What Does "Let Me StartPage That For You" Mean and How Do You Use LMSPTFY?

Updated

"Let me StartPage that for you" is a playful way of telling someone to look something up themselves, using Startpage instead of Google. LMSPTFY (lmsptfy.com) is the tool that makes this work: you enter a search query, and it generates a shareable link that opens that query on Startpage. You'd use it when someone asks a question that's easy to search, and you want to hand them a ready-made search link rather than just saying "Google it."

Where the Phrase Comes From

The "let me X that for you" format started as a joke about doing a trivial task for someone who could easily do it themselves. The best-known version is "Let me Google that for you," which generates a link that plays an animation of someone typing the query into Google before showing the results.

LMSPTFY applies the same idea to Startpage, a search engine known for returning Google results through a privacy-focused interface. The phrase "let me StartPage that for you" therefore means: "This is easy to find — here's a Startpage search for it."

What LMSPTFY Actually Does

According to the site, LMSPTFY turns your query into a shareable Startpage search. The page offers two output options:

  • Shorten URL — produces a compact link you can paste into a chat or email.
  • Preview search — lets you check what the search will look like before you share it.

The site also points to partner tools for other private search engines, including DuckDuckStart and Let Me DuckDuckGo That For You, which do the same thing for DuckDuckGo.

How to Generate and Share a Search Link

  1. Enter your query. Type the search terms you want the other person to run.
  2. Choose your output. Use Shorten URL for a tidy link, or Preview search to confirm the result first.
  3. Share the link. Send it however you like — the recipient opens it and lands on the Startpage results for that query.

The JavaScript Requirement

The page states: "Please enable JavaScript to share your search." In practice, this means the link-generation step depends on JavaScript running in your browser. If JavaScript is disabled, the sharing function won't work, so enable it before trying to create a link.

When to Use It (and When Not To)

Situation Is LMSPTFY a good fit?
Someone asks a question with an obvious search answer Yes — a link is faster than an explanation
You want to share a search without sending them to Google directly Yes — the link points to Startpage
The question needs a nuanced or personal answer No — a search link can come across as dismissive
You need the recipient to see a specific source, not a results page No — link them to the source itself

A Note on Naming

The site's footer states that the word "StartPage" is copyrighted by Startpage. LMSPTFY is an independent tool built by "yano and Zek Y," not an official Startpage product, so treat it as a third-party utility rather than something endorsed by the search engine.

Related Tools

If you'd rather send someone to a different private search engine, the same page recommends:

  • DuckDuckStart
  • Let Me DuckDuckGo That For You

These follow the identical pattern — enter a query, get a shareable search link — just pointed at DuckDuckGo instead of Startpage.