DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that does not track users’ searches or collect personal data. However, it does show some ads to generate revenue. Here are the best methods to block or remove ads when using DuckDuckGo:
Table of Contents
Disable Ads in DuckDuckGo Settings
The easiest way to remove ads from DuckDuckGo is to disable them in the settings:
- On the DuckDuckGo website, click the menu icon in the top right corner
- Select “Settings”
- Go to the “General” tab
- Under “Advertising”, toggle “Allow DuckDuckGo Ads” off
This will completely remove all DuckDuckGo ads from search results.
Use Ad Blocking Extensions
You can install an ad blocking extension like uBlock Origin or AdBlock Plus in your browser. These will block ads on DuckDuckGo as well as other websites.
To use an ad blocker with DuckDuckGo:
- Install uBlock Origin or AdBlock Plus in your browser
- The extensions will automatically block ads without any configuration
- You may need to disable tracking protection in DuckDuckGo settings for the blocker to work properly
Ad blockers are effective at removing ads, but they can sometimes break sites.
Edit Hosts File
The hosts file acts as a local DNS to block requests to ad and tracking domains. Here are the steps to use it to block ads in DuckDuckGo:
- Download an ad-blocking hosts file from a reputable source
- Open the hosts file on your computer with administrator privileges
- Paste the contents of the ad blocking hosts file
- Save the changes
This will redirect ad and tracking domains to 127.0.0.1 or 0.0.0.0 to prevent ads from loading. It blocks ads system-wide, not just in DuckDuckGo.
Use a Pi-Hole on Your Network
A Pi-hole acts as a network-wide ad blocker. It works like an ad-blocking DNS server.
To use a Pi-hole to block DuckDuckGo ads:
- Install Pi-hole software on a Raspberry Pi or other always-on device
- Configure your router to use the Pi-hole as its DNS server
- Devices on the network will now have ads blocked, including on DuckDuckGo
Pi-hole blocks ads for all devices on a network without any client configuration. It can also block ads in mobile apps.
Use a VPN With Ad Blocking
Some VPN services like AdGuard VPN offer ad blocking as an integrated feature.
To block DuckDuckGo ads with a VPN:
- Install the VPN app on your device
- Connect to an ad blocking VPN server
- Browse DuckDuckGo normally while connected to the VPN
The VPN will filter ad requests before they reach your device, removing ads from DuckDuckGo and other sites.
Use Browser Isolation
Browser isolation services like Authentic8 Silo render web pages in the cloud and stream a video to your device. This prevents ads and trackers from ever reaching your device.
To isolate DuckDuckGo:
- Sign up for a browser isolation service
- Launch the isolated browser
- Navigate to DuckDuckGo to search with full ad blocking
With browser isolation, no ads or trackers will load when browsing DuckDuckGo or any other site.
Summary
There are many methods available to block or remove ads from DuckDuckGo while retaining its privacy benefits:
- Disable ads in DuckDuckGo settings
- Use a browser ad blocker extension
- Edit the hosts file
- Install Pi-hole on your home network
- Connect through an ad blocking VPN
- Isolate your browsing in the cloud
Choosing the right ad blocking approach depends on your priorities and technical comfort level. Combining multiple methods, like using Pi-hole on a network along with browser extensions, can provide the most robust ad blocking for DuckDuckGo.
