DuckDuckGo browser now enables users to sync their passwords and bookmarks across all their devices without the need to create an account.
How It Works
Rival browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi offer sync support, but it requires signing in to an account. DuckDuckGo’s solution is similar to Brave Browser’s Sync Chain, where the data is stored on the user’s devices instead of in an account.
DuckDuckGo ensures that the data is end-to-end encrypted, and the decryption key is only stored on the user’s device. This means that no one else can access the user’s bookmarks or passwords. The browser used to support importing data from other browsers, but setting it up on multiple devices had to be done manually. With the new sync feature, this process is now automated. In addition to passwords and bookmarks, the browser also syncs Email Protection settings between devices.
How to Use It
To sync bookmarks and passwords with DuckDuckGo browser, follow these steps:
- Open the DuckDuckGo browser on the device.
- Go to the Settings.
- Select Sync & Backup.
- Click “Sync with Another Device”.
- The browser will display a QR code that can be scanned with the phone’s camera. Alternatively, users can use the “Text Code” which can be copied and pasted on the device.
Once completed, the data will be synced between devices. Any changes made on one device will automatically be reflected on the others. DuckDuckGo will also provide a recovery code that can be saved as a PDF or Text Code and used to recover data if the device is lost.
Mobile-Specific Features
The mobile version of the browser has two special features. DuckDuckGo for Android and iOS supports auto-download of icons for synced bookmarks. While the option is disabled by default, users can enable it to sync favorites across devices.
The desktop browser does not yet have these features, but they are expected to be added soon.
Additional Features
In addition to these syncing features, the DuckDuckGo browser offers other notable capabilities. For example, it supports Duck Player for watching YouTube videos, comes with a built-in ad-blocker and tracker blocker, and supports Bitwarden Password Manager on macOS. However, it does not support ad-blocking filter lists, which means users cannot fine-tune it according to their specific requirements.
While the DuckDuckGo browser does not yet support extensions, it’s worth noting that a Linux version of the browser does not currently exist. These are the only drawbacks that may deter users from making the switch.
Image Source: Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock
