Launch Your Own Private Search Engine_ A Complete Guide to Self-Hosting SearXNG.pdf

Every time you type something into Google, Bing, or any major search engine, you're creating a detailed profile of yourself. Your searches reveal your health concerns, financial situation, political views, shopping habits, and personal interests. These companies don't just store this information—they sell insights derived from it to advertisers and use it to manipulate what you see online.

1. Launch Your Own Private Search Engine: A Complete Guide to Self-
Hosting SearXNG
The Search Privacy Problem Nobody Talks About
Every time you type something into Google, Bing, or any major search engine, you're creating a detailed profile
of yourself. Your searches reveal your health concerns, financial situation, political views, shopping habits, and
personal interests. These companies don't just store this information—they sell insights derived from it to
advertisers and use it to manipulate what you see online.
Most people accept this as the price of using free search engines. But what if you didn't have to?
SearXNG offers a different approach. This open-source metasearch engine lets you search the web privately by
aggregating results from multiple search engines without tracking you. Better yet, you can host it yourself,
giving you complete control over your search data.
This guide walks you through everything you need to know about setting up your own private search engine.
Whether you're a privacy enthusiast, a tech professional, or just someone tired of being tracked online, you'll
find practical steps to reclaim your search privacy.
What Makes SearXNG Different from Regular Search Engines
SearXNG isn't a traditional search engine that crawls and indexes the web. Instead, it's a metasearch engine—
software that queries multiple search engines simultaneously and combines their results into a single list.
When you search with SearXNG, your query goes to dozens of different search engines at once. The software
collects all the responses, removes duplicates, and presents you with aggregated results. The key difference:
none of your identifying information gets sent to those search engines.
Regular search engines build detailed profiles about you over time. They track which results you click, how
long you spend on pages, what you search for next, and when you search. This creates a comprehensive picture
of who you are and what you want.
SearXNG breaks this tracking chain. The search engines it queries see requests coming from the SearXNG
server, not from you personally. They can't connect multiple searches to the same person or build a profile over
time.
The Core Philosophy
SearXNG operates on three fundamental principles that set it apart from commercial search products.

2. First, it doesn't track users. The software doesn't store search queries, doesn't log IP addresses, and doesn't use
cookies to identify returning visitors. Each search is completely isolated from any previous searches.
Second, it's completely open source. Anyone can review the code to verify it does what it claims. There are no
hidden tracking mechanisms, no backdoors, and no secret deals with data brokers. The transparency builds trust.
Third, the project is community-driven. Volunteers maintain the code, fix bugs, and add features. Nobody
profits from your search data because nobody collects it in the first place.
What SearXNG Can Do
The software supports aggregation from up to 249 different search services. This includes major engines like
Google and Bing, but also specialized sources for images, videos, news, maps, social media, scientific papers,
and more.
You can search for regular web pages, but you can also search scientific publications, social media posts,
software packages, torrent files, and countless other specialized content types. All from one interface.
SearXNG works with Tor for people who need maximum anonymity. You can access it through an onion
service, making your searches truly untraceable.
The search experience is highly customizable. You choose which search engines to query, how results get
ranked, what the interface looks like, and how the software handles your queries. No algorithm decides what
you should see.
Public vs Private Instances
You have two ways to use SearXNG. Public instances are servers other people run that anyone can access. The
searx.space directory lists hundreds of these public servers worldwide.
Public instances work fine for casual use. They still protect your privacy much better than using Google
directly. But they have limitations. You can't customize them beyond basic preferences. Popular instances
sometimes get slow or rate-limited. You have to trust whoever runs the server.
Running your own instance solves all these problems. You control every aspect of the configuration. You get
dedicated resources just for your searches. Nobody else can see what you search for, not even the instance
operator, because you are the operator.
Why You Should Host Your Own Search Engine
Self-hosting SearXNG offers benefits that go far beyond just privacy protection.
Taking Back Your Data
When you run your own instance, your search data never leaves your control. The queries don't pass through

3. any third-party servers except the brief moment when SearXNG forwards them to get results. No company can
subpoena your search history because there is no search history.
This matters more than most people realize. Search queries reveal intimate details about our lives. They show
when we're sick, what medications we take, relationship problems, career concerns, legal troubles, and financial
stress. This information is sensitive, and it should stay private.
Your own instance means you decide what happens with this data. You can log searches if you want to track
your own research. You can delete logs immediately. You can encrypt everything. The choice is yours.
Customization Without Compromise
Public instances have to balance the preferences of many users. Your own instance can be configured exactly
how you want it.
You decide which search engines to query. If you don't like Google's results, remove it. If you want to prioritize
privacy-focused engines like DuckDuckGo or Qwant, bump them up. If you need specialized academic search
engines for research, add those.
The interface can match your preferences. Dark mode, light mode, or custom themes. Compact results or
detailed previews. Instant answers or minimal interface. Everything is configurable.
You control result filtering and ranking. Block entire domains. Boost results from specific sites. Filter out
particular content types. Create search shortcuts for common queries. The software adapts to how you work
instead of forcing you into someone else's workflow.
Better Performance
Public instances serve hundreds or thousands of users. They implement rate limiting to prevent abuse, which
means your searches can get slowed down or blocked if the server is busy.
Your private instance has dedicated resources. All the CPU, memory, and bandwidth serve only your queries.
Searches return faster because the server isn't juggling requests from dozens of other people.
Local deployment cuts latency even further. If you run SearXNG on hardware in your home or office, there's no
round trip to a distant server. Searches feel instant.
Practical Use Cases
Privacy protection is the obvious use case, but it's not the only one.
Families can run a shared instance that everyone uses. Parents get peace of mind knowing their kids' searches
aren't being tracked and profiled. Nobody's building an advertising dossier on a twelve-year-old's interests.

4. Organizations benefit from private search too. Employees can research competitive intelligence, industry trends,
and sensitive topics without tipping off what the company is investigating. No search leaks to competitors
through advertising networks.
Self-hosted software enthusiasts often run SearXNG alongside other privacy-focused services like password
managers, file storage, and email servers. It completes a fully self-hosted digital ecosystem.
Researchers and journalists use private search engines to investigate topics without leaving traces. If you're
researching something controversial or sensitive, you don't want your search history potentially exposed.
Getting Ready: What You'll Need
Self-hosting requires some technical resources and knowledge, but probably less than you think.
Server Requirements
SearXNG is lightweight compared to most web applications. A basic setup needs:
A dual-core CPU (modern processors work great, older hardware often suffices)
2GB of RAM (more if you plan heavy usage)
10GB of storage space (the software itself is small, but you need room for logs and cache)
A stable internet connection
These modest requirements mean you can run SearXNG on hardware you already own. An old laptop, a spare
desktop, or a Raspberry Pi all work fine for personal use. You don't need expensive server equipment.
The software runs on Linux systems. Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, and other mainstream distributions all
work. You can use Windows with WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) if needed, though native Linux is
simpler.
Where to Host
You have several options for where to run SearXNG.
A traditional server works great if you have spare hardware. An old computer gathering dust can become your
search engine. This costs nothing beyond electricity and gives you complete control.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices from Synology, QNAP, or similar manufacturers can run SearXNG in
Docker containers. If you already have a NAS for file storage, adding a search engine is straightforward.
Virtual machines let you run SearXNG on any computer without dedicating the whole machine. This works well
if you want to test the setup before committing hardware.

5. Cloud hosting from providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, or Vultr gives you a server without managing physical
hardware. A $5-10 per month VPS handles personal search volume easily. This option works well if you want to
access your search engine from anywhere.
Network Configuration
You need to decide whether your search engine will be private or publicly accessible.
For private use, you only need local network access. The search engine stays behind your firewall, accessible
only from your home or office network. This is simplest and most secure.
Public access requires a domain name and SSL certificate. You'll configure your router to forward traffic to the
server and set up HTTPS for encrypted connections. This lets you search from anywhere but requires more
setup.
Time and Skills
Installing SearXNG takes anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours depending on your experience level and
chosen method.
You should be comfortable with the command line, editing text files, and following technical instructions. You
don't need to be a professional system administrator, but basic Linux knowledge helps.
The process involves running commands, editing configuration files, and troubleshooting potential issues. If
you've ever installed software on Linux or followed online tutorials for self-hosting other applications, you can
handle this.
Choosing Your Installation Method
SearXNG offers several installation paths. Picking the right one depends on your experience level and how
much control you want.
Docker Container Approach
Docker containers package software with all its dependencies, making installation simpler and more reliable.
This is the recommended method for most people.
Pre-built SearXNG images support various processor architectures including x86, ARM, and others. You don't
compile anything or manage Python dependencies. Just pull the image and configure it.
Updates are painless. When a new version releases, you pull the updated image and restart the container. Your
configuration stays intact across updates.
Docker isolates SearXNG from the rest of your system. If something breaks, it doesn't affect other software. If
you want to remove SearXNG, you delete the container and it's gone completely.

6. The downside is less flexibility. You work within the containerized environment, which can complicate certain
customizations. But for standard installations, Docker is hard to beat.
Installation Scripts
The SearXNG project provides installation scripts that automate the setup process on several Linux
distributions. These scripts handle most configuration automatically.
Scripts work well when you want something between Docker's simplicity and manual installation's control.
They configure the web server, create system users, set up services, and handle permissions automatically.
This method suits people comfortable with Linux but who don't want to manually configure every component.
The scripts make good choices for most use cases.
You still need to understand the basics of what's happening. When something goes wrong, you'll need to
troubleshoot the installed components. But scripts eliminate the tedium of typing commands and editing
configuration files manually.
Manual Installation
Installing SearXNG step-by-step gives you complete understanding and control. You manually configure the
web server, set up the WSGI gateway, create service files, and establish security settings.
This takes longer and requires more Linux knowledge. But you learn exactly how everything works. When
problems arise, you know where to look because you configured each piece yourself.
Manual installation works best when you have specific requirements. Maybe you need to integrate with existing
infrastructure. Maybe you want to use a particular web server configuration. Maybe you're running on an
unusual system.
The documentation provides detailed instructions. Following them carefully, even without deep Linux expertise,
leads to a working installation. It's more about patience and attention to detail than advanced skills.
Making the Choice
For most people starting out, Docker provides the best balance. It's quick, reliable, and widely supported. You
can have a working search engine in 30 minutes.
If Docker isn't available on your system or you prefer traditional installations, the automated scripts are next
best. They handle the complexity while giving you a standard Linux service.
Manual installation makes sense when you need specific configurations, want to learn deeply, or enjoy the
satisfaction of building everything yourself.

7. Whichever path you choose, you'll end up with a functional private search engine. The differences are in the
journey, not the destination.
Installing SearXNG Step by Step
This guide covers Docker installation since it's the most straightforward approach. The concepts apply to other
methods too.
Preparing Your System
Start by updating your system. On Ubuntu or Debian:
Install Docker if you haven't already:
Create a dedicated directory for SearXNG:
Setting Up the Container
Create a Docker Compose file that defines how SearXNG runs:
bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
bash
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y
bash
mkdir -p ~/searxng
cd ~/searxng
yaml

8. This configuration tells Docker to:
Use the latest SearXNG image
Map port 8080 on your server to port 8080 in the container
Store configuration in a local directory
Restart automatically if the container stops
Create the configuration directory:
Generate a basic configuration file:
This creates a default configuration you'll customize later.
Starting the Service
Launch SearXNG:
version: '3'
services:
searxng:
image: searxng/searxng:latest
container_name: searxng
ports:
- "8080:8080"
volumes:
- ./searxng:/etc/searxng
restart: unless-stopped
bash
mkdir -p searxng
 
bash
docker run --rm -v "$(pwd)/searxng:/etc/searxng" searxng/searxng:latest sh -c "cat /etc/searxng/settings.yml" > searxng/setting
bash
docker-compose up -d

9. The -d flag runs it in the background. Docker downloads the image (first time only) and starts the service.
Check that it's running:
You should see the searxng container listed.
Testing Your Installation
Open a web browser and navigate to:
Replace your-server-ip with your server's address. For local testing, use http://localhost:8080.
You should see the SearXNG search interface. Try a search. If results appear, the basic installation works.
Setting Up a Reverse Proxy
For production use, put SearXNG behind a reverse proxy with SSL. This encrypts your search traffic and
provides a clean domain name.
Install NGINX:
Create a configuration file at /etc/nginx/sites-available/searxng:
bash
docker ps
http://your-server-ip:8080
bash
sudo apt install nginx -y
nginx

10. Enable the site:
Install Certbot for SSL certificates:
Certbot configures HTTPS automatically and sets up automatic renewal.
Securing Your Installation
Generate a secret key for SearXNG. This protects against certain attacks:
Copy the output and add it to your searxng/settings.yml file:
server {
listen 80;
server_name search.yourdomain.com;
location / {
proxy_pass http://localhost:8080;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
}
}
bash
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/searxng /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl restart nginx
bash
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
sudo certbot --nginx -d search.yourdomain.com
bash
openssl rand -hex 32
yaml
server:
secret_key: "your-generated-key-here"

11. Consider restricting access. If this is only for personal use, you can limit it to your IP address in the NGINX
configuration or use HTTP authentication.
Restart SearXNG after configuration changes:
Configuring Your Search Engine
The settings.yml file controls every aspect of how SearXNG operates. Understanding this file unlocks the
software's full potential.
Configuration File Structure
The file uses YAML format with several main sections:
server: Basic server settings
search: Search behavior configuration
ui: Interface customization
engines: Individual search engine settings
Comments in the default file explain each option. Read through them to understand what's available.
Choosing Search Engines
SearXNG can query nearly 250 different search services. You probably don't want all of them enabled.
The engines section lists all available options. Each has settings like:
The weight controls how much that engine's results influence the final ranking. Higher numbers mean more
influence.
Disable engines by changing disabled: false to disabled: true. Or remove them entirely from the configuration.
bash
docker-compose restart
yaml
- name: google
engine: google
disabled: false
weight: 1.0

12. Some engines require API keys. For example, to use Wolfram Alpha:
You'll need to register for keys from the respective services.
Interface Customization
The ui section controls appearance:
Themes change the look completely. Options include:
simple: Clean, minimalist design
oscar: More detailed, feature-rich interface
pointhi: Compact results
Language settings affect the interface, not search results. Search engines return results in various languages
based on the query and their own logic.
Privacy Settings
Control how SearXNG handles user data:
yaml
- name: wolframalpha
engine: wolframalpha
api_key: YOUR_API_KEY
yaml
ui:
default_locale: "en"
default_theme: simple
infinite_scroll: true
results_on_new_tab: false
yaml

13. The limiter protects against abuse by tracking and limiting requests from individual IP addresses. For personal
use, you might disable it. For public instances, keep it enabled.
Request timeout determines how long to wait for search engines to respond. Lower values make searches faster
but might miss results from slow engines.
Performance Tuning
Several settings affect speed and resource usage:
Max request timeout sets the absolute maximum time for any search. If this is too low, searches fail. If too high,
slow engines drag down performance.
Consider reducing the number of enabled engines if searches feel slow. Quality matters more than quantity. A
few reliable, fast engines often produce better results than dozens of slow, unreliable ones.
Plugin System
SearXNG supports plugins that add functionality:
server:
limiter: true
secret_key: "your-secret-key"

outgoing:
request_timeout: 3.0
useragent_suffix: ""
pool_connections: 100
yaml
search:
max_request_timeout: 10.0
formats:
- html
- json
yaml
plugins:
- search_on_category_select
- self_information
- tracker_url_remover

14. The tracker URL remover strips tracking parameters from result links. This prevents websites from knowing
you came from a search engine.
Self information adds details about the SearXNG instance to search results. The search on category select plugin
lets you quickly switch between search categories.
Browse the available plugins in the documentation. Enable ones that match your workflow.
Advanced Features Worth Exploring
SearXNG offers capabilities beyond basic search that become valuable once you're comfortable with the basics.
Tor Integration
If you need maximum privacy, run SearXNG as a Tor hidden service. This makes your instance accessible
through the Tor network with a .onion address.
Install Tor:
Configure Tor to expose a hidden service by editing /etc/tor/torrc:
Restart Tor:
Your .onion address appears in /var/lib/tor/searxng/hostname. Anyone can access your instance through this
address using Tor Browser, and the connection is completely anonymous.
API Access
SearXNG provides an API for programmatic searches. Any application can query your instance and process
results automatically.
Enable JSON format in settings.yml (usually enabled by default). Then query the API:
bash
sudo apt install tor -y
HiddenServiceDir /var/lib/tor/searxng/
HiddenServicePort 80 127.0.0.1:8080
bash
sudo systemctl restart tor

15. This returns search results as structured JSON data. Use this to integrate search into custom applications, build
search shortcuts, or automate research tasks.
The OpenSearch format lets you add your instance as a search engine in Firefox, Chrome, or other browsers.
Users can search directly from the address bar using your instance.
Multi-User Considerations
If multiple people use your instance, consider resource allocation and rate limiting.
The limiter feature tracks requests by IP address and blocks abusive patterns. This prevents someone from
overwhelming your server with queries.
Monitor system resources. If searches slow down, you might need more CPU or RAM. Docker makes it easy to
set resource limits:
Consider whether you want to allow public access. Running a private instance for trusted users is very different
from opening it to the internet. Public instances need stricter security and rate limiting.
Browser Integration
Once your instance runs, make it your default search engine. The process varies by browser but usually
involves:
1. Visiting your SearXNG instance
2. Opening browser settings
3. Adding a custom search engine
4. Setting it as default
http://your-instance/?q=search+terms&format=json
yaml
services:
searxng:
image: searxng/searxng:latest
deploy:
resources:
limits:
cpus: '2'
memory: 2G

16. Now searches from the address bar use your private instance instead of Google or Bing. Your browsing stays
private without changing habits.
Keeping Everything Running Smoothly
Self-hosted software requires some maintenance. The workload is light, but regular attention keeps things
working well.
Regular Tasks
Check logs periodically to spot problems early. Docker makes this simple:
Look for errors or warnings. Most messages are routine, but repeated failures searching specific engines might
indicate configuration issues.
Monitor disk space. Logs and cache files accumulate over time. Set up log rotation:
Add:
This limits logs to 10MB per file, keeping the three most recent. Restart Docker for changes to take effect.
Updating SearXNG
The project releases new versions regularly with bug fixes, new engines, and features. Updating is
straightforward:
bash
docker logs searxng
bash
sudo nano /etc/docker/daemon.json
json
{
"log-driver": "json-file",
"log-opts": {
"max-size": "10m",
"max-file": "3"
}
}

17. This downloads the latest image and restarts the container. Your configuration persists across updates.
Before updating, back up your configuration:
This creates a dated backup. If something breaks, you can restore the previous configuration.
Monitoring Performance
Pay attention to search response times. If searches that used to be fast start slowing down, investigate.
Check which engines are responding slowly:
Disable problematic engines temporarily. Sometimes search engines block or rate-limit certain IP addresses.
Disabling them for a while often resolves issues.
Monitor server resources with standard tools:
If CPU usage stays high, reduce the number of concurrent engines. If memory fills up, decrease cache size or
add more RAM.
Community Resources
When you run into problems, the SearXNG community provides support.
The documentation at docs.searxng.org covers most topics in detail. Search there first when you have questions.
bash
cd ~/searxng
docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d
bash
cp -r searxng searxng-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d)
bash
docker exec searxng cat /var/log/uwsgi/searxng.log | grep timeout
bash
top
df -h

18. GitHub issues track known bugs and feature requests. Search existing issues before creating new ones.
Someone might have already solved your problem.
IRC and Matrix channels connect you with other users and developers. These communities are helpful and
welcoming to newcomers.
Keep your instance reasonably up to date. Old versions might have security issues or compatibility problems
with search engines that changed their APIs.
Fixing Common Problems
Even straightforward installations sometimes hit snags. Here's how to resolve typical issues.
Installation Problems
If Docker won't start the container, check the logs:
Permission errors usually mean the container can't access the configuration directory. Fix ownership:
Port binding errors occur when something else uses port 8080. Either stop the conflicting service or change
SearXNG's port in docker-compose.yml.
Missing dependencies rarely happen with Docker, but manual installations might encounter them. Install
whatever the error message mentions.
Search Problems
If searches return no results, check that engines are enabled in settings.yml. At least a few engines must be
active.
Slow searches suggest timeout issues. Increase the request timeout in configuration:
bash
docker logs searxng
bash
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/searxng
yaml
outgoing:
request_timeout: 5.0

19. CAPTCHA challenges from search engines mean they detect automated queries. This happens when searching
too frequently or if your IP address has a bad reputation. Spread out searches, enable fewer engines
simultaneously, or wait a while.
Configuration Errors
YAML syntax is picky about indentation and formatting. If SearXNG won't start after changing configuration,
validate the YAML:
This reports syntax errors. Fix them carefully, maintaining the exact indentation structure.
Invalid engine settings cause searches to fail. Double-check engine names, API keys, and required parameters.
The documentation lists requirements for each engine.
SSL certificate problems prevent HTTPS access. Certbot usually handles this automatically, but if you see
certificate errors, regenerate them:
Getting Help
Start with the official documentation. It answers most questions and includes troubleshooting sections.
Check the GitHub issues. Someone probably encountered your problem before. Search both open and closed
issues.
When asking for help on IRC or Matrix, include:
Your operating system and version
Installation method (Docker, script, manual)
Relevant log excerpts
What you already tried
Detailed questions get better answers. "It doesn't work" helps nobody. "Searches hang after 10 seconds and logs
show timeout errors from Google" gives people something to work with.
Taking Control of Your Digital Life
bash
docker exec searxng python3 -c "import yaml; yaml.safe_load(open('/etc/searxng/settings.yml'))"
bash
sudo certbot renew --force-renewal

20. Setting up your own search engine marks a meaningful step toward digital independence. You're no longer just a
product in someone else's business model.
The technical skills you develop through self-hosting extend beyond search. The same principles apply to email,
file storage, messaging, and other services we usually outsource to big tech companies.
SearXNG demonstrates that privacy and functionality don't conflict. You can have powerful search without
surveillance. You can aggregate results from major engines without letting them track you.
The open-source community makes this possible. Volunteers built SearXNG because they believe in privacy
and user control. By running your own instance, you participate in this movement toward a better internet.
Start small if this feels overwhelming. Install SearXNG on an old laptop just to try it. Use a public instance
while you learn. Read the documentation at your own pace. The barrier to entry is lower than you might think.
Your searches reveal who you are. They deserve better protection than a privacy policy you've never read. Self-
hosting puts you in control. The effort pays dividends in privacy, customization, and peace of mind.
The tools exist. The documentation is clear. The community is supportive. Nothing stops you from launching
your own private search engine except the decision to start.