Set web preferences

Enable Autofill to complete web forms automatically

If you enable Autofill, Opera can complete common forms for you online including your address or credit card information.

To enable Autofill:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Privacy & security in the sidebar.
  3. Under Autofill, tick the Enable auto-filling of forms on webpages checkbox.

You can store multiple contact cards or credit cards in Opera, as well. To add contact or credit card information for Opera to use when automatically filling in forms, click the Manage Autofill settings button.

Manage camera access in pages

Developers are finding new capabilities for controlling webcams through modern browsers. Some sites may ask to access your computer’s camera.

By default, Opera will always ask you to allow a site to access your camera. Opera will remember your sharing choice if the site is secured through an HTTPS connection.

To always deny sites access to your camera:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Camera, select Do not allow sites to access my camera

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

You can also set which camera you wish Opera to use by default, if you have more than one connected to your computer. Use the dropdown menu to set your camera preference.

Manage cookies in pages

Cookies are small data files that store information in connection with a website. For example, a cookie may be created to store the contents of a shopping basket or to confirm that you are logged in as you browse the pages of a site.

Cookies can be used to construct a profile of your browsing habits and are therefore regarded by some as a privacy issue.

Set your cookie preferences

Setting preferences gives you control of how Opera handles cookies. The default settings is to accept all cookies.

To set your cookie preferences:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Privacy & security in the sidebar.
  3. Under Cookies, select an option for handling cookies.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

Manage how links are handled

Some sites may ask to open special types of links by default. These are called protocol handlers. For example, you can set Opera to open ical: links in Google Calendar’s web app or force mailto: links to open in your email web app.

To prevent sites from asking to be default handlers of specific types of links:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Privacy & security in the sidebar.
  3. Under Handlers, select Do not allow any site to handle protocols.

Click the Manage Handlers button to set site-specific preferences.

Manage images on pages

You can control how Opera handles images on the pages you view. You can opt to display all images or not, as well as set site-specific image preferences.

To change image settings:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Images, select an option for handling images.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

Manage JavaScript in pages

JavaScript is a scripting language used to add functions to pages, such as manipulating browser windows. In rare cases, JavaScript may be used intrusively to perform certain actions you may find annoying. For these cases, you can turn it off completely. If you do, some pages will not work as designed.

To change JavaScript settings:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under JavaScript, select an option for handling JavaScript.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

Manage location sharing in pages

Some sites may ask to use your location to provide localized features, such as reviews from nearby shops or coupons from businesses located in your area. To do this, these sites may ask you to allow geolocation on the page. You can choose whether or not to share your location when browsing. Opera will not share this information without your permission.

Setting location-sharing preferences gives you control over how sites access your location. By default, Opera asks you if you’d like to share your location the first time you visit a site that requests it. You can choose to allow or deny access to your location, and Opera will remember your choice for future visits to that site.

To manage your location sharing preferences:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Location, select an option for sharing your location.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

Read more about geolocation and location sharing.

Manage microphone access in pages

Some sites and web apps may ask to access your computer’s microphone. For example, a live-chat app may want to use your mic so you can speak to another person through their service.

By default, Opera will always ask you to allow a site to access your microphone. Opera will remember your sharing choice if the site is secured through an HTTPS connection.

To always deny sites access to your microphone:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Microphone, select Do not allow sites to access my microphone.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

You can also set which microphone you wish Opera to use by default, if you have more than one connected to your computer. Use the dropdown menus to set your microphone preference.

Manage MIDI access in pages

If you connect a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) device to your computer, such as a keyboard or controller, some sites and web apps may ask to have exclusive access to the device. For example, a developer may make a new synthesizer available on the web that you can use with your keyboard.

When the site has exclusive access, other apps (both on the web and on your computer) may fail to receive output from your device.

By default, Opera will always ask you to allow a site to have exclusive access your MIDI device. Opera will remember your sharing choice if the site is secured through an HTTPS connection.

To always allow or deny sites exclusive access to your MIDI devices:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under MIDI full control, select your preference for how sites access your MIDI device.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

Manage desktop notifications

Desktop notifications allow web sites and apps to display information about their service’s activities or status. These notifications display on your computer’s desktop even when the browser is minimized. They can alert you to things like new emails, special coupon offers, or if comments are posted to your blog.

You can control how sites deliver notifications. By default, Opera asks you if you’d like a site to notify you. You can choose to allow or deny the site to display notifications, and Opera will remember your choice for future visits to that site.

To manage desktop notifications:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Notifications, select an option for displaying desktop notifications.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

Manage saved passwords

When you log in to a website, Opera gives you the option to save your password. If you click Never, that site will be added to Opera’s never-saved list. Saved passwords are managed in the password manager.

By default, Opera will offer to save your passwords. To disable this offering:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Privacy & security in the sidebar.
  3. Under Passwords, untick the Offer to save passwords I enter on the web checkbox.

To view your passwords on Mac:

  1. Go to Preferences.
  2. Click Privacy & security in the sidebar.
  3. Under Passwords, click the Show passwords.

To view your passwords on Windows or Linux:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Click Privacy & security in the sidebar.
  3. Under Passwords, click the Manage saved passwords button.

To view your passwords, select View > Show Password Manager. From there you can search through saved passwords, remove passwords that Opera remembers, or block passwords from being saved on specific sites.

For Mac users, to delete a password from your computer’s memory, or further manage saved passwords, use your system’s Keychain.

Manage plug-ins in pages

Many multimedia files on the web require third-party software, known as plug-ins, to be played. A common example is a media player to play videos or music. When Opera detects the need for a plug-in that is not installed, it offers to take you to a site to download it, or offers to download it for you.

Opera, by default, runs any plug-ins installed on your computer automatically. But, you can control how Opera handles plug-ins manually, if you wish.

To change plug-in settings:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Plug-ins, select an option for handling plug-ins.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.

To disable plug-ins and prevent Opera from running them, click Disable individual plug-ins. This will open the plug-ins page, giving you a list of plug-ins that Opera is using. This list includes details about what version of the plug-in you have installed and a brief description of the plug-in’s use.

Click the Disable button to prevent Opera from using the plug-in. This does not delete the plug-in from your computer.

Install and configure the Java plug-in

Java may be required to display web content properly. It is a common tool used by some web developers.

To install Java for Windows and Linux users, download the latest version from the Java website. Click the Agree and Start Free Download button to begin downloading the set-up file. Then, open the set-up file and follow the on-screen instructions.

Unfortunately, the newest version of Java is not compatible with Opera for Mac.

If you wish to use a previous version to run Java in Opera, you may be vulnerable to security risks.

It is possible to run Java version 6 in Opera. Visit the Apple support pages for more information on restoring version 6, or read more about Java’s compatibility with Mac (in English).

Manage pop-ups in pages

Opera will try to distinguish pop-ups that you have requested, typically log-in pages or similar, from pop-ups launched automatically from websites, typically advertising.

By default, Opera will block pop-ups you have not requested. You can control how Opera handles pop-ups.

To change pop-up settings:

  1. Go to Settings (Preferences on Mac).
  2. Click Websites in the sidebar.
  3. Under Pop-ups, select an option for handling pop-up windows.

Click the Manage Exceptions button to set site-specific preferences.