How to Fix Opera Not Responding & Have it Working Again
Certain extensions or interference from your antivirus may cause this
- Opera is an excellent browser as the program runs fast, usually without bugs or lags.
- But in rare cases, users encountered Opera not responding problems in Windows 10.
- The first step in fixing this problem is to ensure you update your Opera browser to the latest available version.
Opera is one of the best browsers for all devices. It runs fast and usually without bugs or lags. But in rare cases, users reported Opera not responding to issues in Windows 10.
We have detailed this step-by-step guide you need to apply if Opera is not working correctly or not responding. You only need to follow the steps carefully, and everything will be fine.
Why is Opera always not responding?
There are several reasons Opera might not respond every few seconds on your PC. Most of them have to do with your browser and its settings. Below are some of the causes, as reported by users:
- Outdated browser: The first thing you need to check if Opera is crashing or not responding at startup is if there are updates available. This is because the bug causing the issue might have been fixed in a newer release.
- Activities of extensions: While extensions help extend your browser’s functionalities, they can cause problems when there are too many. They can drag down your browser, while some might be running counter programs. The easiest fix here is to disable or remove the unnecessary extensions.
- Interference from antivirus: In some situations, your antivirus might raise a false alarm and disturb the activities of Opera. You need to disable this security software and probably switch to one of the best antiviruses for Windows 10.
How do I fix Opera not responding?
1. Install the latest version of Opera
- Open Opera and click the Menu button in the top left corner. Choose Update & Recovery from the menu.
- Opera will check for available updates once you click the Check for updates button. If updates are available, Opera will download and install them automatically.
This process will also be performed automatically, as you will be prompted when a new update is available for your system. So, agree with the prompt and flash all the official updates.
Many users reported that the issue was resolved after upgrading to the latest version of Opera, so be sure to do that.
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2. Disable your antivirus software and restart Windows Explorer
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Then locate Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart from the menu.
- Right-click on your antivirus icon from the Taskbar and select Disable for 10 minutes to see if the problem still occurs.
Another cause of this issue might be your antivirus software, and if you’re having problems with your current antivirus, you might have to uninstall it and switch to different antivirus software.
3. Disable the problematic plugins
- Open Opera, and in the top right corner, click on Menu. Now choose Extensions followed by Extensions from the drop-down menu.
- Next, click the toggle button next to all your extensions to turn them off.
After doing that, check if the problem still appears. If not, you need to enable extensions one by one until you find the extension causing this problem.
Once you find the problematic extension, you can remove it, update it or keep it disabled.
4. Reinstall Opera
4.1. Use Settings
- If Opera is not responding, press the Windows + I keys and go to Apps.
- Search the Opera browser, then click it and select Uninstall.
- Go to Opera’s website to download it by tapping the Download Opera button.
- Double-click the downloaded file to follow the on-screen steps and finish the installation.
4.2. Use Control Panel
- Press Windows and enter control. Select Control Panel from the list.
- When Control Panel opens, select Programs from the list, followed by Programs and Features.
- A list of all applications will now appear. Locate Opera on the list and click it, followed by Uninstall.
- After uninstalling Opera, download and install the latest version and check if that solves the issue.
This sort of last resort solution also works for the Opera GX not responding issue. Reinstalling the browser should give you a clean installation devoid of errors.
5. Use the –no-sandbox parameter
- Locate the Opera shortcut, right-click it and choose Properties from the menu.
- Now you need to locate the Target field and add –no-sandbox at the end of the input. Finally, click on Apply and OK to save changes.
After making these changes, double-click Opera’s shortcut, and the problem should be gone.
Remember that using the -no-sandbox parameter can be a security risk, so be sure not to use it as a permanent solution.
6. Disable the Adblock feature
- Click the Menu icon in the top left corner and choose Settings from the menu. You can also open the Settings tab quickly by pressing the Alt + P shortcut.
- Now click on Basic from the left menu, then, under the Privacy protection section, uncheck the Block ads option.
After doing that, the built-in Adblock feature should be disabled, and this problem should be entirely resolved.
With this, we can conclude this article. We believe you have everything to fix the Opera not responding issue if you follow the steps in this guide carefully.
For more related solutions, we recommend you look at our post with 8 tested ways to fix Opera crashes, freezes & restarts.
Please, feel free to let us know the solution that helped you fix this issue in the comments below.
