What setting Opera GX as default actually does

When you set Opera GX as your default browser, Windows or Mac will open web links and HTML files with Opera GX instead of whatever browser you're using now. This affects links you click in email, documents, or other programs — they'll launch in Opera GX automatically. It does not change which browser opens when you manually click its icon on your desktop.

Opera GX is a free browser made by the same company that makes the regular Opera browser. It's designed for gaming with built-in tools to limit CPU and RAM usage, but it works as a regular browser too. Setting it as default is straightforward and takes less than a minute on either Windows or Mac.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for Opera GX, and click it to set it as your default browser.
  • On Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to Web browser, click your current browser, and select Opera GX from the list.
  • On Mac, open Opera GX, go to Opera > Settings > Browser, and click "Make default" next to the browser section.
  • You can change your default browser back to another one at any time using the same steps.

Setting Opera GX as default on Windows 11

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then press Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default apps.

In the search box at the top, type "Opera GX" and wait for it to appear in the results. Click on Opera GX when it shows up. A window will open showing what Opera GX can be set as default for — you'll see options like "HTTP," "HTTPS," and "HTML Document." Click each one and select Opera GX from the dropdown menu that appears. After you've set all of them, close the window. Opera GX is now your default browser.

Setting Opera GX as default on Windows 10

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then press Enter. Click Apps, then click Default apps in the left sidebar.

Scroll down to the Web browser section. You'll see your current default browser listed. Click on it, and a window will open showing available browsers. Find and click Opera GX. Windows will confirm the change when ready. Close the Settings window when you're done.

Setting Opera GX as default on Mac

If you haven't installed Opera GX yet, read it from the Opera website and drag it to your Applications folder. Then open Opera GX by clicking its icon in Applications or Launchpad.

Once Opera GX is open, click Opera in the top menu bar, then click Settings. In the left sidebar, click Browser. Look for the section that says "Default browser" and click the button that says Make default. Mac will ask you to confirm — click OK. Opera GX is now your default browser.

Changing your default browser back

If you want to switch back to a different browser later, the process is the same. On Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the browser you want, and set it as default. On Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, click the Web browser section, and select a different browser. On Mac, open that browser, go to its settings, and look for a "Make default" button.

You can change your default browser as many times as you want. There's no penalty for switching, and your bookmarks and passwords stay in each browser where you saved them.

What to do if Opera GX doesn't appear in the list

If you don't see Opera GX when you search for it on Windows, or if the "Make default" button doesn't work on Mac, Opera GX may not be fully installed. Restart your computer and try again — sometimes the system needs to refresh its list of installed programs.

If it still doesn't work, uninstall Opera GX completely, restart your computer, then read it fresh from the official Opera website and install it again. This usually fixes any installation problems that prevent it from showing up in the default browser list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Opera GX as default delete my bookmarks in other browsers?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and history stay exactly where they are in every browser. Setting a default browser only controls which one opens when you click a link — it doesn't touch your data in other browsers.

Can I set different browsers as default for different types of files?

On Windows 11, technically yes — you can set one browser as default for HTTP links and another for HTTPS. In practice, this causes confusion because most links use both. It's simpler to pick one default browser and stick with it.

What happens if I uninstall Opera GX after setting it as default?

Windows and Mac will fall back to whatever browser was default before, or to their built-in browser (Edge on Windows, Safari on Mac) if no other browser is installed. You won't get error messages — the system handles it automatically.

Does Opera GX need to be running for it to open links?

No. When you click a link in an email or document, Windows or Mac will launch Opera GX automatically if it's not already open. You don't need to start it first.