DuckDuckGo works in Chromium the same way as Google or Bing — you set it as your default search engine in settings, then use it from the address bar

Chromium is the open-source browser that Google Chrome is built on, and it includes Brave, Edge, Opera, and several others. All of them handle search engines the same way. When you type a question or phrase into the address bar (also called the omnibox), Chromium sends it to your default search engine. You can change that default to DuckDuckGo in about two minutes, and the change takes effect immediately.

DuckDuckGo is a search engine that does not track your searches or store your search history. Unlike Google, it does not build a profile of your browsing habits to sell to advertisers. If privacy is your main reason for switching, understand that changing your search engine does not hide your activity from your internet service provider or your network administrator — it only stops DuckDuckGo itself from tracking you.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chromium settings, go to Search Engine, and select DuckDuckGo from the list of options already built into the browser.
  • If DuckDuckGo does not appear in your list, you can add it manually by entering its search URL in the settings.
  • After you set DuckDuckGo as default, any search you type in the address bar will use DuckDuckGo instead of your previous search engine.
  • You can keep multiple search engines installed and switch between them by clicking the search engine icon in the address bar.

Finding the search engine settings in Chromium

Open Chromium and look at the top right corner. You will see three vertical dots (sometimes called a hamburger menu or the Chrome menu). Click those dots.

A dropdown menu will appear. Scroll down and click Settings. A new tab will open showing your Chromium settings page. On the left side, you will see a list of categories. Click Search engine.

You are now in the search engine section. You will see a heading that says "Search engine used in the address bar" and below it a dropdown menu showing your current default search engine (probably Google).

Selecting DuckDuckGo from the built-in list

Click the dropdown menu under "Search engine used in the address bar". A list will appear showing all the search engines Chromium already knows about. Look for DuckDuckGo in that list.

If you see DuckDuckGo, click it. The dropdown will close and DuckDuckGo is now your default search engine. You can close the settings tab and start using it immediately. Any search you type in the address bar will now go to DuckDuckGo.

If you do not see DuckDuckGo in the list, move to the next section to add it manually. This is rare but can happen in some Chromium builds or older versions.

Adding DuckDuckGo manually if it is not in the list

Scroll down on the search engine settings page until you see a section called "Other search engines". Below that, you will see a button or link that says Add. Click it.

A small form will appear with three fields: "Search engine", "Shortcut", and "URL with %s in place of query". Fill them in as follows:

  • Search engine: Type "DuckDuckGo"
  • Shortcut: Type "ddg" (this is what you type in the address bar to search with DuckDuckGo without making it your default)
  • URL with %s in place of query: Type "https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s"

Click the Add button at the bottom of the form. DuckDuckGo will now appear in your "Other search engines" list. Go back to the dropdown under "Search engine used in the address bar" and select DuckDuckGo from there.

Testing your new default search engine

Close the settings tab and go back to the Chromium home page or any open tab. Click in the address bar at the top of the page. Type a question or search term — for example, "weather today" or "how to bake bread".

Press Enter. You should see DuckDuckGo's search results page, which has a different layout than Google. The DuckDuckGo logo will appear at the top left, and you will see a search box with your query already filled in. If you see Google results instead, go back to settings and make sure DuckDuckGo is actually selected as your default.

Switching between search engines without changing your default

You do not have to use only one search engine. You can keep Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and others all installed and switch between them on the fly. When you click in the address bar, look for a small icon or dropdown to the left of your search term. This shows your current search engine.

Click that icon and a list of your installed search engines will appear. Select whichever one you want to use for that particular search. Your default search engine does not change — you are just using a different one this time. This is useful if DuckDuckGo does not find what you are looking for and you want to try Google without going back to settings.

Removing your old search engine if you want to

Once DuckDuckGo is working as your default, you may want to remove Google or Bing from your search engine list to reduce clutter. Go back to Settings > Search engine. Find the search engine you want to remove in the "Other search engines" section. Hover over it and a trash icon will appear on the right side. Click the trash icon to remove it.

You cannot remove your current default search engine this way — Chromium will not let you delete the one you are actively using. If you want to remove Google, you must first switch your default to DuckDuckGo (which you have already done), and then the trash icon will appear next to Google's name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will DuckDuckGo work the same way as Google in the address bar?

Yes. You type your search into the address bar exactly the same way. The only difference is that DuckDuckGo does not store your search history or track you across websites. The search results themselves may look slightly different and may rank pages in a different order than Google does.

Can I use DuckDuckGo for some searches and Google for others?

Yes. Keep both search engines installed and click the search engine icon in the address bar before you search. Select which engine you want to use for that particular search. Your default does not change — you are just choosing a different one for that moment.

What if I change my mind and want to go back to Google?

Go back to Settings > Search engine and click the dropdown under "Search engine used in the address bar". Select Google. Your searches will go to Google again. You can switch back to DuckDuckGo anytime using the same steps.

Does changing my search engine hide my internet activity from my ISP?

No. Your internet service provider can still see that you are visiting DuckDuckGo and what websites you visit afterward. Changing your search engine only stops DuckDuckGo itself from tracking your searches. To hide your activity from your ISP, you would need to use a VPN, which is a separate tool.

Why does DuckDuckGo not appear in my search engine list?

Older versions of Chromium or certain builds may not include DuckDuckGo by default. If it is missing, use the "Add" button in the "Other search engines" section and enter the information manually. The URL you need is https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s.