15 Best Tips And Tricks For Duckduckgo Search Users (2024)

If you decide to try this privacy-focused search engine, we have some tips for using DuckDuckGo search.
Content

Search Websites Directly from Address Bar

There’s not just too much content on the internet today, but even on websites. Think of all the videos on YouTube or all the articles on Wikipedia. You can still search for individual items on web pages using the DuckDuckGo search engine. It would, however, be more convenient to search for YouTube videos on YouTube instead. Since that limits the boundaries of the query to within a website, and if you’re just looking for a YouTube video, that’s always more efficient.DuckDuckGo has a !bang feature to help you in such situations. Instead of having to open YouTube and then search for a video, you can do so directly from DuckDuckGo.

Search Faster with DuckDuckGo Lite

The DuckDuckGo web page and Google are both around 2MB in size. By today’s standards, that’s pretty small. However, not all of the world is connected to high-speed internet.There are still many places where internet speeds and data caps can greatly limit what people do online. This is where DuckDuckGo Lite really shines. The web page is only a couple of hundred kilobytes in size. The only UI elements on the screen are an input field, a search button, and the DuckDuckGo logo.When you search for a query, DuckDuckGo Lite makes fewer requests compared to the 50 by DuckDuckGo and 100 by Google. This also results in faster delivery of the search results. Keep in mind we’re talking about a difference of milliseconds here, so it might not be very noticeable if you have a fast internet connection. For people with slower internet connections, though, the difference will be significant.

Easily Find Cheat Sheets

A cheat sheet is a concise set of notes for quick reference. It would be ironic if finding the cheat sheet was not a quick process. DuckDuckGo makes finding cheat sheets easier for popular apps, services, operating systems, etc. To find a cheat sheet, simply type the name for which you want the cheat sheet, followed by the words cheat sheet. For example, to find a Linux cheat sheet, search for “Linux cheat sheet.”

Shorten URLs Easily

If you share URLs often, you probably use some URL shortening tool. Even Google had a URL shortener for a while, which was recently discontinued. DuckDuckGo search engine can be used to shorten URLs as well. Simply type shorten followed by the URL you want to shorten.

Encode URL

If you need to encode a URL for some reason, you can do that on DuckDuckGo as well. To do this, type URL encode followed by the URL and hit enter.

Generate Passwords Using DuckDuckGo

Websites and information are not the only things you will search for. Sometimes you may be looking for a strong password. Granted, a search engine is usually not where one looks for a strong password. However, DuckDuckGo can help you here as well. It can suggest you a strong password. To get a strong password suggestion from DuckDuckGo, type the password followed by the number of digits required.

Generate Passphrase

Passwords are not the only modern problem DuckDuckGo solves. Passphrases are more secure than a password. Even so, a strong passphrase is still necessary. Just as with passwords, DuckDuckGo can help you generate strong passphrases. Just search for the random passphrases.

Generate QR Code

Sharing links is another modern problem in some cases. It’s easier to do digitally, where users can simply click on the link or copy and paste it. There are, however, situations where that is not possible. A URL might be too long and complicated to type in such a case. This is especially true for business ads and posters.A short URL is helpful, but it’s still not as easy as scanning a QR code. DuckDuckGo lets users easily create QR codes for links they can share with others. All someone has to do then is scan the QR code and simply visit the link. To create a QR code using DuckDuckGo, just type QR followed by the link.

Lowercase or Uppercase Text

DuckDuckGo can also be used to change the case of text, whether you want to capitalize everything or lowercase everything. To lowercase text, type lowercase followed by the text. Similarly, to uppercase the text, type uppercase followed by the text.

Use DuckDuckGo as Stopwatch

The DuckDuckGo search engine can also be used as a stopwatch instead. Both Google and DuckDukGo offer this functionality. To use the stopwatch, type stopwatch in the search field and hit enter.

Check If a Website Is Down

These days we rely on websites for many things, from travel & entertainment to work. Sometimes, websites can fail to open, though. Our web browsers don’t yet tell us why exactly. So we’re left to guess that it could be a problem with some servers. It could be a problem on your end or with the company that runs the website. We often hear about Facebook, YouTube, etc., being down for a while.The next time you face a similar situation, you don’t have to be left wondering where the problem lies. You can use DuckDuckGo to check whether a website is down. Just type your query into the search field and hit enter. For instance, let’s say we need to check if mashtips.com is down. We can search DuckDuckGo for “is mashtips.com down”

Find HTML Codes Easily

If you’re a web developer or blogger, you probably often need HTML codes for common symbols. This is one of those areas where DuckDuckGo really shines and does better than Google. You can find the entire list of HTML character codes by searching for “html chars.”You can also find the HTML code for any specific character by typing HTML followed by the character. For example, to find the HTML code for ‘&’, type “html &”

Easily Find HTML Color Codes

You can also easily find HTML color codes using DuckDuckGo. Just search for color codes, and it will show you a full chart of HTML color codes.

Use DuckDuckGo as Lorem Ipsum Generator

Another thing front-end developers often need is some filler text until actual content is made available. Normally, the process would be to either use an app or search Google, open up a website that generates random Lorem Ipsum text, and then copy from there.DuckDuckGo takes that one extra step away and simply generates the text itself. To generate random text, just search for however many paragraphs of random text you need. For example, to generate 3 paragraphs of random text, type “3 paragraphs of lorem ipsum” and hit enter.

Find Calendars

Everyone’s phone has a calendar, and even desktop operating systems have an easy-to-access calendar. But when you’re working in a browser, you can easily find any calendars on DuckDuckGo. If you just want the present calendar, you can easily find that in an app or on your desktop.But if you want the calendar for a specific month or year, that’s when the convenience of DuckDuckGo becomes apparent. You can find the current calendar by searching for calendar. You can also find a specific calendar by searching for calendar followed by the date.These are only some of the many useful things DuckDuckGo can do. Many of these are not even possible on Google. DuckDuckGo has some advantages when you’re trying to find things. And that’s the primary function of a search engine. Moreover, DuckDuckGo does not show you ads and protects your privacy. It does not track you, unlike Google.But the search isn’t the only field where DuckDuckGo aims to become a Google alternative. DuckDuckGo Browser is also available on Android and iOS devices. DuckDuckGo also offers browser extensions to help further you keep your online life private and protected. I hope these DuckDuckGo tips and tricks helped you get the most out of the search engine.Notify me of follow-up comments by email.Notify me of new posts by email.

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15 Best Tips And Tricks For Duckduckgo Search Users (2024)

FAQs

What is the downside of DuckDuckGo? ›

Although DuckDuckGo is much more private and secure than Google and Bing, it still has several downsides and vulnerabilities. In particular, it doesn't encrypt search terms in the URL bar. Also, your data can be monitored if you share it on third-party websites or through online forms.

What do most people use DuckDuckGo for? ›

Are people using only DuckDuckGo to search? The primary reason people start using DuckDuckGo is because they want the privacy that they can't get from other search engines, browsers, and email services.

Can your searches be tracked on DuckDuckGo? ›

Our private search engine doesn't track you. That means unlike Google Search, we don't save or share your search history, such that we have no way tie your searches or website visits to you personally and we don't keep profiles of our users.

Why should I use Google instead of DuckDuckGo? ›

Because Google has a vastly larger pool of search data to dive into, it can often make an effective guess as to what you're trying to find. DuckDuckGo can also get the job done, but you might have to clean up your unusual search terms a bit to hit the nail on the head.

Why is DuckDuckGo banned? ›

Schools typically forbid the use of DuckDuckGo because students can use it to get around network restrictions and access inappropriate content.

Why is DuckDuckGo not popular? ›

Though DuckDuckGo can provide you with more online privacy than other popular search engines, it has its limitations. Like most search engines, DuckDuckGo tries to filter out potentially dangerous sites from its search results, but it cannot guarantee complete protection against malware-ridden websites or content.

Why does my wife use DuckDuckGo? ›

Use DuckDuckGo because it's fast and secure, because it's a free Google alternative that lets you search and browse the way you want, and because it puts you back in control of your personal data.

Is there anything better than DuckDuckGo? ›

The best private search engines
  • Startpage.
  • DuckDuckGo.
  • Qwant.
  • Searx.
  • SearchEncrypt.
  • Gibiru.
  • Ecosia.
  • Swisscows.
Jan 25, 2024

What is the best browser to use with DuckDuckGo? ›

Best browser for private searches

DuckDuckGo's Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft's Edge has also proven popular. Its reputation is built on the idea that it does not collect user data but can provide the same search results as those that do.

What does the fire button do on DuckDuckGo? ›

The Fire Button is a feature in our mobile and desktop browsers that clears all tabs and data in a second or less.

Can police see what you search on DuckDuckGo? ›

No search histories: DuckDuckGo doesn't record your search history in any way. Search histories can sometimes be useful, but they can also be used against you by law enforcement and government agencies. Once you've searched, the record of that search disappears forever.

Can my WiFi provider see what I search on DuckDuckGo? ›

No. Because the connection between you and DuckDuckGo Search is encrypted, that means your internet provider cannot see the searches you make on DuckDuckGo.

What is the safest search engine? ›

1. DuckDuckGo. DuckDuckGo is a popular private search engine that emphasizes user privacy by not tracking your searches or storing personal information.

What is so special about DuckDuckGo? ›

To keep your searches private and out of data profiles, the government, and other legal requests, you need to use DuckDuckGo. We don't track you at all, regardless what browsing mode you are in. Each time you search on DuckDuckGo, it's as if you've never been there before.

Is there incognito mode in DuckDuckGo? ›

DuckDuckGo (DDG) browser or DDG search have nothing to do with incognito mode. If you're browsing the web with incognito mode on using google chrome and google search, google still able to collect your data and information. The only thing incognito mode does is removed cookies and browsing history.

Can hackers track you on DuckDuckGo? ›

Yes, DuckDuckGo is safe to use. Known for its commitment to not tracking users, it offers greater user privacy than widely used search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

What are the weaknesses of DuckDuckGo? ›

Of course, DuckDuckGo also has its shortcomings, the biggest being:
  • Lack of personalization – since DuckDuckGo doesn't collect your data, it's not possible to get user-specific results (i.e., the auto-suggest function). ...
  • Fewer services – unlike Google, DuckDuckGo only has a search engine.

How much does DuckDuckGo cost a month? ›

DuckDuckGo Search, our browser extensions, and DuckDuckGo Private Browser, our everyday browser and privacy-protecting alternative to Google Search & Chrome in one app, are all free.

Is DuckDuckGo a Chinese company? ›

DuckDuckGo is an American software company that offers a number of products intended to help people protect their online privacy. The flagship product is a search engine that has been praised by privacy advocates.

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