<![CDATA[Frequently Asked Questions]]>This is a tentative of keeping together answers for the most frequently asked questions about Opera for desktops.

This topic will be updates as more questions arrive in the forums.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/topic/23336/frequently-asked-questionsRSS for NodeThu, 13 Aug 2026 01:01:22 GMTWed, 15 Nov 2017 21:53:07 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Mon, 06 Apr 2020 19:51:12 GMT]]>I've added a search engine but can't make it the default one

Only the pre-defined search engines - those that already come with Opera - can be set up as the default one.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/205522https://forums.opera.com/post/205522Mon, 06 Apr 2020 19:51:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:17:42 GMT]]>How Can I Disable Desktop Notifications?

Go to opera://settings/content/notifications and put the toggle on the left. This will block all notifications.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/194077https://forums.opera.com/post/194077Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:17:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:25:08 GMT]]>How can I disable Auto-Update?

  • Windows

In Opera's installation folder (Menu > Help > About Opera for the path), find the folder with the current build and rename the auto updater executable file inside it.
Open the task scheduler, go to the library and remove any Opera entry.

  • Mac

Type the following into a terminal:

defaults write com.operasoftware.Opera OPDisableAutoUpdate true
]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/160273https://forums.opera.com/post/160273Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:25:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Sat, 01 Dec 2018 01:48:45 GMT]]>How to change the search engine in start page

You can't change it but you can hide it in settings.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/159979https://forums.opera.com/post/159979Sat, 01 Dec 2018 01:48:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Sat, 03 Nov 2018 16:05:12 GMT]]>I'm seeing several instances of Opera in task manager

Opera is based on Chromium, that is multi-process. So it uses different process for each different thing like the browser itself, tabs, extensions and so on.

In Opera's task manager, you can see each one of those processes.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/158040https://forums.opera.com/post/158040Sat, 03 Nov 2018 16:05:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Sat, 25 Aug 2018 02:59:27 GMT]]>Some sites say that I'm in a different place than the one selected on the VPN

https://blogs.opera.com/desktop/2018/01/opera-50-introduces-anti-bitcoin-mining-tool/#comment-3693794894

We're aware of this problem. This is caused by how Google assign country to particular IP. If you'll be routed to VPN server used mostly e.g. by Ukrainian people and Google classified such IP as Ukraine then you'll be hit by this issue where google.com is redirected to google.com.ua.

Replace Google by any site. Basically the site is guessing your location wrongly.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/153291https://forums.opera.com/post/153291Sat, 25 Aug 2018 02:59:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:49:45 GMT]]>I've enabled sync but my Speed Dial isn't synced

You can find your Speed Dials from other devices and/or installations under 'Other Speed Dials' in the bookmarks page (opera://bookmarks)

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/152946https://forums.opera.com/post/152946Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:49:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Sat, 15 Dec 2018 21:47:04 GMT]]>What files and folders should I back up?

The best thing to do is to backup the entire profile folder. If you want to backup something specific, please refer to https://help.opera.com/en/latest/crashes-and-issues/#backup

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/147718https://forums.opera.com/post/147718Sat, 15 Dec 2018 21:47:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Thu, 01 Feb 2018 21:35:02 GMT]]>How to create a clean profile directory

Take note of the path to the profile directory (see above), then go there using your OS file explorer and rename the directory so Opera will create a new one on next start.

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/138783https://forums.opera.com/post/138783Thu, 01 Feb 2018 21:35:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Fri, 12 Jan 2018 03:14:02 GMT]]>Where can I find old versions of Opera?

You can find them at Opera's FTP

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/137017https://forums.opera.com/post/137017Fri, 12 Jan 2018 03:14:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Frequently Asked Questions on Sun, 18 Nov 2018 17:54:02 GMT]]>What is Opera's profile directory and where can I find it?

The profile folder is where Opera stores its (basically yours) data such as history, passwords, extensions, settings and so on.
To find the path to the profile directory go to Menu > Help > About Opera or type opera://about in address bar

]]>https://forums.opera.com/post/137016https://forums.opera.com/post/137016Sun, 18 Nov 2018 17:54:02 GMT