Hi there! Thanks for reaching out about the DuckDuckGo browser crashing on your Windows PC and it apparently uninstalling itself along with affecting a few other apps. That’s quite unusual, so I’d like to gather a bit more information first to better understand what happened.

1. When you say it took out a few other apps, do you mean those apps stopped working, disappeared, or got uninstalled as well?
2. Did the crash happen while doing something specific in the DuckDuckGo browser or at random?
3. Have you checked whether the DuckDuckGo app is still listed in your installed programs or if any error messages popped up?
4. Are you using the official DuckDuckGo browser app or the DuckDuckGo extension in another browser?

This will help me narrow down the cause. Meanwhile, here’s a simple step to check if the browser is really gone or just not showing up:

- Go to Settings > Apps on your Windows 10 PC and look for DuckDuckGo in the list. If it's there, try selecting it and see if it gives options like Repair or Uninstall.

If it’s uninstalled, I can guide you on reinstalling it safely. Also, regarding the other apps affected, we might need to look at system logs or run a system check to make sure everything is intact.

Could you please provide a bit more detail on the points above? This will help me guide you step by step.

As point 1 Affinity Photo and designer disappeared at the same time not on Task Bar or in Apps in Settings

Thanks for the additional information! So, Affinity Photo and Designer completely disappeared from your PC, not showing up in the Taskbar or Apps in Settings. That’s quite concerning.

From similar cases reported with Affinity apps on Windows 10, sometimes these apps can go missing due to corrupted shortcuts, user profile issues, or even interference from other software changes like system updates or crashes1.

To start troubleshooting, here’s what I suggest:

1. Search Directly for the Program Executable:
- Press Windows Key + S and type “Affinity Photo” or “Affinity Designer” to see if Windows can find the program location.
- Alternatively, navigate to the usual install folder (commonly C:\Program Files\Affinity or wherever you chose during installation) and check if the executable (.exe) files are still there.

2. Check if the Apps are Hidden or Shortcuts Removed:
- Sometimes shortcuts may disappear while the app remains installed. If you find the executables, try launching the apps directly from there.
- You can also create new shortcuts manually by right-clicking the .exe and selecting “Create shortcut.”

3. Run a System File Check:
- Since multiple apps disappeared, it might be wise to check for system file corruption. Open Command Prompt as an administrator (search for "cmd", right-click and choose "Run as administrator"), then type:
<br> sfc /scannow<br>
- This command will scan and repair any corrupted system files which could be causing issues.

4. Check Event Viewer for Crash Reports:
- If you’re comfortable, open Event Viewer (search for “Event Viewer”) and look under Windows Logs > Application to see if there are any error logs related to DuckDuckGo or Affinity apps around the time you had the crash. This info can help diagnose if the apps were forcibly closed/uninstalled.

Let me know if you find the executables or any errors listed. We can proceed from there with reinstalling or repairing the apps if needed.

Also, regarding DuckDuckGo uninstalling itself: have you confirmed if it’s completely gone from your PC via the Settings > Apps list, or are you unable to launch it only?

Looking forward to your update!

I was using the official app and browsing OneDrive when it crashed

Thanks for letting me know you were using the official DuckDuckGo browser app and browsing OneDrive when it crashed. That detail helps a lot. Browsing OneDrive, especially if you were navigating or syncing files, can sometimes cause apps to behave unexpectedly due to how OneDrive handles file access or network connections.

Given that the DuckDuckGo app crashed and even uninstalled itself along with other apps disappearing, here are some steps we can try:

1. Restart your PC:
Sometimes a simple reboot clears any temporary conflicts or memory glitches that could cause apps to crash or disappear.

2. Check for system updates:
Please navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and make sure your system is fully updated. Some crashes are resolved by Windows updates.

3. Run a virus/malware scan:
Sudden disappearing apps can sometimes be caused by malware. Use Windows Defender or another trusted antivirus to scan your PC.

4. Check the installed apps list again:
Go to Settings > Apps and see if DuckDuckGo or the Affinity apps reappear. If they are gone, we might need to reinstall them.

5. Reinstall DuckDuckGo Browser:
Since the app seems uninstalled, download the latest official DuckDuckGo browser for Windows from the DuckDuckGo website or trusted source and install it again.

6. Look at OneDrive syncing status:
Since the crash happened browsing OneDrive, check if OneDrive is running okay and syncing files without issue. Sometimes OneDrive sync errors can cause apps accessing it to crash.

7. Clear DuckDuckGo app data if it’s still partially installed:
If you find DuckDuckGo in the installed apps, try clearing the app’s cache or data (though this is more common on mobile OS).

If after these steps the apps remain missing or DuckDuckGo keeps crashing, please let me know. There might be a need to dig deeper into system logs or consider restoring your system to a previous restore point if possible.

I found some related advice that clearing app storage and cache helped users on other platforms, and OneDrive itself is known to sometimes cause app crashes during file operations1 4.

Would you like me to guide you step-by-step through reinstalling DuckDuckGo or checking OneDrive for issues? Also, have you noticed any error messages during or after the crash?

Are you satisfied with the solution I provided so far?

Thank you for your help, I will come back for help on clearing up DDG

You're very welcome! Whenever you're ready to clear up or reinstall DuckDuckGo, just reach out and I’ll gladly guide you through the process step-by-step, making it as smooth as possible. If you run into any other issues in the meantime, whether it’s with the browser or anything else on your PC, don’t hesitate to ask.

Take care, and I'll be here whenever you need support! Are you satisfied with the assistance so far?