories on its servers, but most desktop access to DuckDuckGo happens through third‑party browsers whose caches, cookies and autofill data are controlled locally by those browsers ^{[4] [1]}. That means secure wiping on desktop is primarily a browser operation, not a DuckDuckGo setting, and advice must therefore focus on the browser in use rather than the search engine page itself ^{[1] [5]}.

2. Quick, universal steps for desktop browsers

The universal quick method available in most desktop browsers is to open the browser’s privacy or history settings and run the “Clear browsing data” or equivalent control; many browsers also support the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+Delete to reach that dialog quickly ^{[2] [5]}. In those dialogs users can choose time range and which categories to remove — typically including cached images/files and cookies — and many browsers include a separate option to clear form/autofill history and site data in the same interface ^{[5] [2]}.

3. DuckDuckGo extension or app users: special considerations

If using the DuckDuckGo desktop extension, local cache and other data may still be collected by the host browser, so clearing the browser’s data is necessary because the extension cannot override the browser’s storage behavior ^{[2] [5]}. For people using DuckDuckGo’s standalone app (primarily mobile but referenced in DuckDuckGo documentation), the app provides a “Fire Button” designed to erase cookies, website caches, favicons, session history and granted permissions from the app’s local storage, though it will not clear data for “Fireproof” sites, bookmarks, downloads or DuckDuckGo search settings ^[3].

4. Form history / autofill: what to watch for and how to clear it

Autofill and form history are typically stored by the browser and appear as a separate category in the browser’s privacy or clear‑data dialogs; clearing “Autofill form data” or similar will remove stored form entries, while clearing cookies and site data removes site‑stored tokens and preferences ^{[5] [2]}. Exact labels and locations vary by browser, so the secure approach is to open the browser’s Privacy & Security settings and explicitly select cookies/site data, cached files, and autofill/form data for removal before executing the clear operation ^[5].

5. Avoiding cookies without clearing: DuckDuckGo URL parameters and “fireproof” tradeoffs

DuckDuckGo offers URL parameters as an alternative to storing settings in cookies, letting users avoid some cookies altogether for search settings if they prefer not to rely on browser storage ^[6]. Conversely, the DuckDuckGo app’s Fireproof Sites feature intentionally preserves first‑party cookies for chosen sites to keep users signed in, which is a tradeoff between convenience and full data removal that users must manage explicitly ^{[3] [6]}.

6. Practical hygiene and limitations of available tools

Clearing browser cache, cookies and form data will typically log the user out of sites and reset preferences, which is a known tradeoff of rigorous clearing ^[1]. It is important to recognize that guidance here is limited to the sources about DuckDuckGo and common desktop browsers: definitive step‑by‑step menu names depend on the specific browser and version and are best followed from that browser’s support pages, while DuckDuckGo’s own controls (like the Fire Button) apply to its app/local storage rather than to independent desktop browsers ^{[1] [3] [5]}.