Updated on
There is no single search engine for the deep web. Use the search box inside a library, archive, or account for material held there. To look for publicly listed .onion sites, you can use an onion index such as Ahmia and open the address in Tor Browser.
Deep web, dark web, and regular search
The deep web includes pages that ordinary search engines do not index, such as your email inbox, a private document, or results inside a subscription database. Use the service itself and sign in if you have access. The dark web is a part of the deep web that uses special networks. Tor’s onion services use addresses ending in .onion.
| What you want to find | Where to search |
|---|---|
| Public articles, documentation, or websites | A regular web search engine |
| A record in a library, private portal, or subscription archive | The provider’s catalogue or search tool, using your own access |
| Publicly listed Tor onion services | An onion index such as Ahmia. Open a verified address in Tor Browser. |
| An onion version of a publisher you already know | The address published by that organization on its own site |
What Ahmia and DuckDuckGo search
Ahmia indexes public onion services it discovers. You can start from Ahmia’s official site. An index can miss sites or keep an entry after the service goes offline. Ahmia explains its filtering and reporting policies on its site.
DuckDuckGo offers an onion version of its web search. Opening the search engine through Tor still gives you regular web search results. For ordinary searches outside Tor, our Qwant privacy guide explains what a search provider may process.
How to open a public onion site
- Get Tor Browser from the Tor Project and connect to Tor.
- Find the address on the publisher’s own website when possible. Check the full address before opening it.
- Paste the verified
.onionaddress into Tor Browser. If the service does not load, check the address against the source. Onion services can be offline or move to a new address.
Tor changes how your connection reaches the site. Information you enter on a page, such as an email address, can still identify you to that site. See the Tor Project’s onion services guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can Google search the deep web?
Google can sometimes find a public landing page for a library or service. Use the provider’s search tool for records that require a login or that are not indexed.
Can I open an onion address in Chrome or Edge?
An onion service is available through the Tor network. Use Tor Browser to open its address.
Can a search engine find every onion site?
An onion index covers only the services it discovers and can index. Private services and offline pages may be absent.