diff --git a/client/simple/src/less/toolkit.less b/client/simple/src/less/toolkit.less
index 223ab9571..364eb73c5 100644
--- a/client/simple/src/less/toolkit.less
+++ b/client/simple/src/less/toolkit.less
@@ -193,6 +193,15 @@ div.selectable_url {
   border-color: var(--color-warning);
 }
 
+.dialog-warning-block {
+  .dialog();
+
+  display: block;
+  color: var(--color-warning);
+  background: var(--color-warning-background);
+  border-color: var(--color-warning);
+}
+
 .dialog-modal {
   .dialog();
 
diff --git a/searx/templates/simple/base.html b/searx/templates/simple/base.html
index 3ddc62ace..c8e75b713 100644
--- a/searx/templates/simple/base.html
+++ b/searx/templates/simple/base.html
@@ -51,7 +51,11 @@
         {%- endif -%}
       {%- endblock -%}
       {%- block linkto_preferences -%}
-        <a href="{{ url_for('preferences') }}" class="link_on_top_preferences">{{ icon_big('settings') }}<span>{{ _('Preferences') }}</span></a>
+        {%- if request.args.get('preferences') -%}
+          <a href="{{ url_for('preferences') }}?preferences={{ request.args.get('preferences') }}&preferences_preview_only=true" class="link_on_top_preferences">{{ icon_big('settings') }}<span>{{ _('Preferences') }}</span></a>
+        {%- else -%}
+          <a href="{{ url_for('preferences') }}" class="link_on_top_preferences">{{ icon_big('settings') }}<span>{{ _('Preferences') }}</span></a>
+        {%- endif -%}
       {%- endblock -%}
     </nav>
     {% block header %}
diff --git a/searx/templates/simple/preferences.html b/searx/templates/simple/preferences.html
index e86e926cc..87bd99c45 100644
--- a/searx/templates/simple/preferences.html
+++ b/searx/templates/simple/preferences.html
@@ -155,6 +155,16 @@
 
   <h1>{{ _('Preferences') }}</h1>
 
+  {%- if request.args.get('preferences_preview_only') == 'true' -%}
+    <div class="dialog-warning-block">
+      <p>{{ _("This is a preview of the settings used by the 'Search URL' you used to get here.") }}</p>
+      <ul>
+        <li>{{ _('Press save to copy these preferences to your browser.') }}</li>
+        <li>{{ _('Click here to view your browser preferences instead:') }} <a href="{{ url_for('preferences') }}">/preferences</a></li>
+      </ul>
+    </div>
+  {%- endif -%}
+
   <form id="search_form" method="post" action="{{ url_for('preferences') }}" autocomplete="off">
     {{- tabs_open() -}}
 
diff --git a/searx/webapp.py b/searx/webapp.py
index 4be087a09..218959a9c 100755
--- a/searx/webapp.py
+++ b/searx/webapp.py
@@ -861,8 +861,11 @@ def preferences():
 
     # save preferences using the link the /preferences?preferences=...
     if sxng_request.args.get('preferences') or sxng_request.form.get('preferences'):
-        resp = make_response(redirect(url_for('index', _external=True)))
-        return sxng_request.preferences.save(resp)
+        # if preferences_preview_only is 'true', the prefs from the 'preferences' query are
+        # shown in the settings page, but they're not applied unless the user presses 'save'
+        if sxng_request.args.get('preferences_preview_only') != 'true':
+            resp = make_response(redirect(url_for('index', _external=True)))
+            return sxng_request.preferences.save(resp)
 
     # save preferences
     if sxng_request.method == 'POST':