Search service DuckDuckGo is currently down after experiencing a major outage that has left users without access to the privacy-focused alternative to Google.
The disruption continues to affect the platform’s core search functionality, with no timeline provided for restoration.
Users attempting searches have encountered error messages directing them to Duck.ai, the company’s AI chat service, as a temporary alternative. The company confirmed this on X with its signature duck-themed humor, promising to “get our ducks in a row” to fix the issue.
The outage has struck a search engine that processes nearly 3 billion queries monthly. From launching in September 2008 to hitting 1 billion searches in 2013, DuckDuckGo has grown into one of the most popular mobile search engines in the US.
Despite holding just 0.65% of the global market, its influence far exceeds these numbers.
DuckDuckGo’s core appeal is simple: no data collection, no tracking, no user profiles. While Google builds detailed user profiles for targeted ads, DuckDuckGo delivers search results based purely on queries, not personal history.
The service pulls from over 400 sources, including Bing, Yahoo, Wolfram Alpha, and Wikipedia, to generate results without compromising privacy.
This approach means users see unfiltered results rather than personalized bubbles created by algorithmic assumptions. Instead of letting tech companies curate information based on user profiles, DuckDuckGo returns control to users themselves.
We will keep you updated on the search engine’s status as more information is made available.
UPDATE
DuckDuckGo is now back up after a couple of hours of downtime. All search engine services and functions are now working as expected.
