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Want to Clean Up Your Search Results? How DuckDuckGo Puts You in Control of Your Internet
DuckDuckGo has introduced several new updates designed to give you more power over your online searches and browsing. These changes aim to make your experience cleaner, safer, and more private. They let you decide what you see and how you use artificial intelligence (AI), all without needing to learn complicated new tools. The core idea is to let you fine-tune what you find, reduce unwanted clutter, and protect your personal information automatically.
These improvements are not just minor adjustments. They represent a significant focus on what users have been asking for: more control and less noise. From blocking annoying websites to deciding if you want to see AI-generated images, these tools are built to work for you. Let’s explore what these updates are and how they can help you create a better, more personal internet experience.
Customize What You See in Search
One of the biggest challenges with search engines is seeing the same low-quality websites appear over and over. DuckDuckGo now offers a way to fix this directly.
Block Unwanted Websites
You can now permanently block specific websites from ever showing up in your search results. If you find that certain domains consistently provide unhelpful or irrelevant information, you can add them to a blocklist. This feature allows you to block up to five different websites, helping you clean up your search results for good. You can edit this list whenever you want. For privacy, this list is stored on your device and will be removed if you clear your browsing data, ensuring your choices remain your own.
Hide AI-Generated Images
Artificial intelligence can create very realistic pictures, but sometimes you only want to see real photographs. AI-generated content can clutter image searches and make it hard to find genuine images. DuckDuckGo has added a simple switch in its Images tab that lets you hide all AI-made pictures. This gives you a choice that is rare among modern search engines, allowing you to focus on the type of content you are actually looking for.
A Safer and Clearer Browsing Experience
Beyond just search results, DuckDuckGo is making the entire browsing journey safer and easier to navigate. The updates focus on protecting you from online threats and making information easier to understand at a glance.
The DuckDuckGo browser’s Scam Blocker feature has been enhanced to protect you from a wider range of online dangers. It works quietly in the background to keep you safe. This tool now blocks more than just the typical phishing websites that try to steal your passwords. It also identifies and blocks fake online stores, unreliable crypto exchanges, and “scareware” pages that try to frighten you into downloading harmful software. This protection is free and turned on by default. Most importantly, it works without tracking your activity, staying true to DuckDuckGo’s commitment to privacy.
Visual searches are also much improved. When you search for images, the results are now easier to scan and use. Thumbnails are larger, so you can see the picture more clearly before you click. Each image now includes a clear label showing which website it comes from. This small change makes a big difference, as it removes the guesswork and helps you decide which sources to trust.
Use AI on Your Own Terms
Artificial intelligence is becoming a common part of search, but it can often feel intrusive. DuckDuckGo is integrating AI in a way that puts you in charge, letting you use it when and how you want.
Duck.ai, the platform’s AI chat feature, now provides access to two powerful models: Claude Haiku 3.5 and GPT-4o mini. A key benefit is that both models have real-time access to the web. This means they can provide answers based on the very latest information available online, complete with links to their sources. This is different from many other AI tools that rely on older, saved data, which can sometimes lead to incorrect or outdated answers.
You can also personalize how the AI interacts with you.
- Set the Tone: You can ask the AI to respond in a specific style, whether you need a professional, casual, or simple answer.
- Control the Length: You can tell the AI to give you a short summary or a detailed explanation.
- Choose How It Addresses You: You can even decide how the AI refers to you in its responses.
These preferences are saved across your chats, so you do not have to set them every time. This makes the AI feel more like a personal tool that understands your needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all feature.
Easy Control Over Your Search Layout
DuckDuckGo understands that not everyone wants AI answers dominating their search page. The new design addresses this by making AI helpful but not overwhelming.
When you perform a search, AI-powered Search Assist answers are short and to the point by design. If you need more information, a “More” button allows you to expand the answer for a deeper dive. This approach keeps your results page clean and ensures that you only get detailed AI responses when you ask for them.
Furthermore, a new toggle is available right on the search page. This lets you switch between the standard search view and the Duck.ai chat interface instantly. You can easily choose the right tool for your specific query without navigating to a different page. If you prefer the classic search experience without any AI features, you can turn off the new layout entirely in the search settings. This ultimate level of control ensures DuckDuckGo works exactly the way you want it to.