The fastest way to uninstall Opera

On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Apps & features, find Opera in the list, click it, and select Uninstall. On Mac, drag the Opera icon from your Applications folder to the Trash, then empty the Trash. Both methods remove the program itself in under a minute. However, they leave behind some files — your saved passwords, bookmarks, and browsing history stay on your computer unless you delete them separately.

If you want a clean removal that erases everything Opera created, you need to delete those leftover files by hand. This takes a few extra minutes but ensures nothing from Opera remains on your system.

Key Takeaways

  • The standard uninstall removes Opera's program files but leaves your saved data, passwords, and browsing history behind on your computer.
  • On Windows, use Settings > Apps & features to uninstall; on Mac, drag Opera to Trash and empty it.
  • To remove all Opera data, you must manually delete the Opera profile folder after uninstalling the program itself.
  • Opera's profile folder on Windows is usually at C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Roaming\Opera Software; on Mac it is in ~/Library/process Support/Opera.

Removing Opera on Windows step by step

Start by uninstalling the program itself. Press the Windows key, type "Apps & features," and open that settings page. Scroll down to find Opera, click on it once, and a button labeled Uninstall will appear. Click Uninstall and follow the prompts — the program will ask if you want to keep your browsing data. Choose "No" if you want Opera completely gone.

Next, delete Opera's data folder. Press Windows key + R, type %appdata% and press Enter. This opens your AppData folder. Look for a folder called "Opera Software" — open it, then open the "Opera Stable" folder inside. Select all the files and folders here and delete them. Empty your Recycle Bin when you are done.

If you want to be thorough, also check your Downloads folder for any Opera installer files and delete those as well. Opera is now completely removed.

Removing Opera on Mac step by step

Open Finder and go to Applications. Find Opera in the list, right-click it, and select Move to Trash. Then go to the Trash icon in your dock, right-click it, and select Empty Trash. The program is now uninstalled.

To remove Opera's saved data, open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" dialog. Type ~/Library/process Support/Opera and press Enter. Select the Opera folder, press Command + Delete, and empty the Trash. You can also check ~/Library/Preferences for any Opera preference files and delete those too.

What gets left behind if you skip the manual deletion

When you use the standard uninstall, Opera leaves behind a folder containing your profile — this includes all your saved passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, and site preferences. If you plan to reinstall Opera later, this folder lets you pick up where you left off. If you do not plan to use Opera again, leaving this folder means your passwords and history remain stored on your computer.

The leftover files take up only a small amount of disk space — usually less than 100 MB — so they are not a storage problem. The privacy concern is whether you want that browsing data sitting on your hard drive. If you share your computer with others or plan to sell it, deleting the profile folder is worth the extra step.

When you might want to keep Opera's data folder

If you are uninstalling Opera temporarily or think you might use it again later, do not delete the profile folder. Reinstalling Opera and pointing it to that folder will restore all your bookmarks, passwords, and settings exactly as they were. This is much faster than setting up a new browser from scratch.

You can also export your bookmarks before uninstalling. In Opera, go to Menu > Bookmarks > Export Bookmarks, and save the file somewhere safe. Then you can import those bookmarks into another browser later, even if you delete Opera's profile folder.

Uninstalling Opera if it will not uninstall normally

Occasionally Opera gets stuck and the normal uninstall does not work. On Windows, try restarting your computer first — sometimes a running Opera process blocks the uninstall. If that does not work, read the Opera installer again from opera.com, run it, and choose "Uninstall" from the setup wizard instead of using Settings.

On Mac, if dragging Opera to Trash does not work, try using an app removal tool like AppCleaner (free, from freemacsoft.net). These tools find and delete all of Opera's files at once, including ones that might be locked or hidden. Restart your computer after using any removal tool.

Transferring your bookmarks and passwords to another browser

Before you uninstall, export your bookmarks so you can use them in a different browser. In Opera, go to Menu > Bookmarks > Export Bookmarks and save the file to your Desktop. Most other browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — can import this file directly through their own bookmark import menu.

Passwords are harder to transfer. Opera stores passwords in its own encrypted format, and most other browsers cannot read them directly. Your safest option is to use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password, which works across all browsers. You can manually enter your most important passwords into the new browser, or check if the new browser has a password import feature that works with Opera.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Opera delete my bookmarks?

The standard uninstall keeps your bookmarks in Opera's profile folder on your computer. They are not deleted unless you manually delete that folder. If you want to keep your bookmarks but remove Opera, export them first through Menu > Bookmarks > Export Bookmarks before you uninstall.

Do I need to restart my computer after uninstalling Opera?

No, a restart is not required. However, if Opera will not uninstall or you get an error message, restarting often fixes the problem by closing any hidden Opera processes still running in the background.

Can I uninstall Opera without losing my passwords?

Yes. The standard uninstall leaves your passwords in Opera's profile folder. They stay on your computer even after the program is gone. If you delete the profile folder manually, the passwords are deleted too. Export your passwords to a password manager before deleting the folder if you want to keep them.

What if I want to remove Opera but keep using my bookmarks?

Export your bookmarks before uninstalling by going to Menu > Bookmarks > Export Bookmarks. Save the file to your Desktop. Then uninstall Opera normally. Open your new browser and use its import feature to load the bookmarks file you saved.

Does uninstalling Opera remove it from my browser list?

Yes. Once you uninstall Opera, it no longer appears in your list of installed programs. If you want to use it again later, you will need to read and install it fresh from opera.com.