How to Self-Host SearXNG — Privacy-Focused Metasearch Engine

In today’s digital landscape, privacy has become a precious commodity. Every search query you make is tracked, analyzed, and used to build detailed profiles about your interests and behaviors. Popular search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo collect vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about digital privacy and autonomy.

This is where SearXNG emerges as a powerful solution—a self-hosted, privacy-focused metasearch engine that puts you back in control of your search experience. By aggregating results from multiple search engines while maintaining complete anonymity, SearXNG offers the best of both worlds: comprehensive search results without sacrificing your privacy.

What is SearXNG and How Can It Transform Your Search Experience?

SearXNG is a free, open-source metasearch engine that revolutionizes how you interact with search technology. Unlike traditional search engines that track and profile users, SearXNG acts as an intermediary that queries multiple search engines simultaneously while preserving your anonymity.

Key Benefits of SearXNG

How SearXNG Works

The magic of SearXNG lies in its metasearch architecture:

Component	Function	Benefit
Query Distribution	Sends your search to multiple engines	Comprehensive results
Result Aggregation	Combines and deduplicates responses	Unified experience
Privacy Layer	Acts as intermediary proxy	Anonymous searching
Customization Engine	Filters based on preferences	Personalized results

SearXNG is a fork of the original Searx project, enhanced with additional features, improved performance, and better maintenance. You can explore the project further at their official GitHub repository and documentation site.

For a comprehensive list of useful applications, check out our guide on Docker containers for home servers.

Prerequisites

Before embarking on your SearXNG self-hosting journey, ensure you have the following infrastructure components in place:

• VPS or Dedicated Server: A reliable hosting platform where you can install SearXNG. We recommend Hetzner for excellent performance and pricing. For optimal experience, consider:

  • Minimum: 2 CPU cores, 2GB RAM, 20GB storage
  • Recommended: 4+ CPU cores, 4GB+ RAM, 40GB+ storage
  • Alternative: Mini PC as Home Server for local hosting

• Reverse Proxy Setup (for HTTPS access):

  • Option 1: Traefik with Docker configured - follow our guide: How to Use Traefik as A Reverse Proxy in Docker
  • Option 2: Traefik with Let’s Encrypt wildcard certificates - see: Traefik FREE Let’s Encrypt Wildcard Certificate With CloudFlare Provider

• Container Management: Docker and container orchestration tools:

  • Docker Engine: Latest stable version
  • Docker Compose: For multi-container orchestration
  • Dockge (optional): Simplified Docker management - tutorial: Dockge - Portainer Alternative for Docker Management

• Domain Name: A domain or subdomain pointing to your server (e.g., search.yourdomain.com)

Setup Option 1: Docker & Docker Compose (Standalone)

This method provides a straightforward installation using Docker containers without additional complexity. Perfect for users who want a simple, self-contained SearXNG instance.

Step 1: Create Project Directory

Begin by establishing a dedicated directory structure for your SearXNG installation:

mkdir -p ~/searxng && cd ~/searxng

Step 2: Create Docker Compose Configuration

Create a comprehensive docker-compose.yml file that includes SearXNG with Redis caching for optimal performance:

version: '3.8'

services:
  searxng:
    image: "docker.io/searxng/searxng:latest"
    container_name: "searxng"
    volumes:
      - "./config:/etc/searxng:rw"
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
    environment:
      - PGID=1000
      - PUID=1000
      - SEARXNG_BASE_URL=http://localhost:8080
      - SEARXNG_REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/0
      - UWSGI_WORKERS=4
      - UWSGI_THREADS=4
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    cap_add:
      - CHOWN
      - SETGID
      - SETUID
    depends_on:
      redis:
        condition: service_healthy
    restart: unless-stopped

  redis:
    container_name: searxng-redis
    image: docker.io/valkey/valkey:8-alpine
    command: valkey-server --save 30 1 --loglevel warning
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - "redis-data:/data"
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    cap_add:
      - SETGID
      - SETUID
      - DAC_OVERRIDE
      - CHOWN
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "valkey-server", "--version"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 10s

volumes:
  redis-data:

Step 3: Initialize Configuration Directory

Create the necessary directory structure for SearXNG configuration files:

mkdir -p config

Step 4: Launch SearXNG

Deploy your SearXNG instance using Docker Compose:

docker compose up -d

Step 5: Access Your Search Engine

Once the containers are running, access SearXNG through your web browser:

• Local Access: http://localhost:8080
• Network Access: http://your-server-ip:8080

Setup Option 2: Traefik & Dockge Integration

This advanced setup integrates SearXNG with Traefik reverse proxy and Dockge container management, providing HTTPS encryption, automatic SSL certificates, and simplified management through a web interface.

Step 1: Prepare Traefik Network

Verify your Traefik network exists and create if necessary:

docker network create traefik-net

Step 2: Enhanced Docker Compose with Traefik Labels

Create a production-ready docker-compose.yml with Traefik integration:

version: '3.8'

networks:
  traefik-net:
    external: true

services:
  searxng:
    image: "docker.io/searxng/searxng:latest"
    container_name: "searxng"
    volumes:
      - "./config:/etc/searxng:rw"
    environment:
      - PGID=1000
      - PUID=1000
      - SEARXNG_BASE_URL=https://search.yourdomain.com
      - SEARXNG_REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/0
      - UWSGI_WORKERS=4
      - UWSGI_THREADS=4
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    cap_add:
      - CHOWN
      - SETGID
      - SETUID
    networks:
      - traefik-net
    depends_on:
      redis:
        condition: service_healthy
    restart: unless-stopped
    labels:
      - "traefik.enable=true"
      - "traefik.http.routers.searxng.rule=Host(`search.yourdomain.com`)"
      - "traefik.http.routers.searxng.entrypoints=https"
      - "traefik.http.routers.searxng.tls=true"
      - "traefik.http.routers.searxng.tls.certresolver=letsencrypt"
      - "traefik.http.services.searxng.loadbalancer.server.port=8080"

  redis:
    container_name: searxng-redis
    image: docker.io/valkey/valkey:8-alpine
    command: valkey-server --save 30 1 --loglevel warning
    restart: unless-stopped
    networks:
      - traefik-net
    volumes:
      - "redis-data:/data"
    cap_drop:
      - ALL
    cap_add:
      - SETGID
      - SETUID
      - DAC_OVERRIDE
      - CHOWN
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "valkey-server", "--version"]
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 10s

volumes:
  redis-data:

Step 3: Deploy Through Dockge

1. Access your Dockge interface (typically https://dockge.yourdomain.com)
2. Create a new stack named “searxng”
3. Paste the Docker Compose configuration
4. Customize the domain name in the Traefik labels
5. Deploy the stack

Step 4: Configure Domain DNS

Point your chosen subdomain to your server’s IP address:

Record Type	Name	Value	TTL
A	search	your-server-ip	300

Setup Option 3: Dokploy Easy Deployment

Dokploy offers the most streamlined deployment experience with built-in templates and automated configuration. This method is ideal for users who prefer GUI-based management with minimal command-line interaction.

Step 1: Install Dokploy

If you haven’t already, set up Dokploy on your server following our comprehensive guide: Dokploy Installation Tutorial.

Step 2: Create SearXNG Application

1. Access Dokploy Dashboard: Navigate to your Dokploy interface
2. Create New Project: Click “New Project” and name it “searxng”
3. Select Template: Choose “SearXNG” from the available templates or create a custom compose application

Step 3: Configure Environment Variables

Set up the following environment variables in Dokploy:

Variable	Value	Description
SEARXNG_BASE_URL	https://search.yourdomain.com	Your public URL
UWSGI_WORKERS	4	Number of worker processes
UWSGI_THREADS	4	Threads per worker
PGID	1000	Group ID for file permissions
PUID	1000	User ID for file permissions

Step 4: Domain Configuration

1. Navigate to the “Domains” section in your Dokploy project
2. Add your domain: search.yourdomain.com
3. Set Container Port (8080 for SearXNG)
4. Enable SSL/TLS certificate generation in Certificate Provider

Step 5: Deploy Application

Click the “Deploy” button and monitor the deployment logs. Dokploy will automatically:

• Pull required Docker images
• Set up networking
• Generate SSL certificates
• Configure reverse proxy rules

Deploy SearXNG

Advanced Configuration and Customization

Once your SearXNG instance is operational, you can enhance its functionality through various configuration options.

Search Engine Selection

Navigate to Preferences → Engines to customize your search sources:

Privacy and Security Settings

Configure these essential privacy options:

Setting	Recommended Value	Purpose
Safe Search	Moderate	Filter inappropriate content
Image Proxy	Enabled	Hide IP from image sources
Method	POST	Prevent query leaks in referrers
Autocomplete	Disabled	Avoid external service calls

Performance Optimization

Fine-tune SearXNG performance based on your server specifications:

environment:
  - UWSGI_WORKERS=8        # 2x CPU cores
  - UWSGI_THREADS=4        # Adjust based on RAM
  - SEARXNG_REDIS_URL=redis://redis:6379/0

Custom Themes and Appearance

SearXNG supports multiple themes and customization options:

• Default Theme: Clean, modern interface
• Simple Theme: Minimal design with fast loading
• Oscar Theme: Feature-rich with advanced filters
• Pix-art Theme: Artistic, image-focused layout

Browser Integration

Setting SearXNG as Default Search Engine

For Firefox/LibreWolf:

1. Navigate to about:preferences#search
2. Click “Add Search Engine”
3. Enter details:
   • Name: SearXNG Privacy Search
   • URL: https://search.yourdomain.com/search?q=%s
4. Set as default search engine

For Chrome/Chromium:

1. Go to Settings → Search engine → Manage search engines
2. Click “Add” next to “Other search engines”
3. Fill in:
   • Search engine: SearXNG
   • Keyword: searxng
   • URL: https://search.yourdomain.com/search?q=%s

Browser Extension Benefits

Monitoring and Maintenance

Health Monitoring

Implement monitoring to ensure optimal SearXNG performance:

# Add to your docker-compose.yml
healthcheck:
  test: ["CMD", "curl", "-f", "http://localhost:8080/search?q=test&format=json"]
  interval: 30s
  timeout: 10s
  retries: 3
  start_period: 40s

Regular Maintenance Tasks

Backup Strategies

Protect your SearXNG configuration with regular backups:

# Backup configuration
tar -czf searxng-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz config/

# Backup Redis data (optional)
docker exec searxng-redis redis-cli BGSAVE

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Search Results Not Appearing

Symptoms: Empty search results or specific engines not working

Solutions:

1. Check engine status in preferences
2. Verify network connectivity from container
3. Review rate limiting settings
4. Update engine configurations

Performance Issues

Symptoms: Slow search responses or timeouts

Solutions:

1. Increase UWSGI workers and threads
2. Optimize Redis memory allocation
3. Disable problematic search engines
4. Implement result caching

SSL Certificate Problems

Symptoms: HTTPS errors or certificate warnings

Solutions:

1. Verify domain DNS configuration
2. Check Traefik certificate generation logs
3. Restart Traefik container
4. Validate certificate resolver settings

Security Best Practices

Network Security

Data Protection

Component	Security Measure	Implementation
Search Queries	No logging	Default SearXNG behavior
User Sessions	No cookies	Disabled in preferences
IP Addresses	Proxy protection	Redis session storage
SSL/TLS	Strong encryption	Let’s Encrypt certificates

Conclusion

Self-hosting SearXNG represents a significant step toward digital privacy and search independence. By implementing your own metasearch engine, you gain:

Whether you choose the straightforward Docker approach, the robust Traefik integration, or the streamlined Dokploy deployment, SearXNG provides a powerful foundation for private, efficient web searching. The investment in self-hosting pays dividends in privacy protection and search quality enhancement.

As digital privacy becomes increasingly important, tools like SearXNG demonstrate that you don’t need to compromise functionality for privacy. Take control of your search experience today and enjoy the freedom of truly private web searching.

Start Your SearXNG Journey

Ready to explore more self-hosting opportunities? Check out our comprehensive guides on Docker container management, Traefik reverse proxy setup, and Dokploy platform deployment to expand your self-hosted infrastructure.