DuckDuckGo Browser

ApplicationDuckDuckGo

Also called duckduckgo windows, ddg browser

DuckDuckGoBrowsers

The Windows desktop browser from the DuckDuckGo search company. The process is DuckDuckGo.exe.

What you need to know

DuckDuckGo Browser is a Windows browser. Search-only DuckDuckGo is a different habit.

The search company ships a desktop browser for Windows 10 May 2020 or later. DuckDuckGo.exe is that app. A duckduckgo.com tab inside Chrome is still Chrome.

What is it?: Web browser
Still current?: Yes, see Current status
Official download?: Use the vendor link in this article

Feex says

If DuckDuckGo.exe is running, I treat it as the desktop browser, not a search tab in Edge. Changing Edge search to DuckDuckGo is a different setup.

What is DuckDuckGo Browser?

DuckDuckGo Browser is a privacy-focused Windows browser with DuckDuckGo search and tracker blocking built in. The process is DuckDuckGo.exe.

If you have never used it

If you only knew DuckDuckGo as a search box, this is a full Windows browser from the same company. Download it from duckduckgo.com/windows or the Microsoft Store. It is not a Chrome skin you sideload, and it is not just setting DuckDuckGo as the search engine in Edge.

What is it used for?

Private search in the same window

The address bar uses DuckDuckGo search. That is the product, not an Edge search shortcut.

Tracker blocking

Built-in blocking DuckDuckGo documents for this browser. It is not a separate extension you must hunt.

Email Protection and Fire Button

Optional DuckDuckGo account features. You can browse without them.

Who is it for?

People who already use DuckDuckGo search and want the matching Windows browser
Users who do not want to only change the search engine in Chrome
Anyone who thought DuckDuckGo was search-only

Current status

DuckDuckGo Browser (2022) is a current web browser from DuckDuckGo. The vendor still points Windows users at https://duckduckgo.com/windows.

How old is it?

DuckDuckGo the search engine is older. The Windows desktop browser arrived in 2022. It is not the 2008 Chrome launch and not a 1990s IE replacement story.

Versions

Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.

Current Windows build

System requirements

Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.

Minimum

Minimum system requirements
Operating system	Windows 10 May 2020 or later, per DuckDuckGo help
RAM	Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more.

Resource profile

CPU demand: Follows what you open inside the app
RAM demand: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries

Installed processes

These executables belong to this product when it is installed.

Installed processes
DuckDuckGo.exe	Main Windows executable

Startup components

The browser can reopen the last session. It is not a Windows component and does not need to start at sign-in.

File locations

Common DuckDuckGo Browser locations
Typical install	A WindowsApps DuckDuckGo package, or the vendor MSIX install

File formats

HTMLPDFPNGJPEG

Common problems

Install fails on older Windows 10

DuckDuckGo says Windows 10 May 2020 or later. An old 1903 PC will reject the package.

People think they already have it

Setting DuckDuckGo as the search engine in Edge does not install DuckDuckGo.exe.

Getting unstuck

Use duckduckgo.com/windows or the Store listing

A DuckDuckGo browser exe from a download mill is the wrong file.

Try the official MSIX if the package parser fails

DuckDuckGo help documents an MSIX bundle for package errors. That is their supported fallback.

Confirm DuckDuckGo.exe, not msedge.exe

If you only changed the search engine, you are still in Edge.

Alternatives

Firefox or Brave if you want a different privacy-default browser. Using DuckDuckGo search inside Chrome is not this product.

Official help and downloads

Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.

Official contacts
Download	duckduckgo.com/windows Official installer or vendor page
Help	duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/ Vendor support
Official site	duckduckgo.com/windows Start here, not a random exe host

Related hardware

A current Windows 10 or 11 PC is enough. RAM follows tab count like other browsers.

Technical details

Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.

Sources and verification

Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.

DuckDuckGo Browser official site · Vendor product page
DuckDuckGo Browser help · Vendor support
Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.

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