I got the new "Instant Search" Popup and I am not happy with it. Whoever suggested this feature seriously needs attention. I thought at first it was malware infecting my computer before I did a Google search and see that Opera is responsible. I have looked in settings but cannot see a disable for this . Can someone help please ?

Thanks for your responses, I have now calmed down. I have removed it from the sidebar but when I first had the "instant search" bar appear I don't think I clicked on anything to get it to appear, which makes it mysterious. I hope the "instant search" bar can only be used by user intervention and not when Opera thinks it should be shown. As a side note when Opera does these "upgrades" why don't they show a page automatically after the update so the user is aware of what features have been added or removed.

As a longtime user of Opera and noticed it fails to perform basic functions sometimes correctly I am wondering if it is worth bothering with. Vivaldi always works as expected but Opera ? !!!
Today I caught two Opera auto update processes running in task manager at the sametime. Both pointed to the correct Opera file, why two processes and while I'm speaking about therm why won't Opera let us turn off auto updates ? Also had Opera crash reporter appear at a different time today also in task manager. However I have Opera set to NOT send crash reports so why is it running ? Business organisations usually get the basics right before adding new features but Opera doesn't seem capable of this. I will continue to use Opera probably as a secondary installation so I can remove it easily if it continues to display "odd" behaviour.

Pleased to read yantas comments. I have many machines (Windows 7) and sometimes do standalone installations. They can be installed into one folder (with sub folders)on the hard drive so easy to delete if something suspicious happens. In the end today, I completely removed everything with the word Opera reinstalled and set up my settings all in about 10 minutes.

I have been a long term user of Opera but find it doesn't have a status bar at the bottom of the page. Vivaldi have recently got their status bar to provide more info regarding page loading process etc. Anyone know of an extension suitable for Opera ? I've had a quick look myself and can't find anything.

OK today had a small problem. Wanted to download offline package to update browser, I have done this many times in the past. The url is
https://www.opera.com/computer however going there no offline installer shown on the whole page apart from a portable usb installer. At the bottom of the page is a green box saying "Download Now" which downloads the stub which is not what I do ! Vivaldi came to the rescue and typing in exactly the same url showed the link to the offline installer of Opera towards the top of the pageon the right.. So i got what I wanted in the end. Why this hassle ?

Thank you burnout426 for your reply the comments have been noted

Thanks for the explanation.

Been playing with the new version of Opera and find its all great so far apart from the number of ads blocked no longer appears on the "x" shield in address bar (Operas ad blocker).Clicking on the shield does then give info on the number of ads blocked but it would still be good to see at a glance the number of ads blocked . Is this going to be the new default behaviour ?

Hope someone can help me. Since updating to version 60 I have noticed that under privacy & security/content settings/cookies . If I click on add to block some cookies, the add button doesn't work. Is anyone else experiencing this ? Also I have only two wallpapers to choose from after updating, this seems strange too.

With all Operas alleged problems during the past few years it makes me wonder what else is wrong with it that we don't know about. Personally I would remove it, Can you trust a browser with your financial details when it behaves erratically and has I believe far east foreign owners.( I stand to be corrected on that point). It all boils down to is Opera worth bothering with when their are more sturdy alternatives available.

As the original poster to this thread I would suggest removing Opera completely as soon as you are able to do so and opt for another chromium based browser (not Google Chrome). Then you will not have this problem OR difficultys with updates OR have the opera browsing assistant. In the end I just gave up on Opera after using the browser for 15 years. Once you are able to make the change it will be one less annoyance

I don't think your comment was appropriate but I have stated the facts of my "experience" with Opera both in the past and present. I am not seeking attention just stating my comments. As for Opera it is now only on one computer, in the household and when/if it gets removed permanently from that one too I will cease to have need to write to this forum.

For several years I have been annoyed that the Opera browser appears to have difficulty in updating itself. I have only so much patience in the hopes that something would be done about the matter, but Opera developers cannot for some reason correct the issue. If I go to help, about opera and click for updates it will sometimes go up to 100% and then stall. I then need to repeat the exact same process about four times before Opera will update. I realise it is possible to download the full offline package and I have done that in the past but feel I should not have to do so. A few years ago Opera was a unique browser and stood out from the other browsers but now it sits amongst the other chromium browsers and if you compared them all on features and reliability I do not see Opera as having any "must have" features and as such whats the point of it. All it has given is hassle (with updates) and the dreaded "Opera Browsing assistant". To those that stay with opera why do they do so, have they not checked out the competition lately ?

Regarding your message, i don't get the issue now. It could be because I don't have Opera on as many computers as I once did, due to Opera's irritating issues like the" Browsing assistant". If detailed answers can't be given the customer can walk and try other chromium browsers like I have done.

After much thought I have decided to reinstal Opera on my Windows 7 machines, but not my Windows 10 ones. These installations I hope to make "stand alone". I don't trust using a USB stick between my computers due to the very remote possibility of viruses etc being transferred on these relatively old machines..
As I have several Windows 7 machines could I instal Opera as a "stand alone" on the C Drive of one computer which I have done in the past, make a backup of the Opera folder which would automatically add the sub folders etc . Then transfer the results by CD direct to the C Drive of another machine so i then have two installations. Doing it this way would hopefully save me from setting up new settings/preferences etc.

To the moderator. The post says assistant gets installed if Opera is bundled with another program and according to the majority of these posts, it is not the case ! I will probably try and instal it tomorrow from the given link but I have the thought the OBA will still appear if not on instal then when the program updates.

To the moderator, I am trying to be serious here. You say "The answer has been already given." presumably in response to my question about the "Opera Browsing Assistant" .However I cannot see any definitive answer anywhere ,where is it ?

Although I don't have Opera on my computers now I would like to reinstal it on at least a few of them, but can't until I get an answer to what the "Opera Browser assistant" actually is. I could try a new (to me) browser but that may be adding petrol to the fire (unknown territory). I can remember Opera had a feature called The "Amazon Assistant" that would ask to be installed on what seemed like most occasions Opera was booted up. I always declined. Searching Google for the OBA shows it as being installed when third party applications are used to instal it, but this is not the case in these latest instances. I am especially careful about security on my Windows 7 machines, so like to know what is being installed. Will we ever know the answer ?

In answer to why I can't name the "rival" browser. In another post topic I was asked what other browser I use and the moderator locked the topic to stop me from replying !!! I can only assume it was the moderator who locked the topic and I will apologise if proven wrong. I had no notification that the topic would be locked either ! Suffice to say its not a rare browser but what I and some other people consider the natural successer to the Opera browser. If the moderator wants to cancel this post too perhaps they would have the decency to send me a personal email with their reasons why.