Setting Opera GX as your default browser on Windows

On Windows 10 and 11, the fastest way is through Settings. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Default Apps. Scroll down until you see "Web browser" with your current default listed next to it. Click that entry, and a menu of installed browsers will appear — select Opera GX from the list.

If Opera GX does not appear in that menu, it means Windows does not recognize it as installed yet. Open Opera GX itself, and you should see a prompt asking if you want to set it as default. Click yes. If no prompt appears, go back to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, and Opera GX should now be in the list.

You can also set Opera GX as default directly from the browser. Open Opera GX, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top left, select Settings, then go to Browser on the left sidebar. Under "Startup," you will see "Set as default browser" — click that button.

Setting Opera GX as your default browser on Mac

On macOS, open System Settings and click General in the left sidebar. Look for "Default web browser" near the bottom of the window. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select Opera GX.

If Opera GX is not in the dropdown, the browser may not be installed or recognized yet. Open Opera GX from your Applications folder, and macOS should add it to the list. Return to System Settings and try the dropdown again.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, the quickest route is Settings > Apps > Default Apps, then clicking "Web browser" and selecting Opera GX from the menu.
  • On Mac, go to System Settings > General and use the "Default web browser" dropdown to choose Opera GX.
  • If Opera GX does not appear in either menu, open the browser itself first so your operating system recognizes it as installed.
  • You can also set Opera GX as default from within the browser by opening the menu, going to Settings > Browser, and clicking "Set as default browser."

What happens after you set Opera GX as default

Once Opera GX is set as default, clicking links in emails, documents, or other applications will open them in Opera GX instead of your previous browser. The same applies to web addresses in search results and any other place your operating system launches a browser automatically.

Your old browser remains installed and usable — setting a new default does not remove anything. You can still open your previous browser manually whenever you want, and you can change the default back at any time using the same steps.

Changing your default browser back

If you decide Opera GX is not for you, the process to switch back is identical. On Windows, return to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Web browser and select a different browser. On Mac, go back to System Settings > General > Default web browser and choose another option.

You do not need to uninstall Opera GX to use a different default. Both browsers can coexist on your computer, and you control which one opens links by changing this one setting.

Troubleshooting when Opera GX will not set as default

If Opera GX does not appear in your default browser list after you have installed it, restart your computer. Windows and macOS sometimes need a restart to recognize newly installed applications.

On Windows, if Opera GX still does not appear, check that you installed it for your user account, not just for a guest or administrator account. Open Opera GX directly and look in the menu for a "Set as default" button — if that button exists and works, the browser is installed correctly, and you may need to wait a few minutes before trying Settings again.

On Mac, if the dropdown in System Settings still shows Opera GX as unavailable, open Opera GX from Applications and let it fully load. Some browsers need to run once before macOS adds them to the default browser list.

Why you might want Opera GX as your default

Opera GX is a browser built around gaming and resource management. It includes a built-in limiter that caps how much CPU and RAM the browser uses, which can help if you run games or heavy applications alongside browsing. It also has a sidebar with quick access to Discord, Twitch, and other services, and it blocks ads and trackers by default.

None of these features require Opera GX to be your default browser — you can use them whenever you open the browser manually. Setting it as default is useful only if you want links from other applications to open in Opera GX automatically, rather than in whatever browser you were using before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Opera GX as default delete my bookmarks in my old browser?

No. Your old browser and all its data remain untouched. Setting a new default browser only changes which application opens when you click a link — it does not affect any other browser's files or settings.

Can I have two default browsers?

No. Your operating system allows only one default browser at a time. You can install as many browsers as you want, but only one will open links automatically. You can always open a different browser manually and use it whenever you choose.

Do I need to restart my computer after setting Opera GX as default?

Usually not. The change takes effect immediately on both Windows and Mac. If links still open in your old browser after you have changed the default, restart your computer and try again.

What if Opera GX is installed but does not show up in the default browser list?

Restart your computer first — Windows and macOS sometimes need a restart to recognize new applications. If it still does not appear, open Opera GX directly and look for a "Set as default browser" button in the menu or settings. Using that button often works when the system settings menu does not show the browser yet.