I have the same problem.

It's completely random. Sometimes I get some results (either from search or from history) while I type, but even after few characters it greys out. Even if I delete it and start typing again it stays like that. And it not only affects search - I'm trying to enter whole URL and hitting enter won't do anything.
Additionally I noticed that it starts to work when I enter Private mode.
I tried to disable ALL extensions but it didn't help. I'm also not keen to reset it or reinstall and starting from scratch.

And I have to say it's a big thing cause it makes my Opera unusable. I can only go to some sites through history or bookmarks. If I have to type it works after I open 7 or even 10 new tabs.

Every year the same thing. Black Friday is coming meaning new ads.

and after clicking it:

Does this

mean anything to you at all?

If this thread gonna be closed or not gonna explain this behaviour I'm dumping Opera after 19 years.

@deestonic I confirm, this is very frustrating! If you can't figure out why Opera has a single digit market percentage - now you know why!

I first noticed it on 72.0.3815.182 (l may not remember this version correctly), then it got updated yesterday to 72.0.3815.200 and today to 72.0.3815.207 - bug still exists.

Windows 10 Pro 2004
19041.572 compilation

Basically any animated background I choose is disappearing after the update.

1. Open speed dial
2. Set animated background
3. You can see background changing on open speed dial
4. Open new speed dial - ok
5. Open new speed dial - gone
6. Open new speed dial - gone
7. Open new speed dial - gone
   etc.

It looks like it's hidden using CSS:
<div class="wallpaper animated" style="display: none;">
when I remove display: none; it works fine

Static background works ok.
53.0.2907.68 / Win7

@leocg Is that all Opera staff have to say in this topic? I guess they just wait until all of us will calm down and get over it just before new ad will appear again.

How come Opera on the homepage says it's "free", same thing on Wikipedia it says it uses Freeware licence while clearly this all means it is adware!

It appeared today as well...
I clicked and in my case it leads to "https://alitems.com/g/1e8d114494a47a83735c16525dc3e8/?ulp=https%3A%2F%2Fsale.aliexpress.com%2Fpl%2F__pc%2F20181111_main.htm&subid=11.11.2018_TB_PL"

The link (or its ending) may be different depends on what country are you in.
I found the link in opera_browser.dll among many others. From what I see the link should appear only in:

• Poland
• Russia
• Ukraine
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Czech Republic
• Brazil

The link can be found in 56.0.3051.99 but not in 56.0.3051.52, so it's brand new.

@leocg Maybe not for all, but it did fix it for me as well

Every year the same thing. Black Friday is coming meaning new ads.

and after clicking it:

Does this

mean anything to you at all?

If this thread gonna be closed or not gonna explain this behaviour I'm dumping Opera after 19 years.

@leocg Maybe not for all, but it did fix it for me as well

I did nothing and now it occurs much less often. 1 in 10 attempts greys out. I can confirm that focusing in/out and reloading the new tab helps, but the problem is still there.

I first noticed it on 72.0.3815.182 (l may not remember this version correctly), then it got updated yesterday to 72.0.3815.200 and today to 72.0.3815.207 - bug still exists.

Windows 10 Pro 2004
19041.572 compilation

I have the same problem.

It's completely random. Sometimes I get some results (either from search or from history) while I type, but even after few characters it greys out. Even if I delete it and start typing again it stays like that. And it not only affects search - I'm trying to enter whole URL and hitting enter won't do anything.
Additionally I noticed that it starts to work when I enter Private mode.
I tried to disable ALL extensions but it didn't help. I'm also not keen to reset it or reinstall and starting from scratch.

And I have to say it's a big thing cause it makes my Opera unusable. I can only go to some sites through history or bookmarks. If I have to type it works after I open 7 or even 10 new tabs.

It appeared today as well...
I clicked and in my case it leads to "https://alitems.com/g/1e8d114494a47a83735c16525dc3e8/?ulp=https%3A%2F%2Fsale.aliexpress.com%2Fpl%2F__pc%2F20181111_main.htm&subid=11.11.2018_TB_PL"

The link (or its ending) may be different depends on what country are you in.
I found the link in opera_browser.dll among many others. From what I see the link should appear only in:

• Poland
• Russia
• Ukraine
• Belarus
• Kazakhstan
• Czech Republic
• Brazil

The link can be found in 56.0.3051.99 but not in 56.0.3051.52, so it's brand new.

Disabling "Receive promoted Speed Dials and Bookmarks" - doesn't help
Removing default_partner_content.json - doesn't help (I replace this file on each update to unlock custom search keywords)

Disabling sponsored content doesn't work with this. And closing it using "x" seems to only disabling it for 24h or so. I can see it for 3 days in a row now.

EDIT: New lead. I clicked "x" on mine today, so I can't check it, but ... I noticed a new file in Opera resources folder (mine is: c:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\56.0.3051.99\resources) called partner_speeddials.json. It contains urls to Aliexpress icon and site and many other partners (sic!). Can someone try to remove it and check if the Aliexpress bar is gone? I can only confirm that Opera starts without this file just fine.

Same here. I closed it yesterday but it's back today.
It's so ironic that with new version they added an option to disable sponsored content and at the same time they add more ads that ignore this switch. Especially after mods here denied the claim that Opera becomes adware browser.

How come Opera on the homepage says it's "free", same thing on Wikipedia it says it uses Freeware licence while clearly this all means it is adware!