DeepSeek V4.1 Flash can now look things up on the internet on ChatX. This is possible thanks to DeepSeek’s own search engine, which the company opened to developers on October 17, 2026. We connected it on November 10 and asked the same question once without and once with web search.
What is new
Until now, DeepSeek only knew what was known when its training ended. According to DeepSeek’s change log, there has been a dedicated search for developers since October 17, 2026. For each query it returns results with a title, address, date and a short summary.
On ChatX, this search is connected to DeepSeek V4.1 Flash. The model decides for itself what to search for. It writes the search queries, reads the results and builds the answer from them. Up to three rounds of searching are possible per answer. The pages it found are listed as sources below the answer.
The same question without and with web search
For the test we picked a question whose answer changes several times a year. We asked it in German:
What is the ECB's current key interest rate and when was it last changed?
| Without web search | With web search | |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit rate | 2.00% | 2.50% |
| Latest rate decision | October 2025 | October 29, 2026 |
| Sources | none | 12, including the ECB, the Bundesbank, ORF and Handelsblatt |
| Response time | 2 seconds | 5 seconds |
| Usage | 61 tokens | 756 tokens |
Without web search, DeepSeek answered from its training data, which is a good year old. It pointed out by itself that it cannot retrieve current data.
With web search, all three interest rates matched the ECB’s overview. The answer mentioned both rate increases of this year, the pause on October 29 and a news report from the day before about a possible further step in December.
We found one small mistake: DeepSeek wrote that the latest increase was decided at the meeting on September 16. In fact, the decision was made on September 10. September 16 is the day the new rate took effect.
How to switch on web search
- Choose the model: Select DeepSeek V4.1 Flash in the chat.
- Click the globe: The globe icon at the input field switches on web search for your question.
- Ask your question: You do not need to add anything special. The model decides whether and what to search for.
You need a balance of at least 20,000 tokens for web search. This applies to all models. The free daily allowance alone is not enough.
How many tokens an answer with web search uses
In our tests, answers with web search came to 756 and 928 tokens. The same question without web search used 61 tokens. The difference arises because DeepSeek reads the results as text. The search itself hardly adds to it. Even with web search, DeepSeek remains one of the economical models on ChatX.
Three things you should know
- No thinking mode: With web search switched on, DeepSeek answers without thinking mode. For math and logic problems, leave web search off and thinking mode on.
- Check figures and dates: Web search makes answers more current, but not error-free. In the test the interest rates were right and one date had slipped. For important details it is worth clicking the source.
- Sources from all over the world: DeepSeek’s search engine also returns Chinese, Arabic or Russian pages. The answer still comes in your language.
What else DeepSeek V4.1 Flash can do, such as reading images, is covered in our post DeepSeek V4.1 Flash reads images.