• Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Users
    • Groups
    • Rules
    • Help

    Do more on the web, with a fast and secure browser!

    Download Opera browser with:

    • built-in ad blocker
    • battery saver
    • free VPN
    Download Opera

    Opera setting itself as default browser?

    General
    4
    13
    8845
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • balloonhandler
      balloonhandler last edited by

      Twice in the past week I've had to reset the default browser on my work machine.
      Opera had somehow become the default browser both times.

      These events coincide with the release dates on the 102 change log.
      https://blogs.opera.com/desktop/changelog-for-102/

      Is this just me or have others experienced this as well?

      Reply Quote 0
        1 Reply Last reply
      • balloonhandler
        balloonhandler last edited by

        It happened again this morning coinciding with the 103.0.4928.16 update.

        On my machine Opera is setting itself as the default browser without my permission.

        Is there any way to disable this?

        Reply Quote 0
          leocg 1 Reply Last reply
        • leocg
          leocg Moderator Volunteer @balloonhandler last edited by

          @balloonhandler How are you updating Opera?

          Reply Quote 0
            balloonhandler 1 Reply Last reply
          • balloonhandler
            balloonhandler @leocg last edited by

            @leocg It updates itself because there's no setting to turn that off.

            Reply Quote 0
              leocg 1 Reply Last reply
            • leocg
              leocg Moderator Volunteer @balloonhandler last edited by

              @balloonhandler Strange, Opera doesn't set itself as default browser here on updates.

              Just in case, run the installer and disable the option to set Opera as default browser, maybe it helps.

              Reply Quote 0
                1 Reply Last reply
              • burnout426
                burnout426 Volunteer last edited by

                In installer_prefs.json in the install folder, do you see anything like "setdefaultbrowser":true?

                Reply Quote 0
                  balloonhandler 1 Reply Last reply
                • balloonhandler
                  balloonhandler @burnout426 last edited by balloonhandler

                  @burnout426 Nope, no such entry in the latest installer_prefs.json file.
                  (I do see this, which is clearly not respected by the program: "autoupdate":false)

                  Thanks for pointing me in the right direction though. In the installation_status.json I found a very suspicious flag. It certainly looks like Opera is setting itself as the default browser every time it updates without my permission.

                  {"data":""C:\Users\********\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\Launcher.exe" --makedefaultbrowser",
                  "name":"ReinstallCommand",
                  "type":"REG_SZ"},

                  Thanks for the help.

                  Posting this using Brave.

                  Reply Quote 0
                    burnout426 2 Replies Last reply
                  • burnout426
                    burnout426 Volunteer @balloonhandler last edited by

                    @balloonhandler said in Opera setting itself as default browser?:

                    {"data":""C:\Users********\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\Launcher.exe" --makedefaultbrowser",
                    "name":"ReinstallCommand",
                    "type":"REG_SZ"},

                    That's just the entry at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\OperaStable\InstallInfo" or "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\OperaStable\InstallInfo" in the registry and is normal. That shouldn't affect things. But, you can play with things to test if it does.

                    Reply Quote 0
                      1 Reply Last reply
                    • burnout426
                      burnout426 Volunteer @balloonhandler last edited by

                      @balloonhandler said in Opera setting itself as default browser?:

                      @burnout426 Nope, no such entry in the latest installer_prefs.json file.

                      Okay. Not sure if the absence of the entry means "true". You can do what Leo said and see if unchecking the option in the installer adds anything to installer_prefs.json.

                      Reply Quote 0
                        burnout426 1 Reply Last reply
                      • burnout426
                        burnout426 Volunteer @burnout426 last edited by

                        @burnout426 said in Opera setting itself as default browser?:

                        You can do what Leo said and see if unchecking the option in the installer adds anything to installer_prefs.json.

                        It doesn't seem to add anything in my testing.

                        Reply Quote 0
                          balloonhandler 1 Reply Last reply
                        • balloonhandler
                          balloonhandler @burnout426 last edited by

                          @burnout426 Thank you for your time, your suggestions, and your willingness to help.

                          But ultimately I just have to ask why bother? Why go through a bunch of trial and error in this arcane s*** to try to get Opera back to some level of "acceptable"? There are other browsers that are already acceptable.

                          I've uninstalled Opera from my work machine and have moved on.

                          Best of luck to all.

                          Reply Quote 2
                            burnout426 1 Reply Last reply
                          • burnout426
                            burnout426 Volunteer @balloonhandler last edited by

                            @balloonhandler Ok, sounds good. Have a good one.

                            Reply Quote 1
                              1 Reply Last reply
                            • blackfog1
                              blackfog1 last edited by leocg

                              Exactly same behavior happening with me as of Feb 2024.
                              I explicitly unchecked the option to not make Opera my default browser. I'd really like to have it for occasional use. But Opera keeps becoming the default browser somehow.

                              It happened a week ago and I uninstalled and re-installed. For a few days after installing, Chrome was the default browser and everything worked fine. I just realized that my web links suddenly started opening in Opera. Default browser in Windows settings has changed somehow. I did not click anything in Opera or in Windows to make it the default. Spooky!

                              So uninstalling it for the third time and may be for good now.

                              Reply Quote 0
                                1 Reply Last reply
                              • Locked by  leocg leocg 
                              • First post
                                Last post

                              Computer browsers

                              • Opera for Windows
                              • Opera for Mac
                              • Opera for Linux
                              • Opera beta version
                              • Opera USB

                              Mobile browsers

                              • Opera for Android
                              • Opera Mini
                              • Opera Touch
                              • Opera for basic phones

                              • Add-ons
                              • Opera account
                              • Wallpapers
                              • Opera Ads

                              • Help & support
                              • Opera blogs
                              • Opera forums
                              • Dev.Opera

                              • Security
                              • Privacy
                              • Cookies Policy
                              • EULA
                              • Terms of Service

                              • About Opera
                              • Press info
                              • Jobs
                              • Investors
                              • Become a partner
                              • Contact us

                              Follow Opera

                              • Opera - Facebook
                              • Opera - Twitter
                              • Opera - YouTube
                              • Opera - LinkedIn
                              • Opera - Instagram

                              © Opera Software 1995-2025