Is Opera browser safe?

All of the top browsers for Mac (Safari, Firefox, Chrome and Opera) are reasonably safe. Opera is regularly updated, the developers are working on improving Opera’s security and safety. However, you should always be careful when visiting fishy websites and clicking suspicious links.

Does Opera work stable on Mac?

The Opera browser supports Macs with both Apple M1 processors and Intel-based chips. If you regularly update Opera on your Mac, it will provide a stable and smooth performance.

Cannot uninstall Opera. What to do?

Before uninstalling Opera, you should quit the browser and ensure you don’t have its running processes working in the background. This will help to prevent issues when removing Opera. Use App Cleaner & Uninstaller to uninstall Opera from your Mac. This tool will completely remove the browser with all of its service files. Thus you will not get any more pop-ups and notifications from Opera on your Mac.

What is Opera Stable?

Opera Stable is the latest stable release of the Opera browser developed by a company named OperaSoftware ASA.

June 10, 2025

How to uninstall Opera on Mac

Written by

Experienced tech writer with 15 years of translating complex Mac concepts into clear, user-friendly content.

Maksym Sushchuk

Approved by

The content has been reviewed and approved by our team member, an Apple Certified Support Professional, who provides technical support to Nektony’s users.

Alex Holovchenko

Opera has a special place in my heart as a true innovator among browsers. Back in 2000, they introduced tabbed browsing before it became mainstream. And in 2005, Opera Mini was the first mobile browser that felt like the real web on a tiny phone screen. These days, I use Brave for its privacy features, but Opera still comes to mind when I need a spare browser for logging into web apps with a second account.

If you’ve decided to uninstall Opera One – maybe you’re trying the new Opera Neon or switching to another next-gen browser – this guide will walk you through every step. Whether you’re removing Opera GX, Opera Air, or the default Opera One, we’ll make sure nothing gets left behind.

This Article Contains

Why remove Opera from your Mac?
When reinstallation makes sense
Two ways to remove Opera from your Mac
- Method 1: Manual removal of Opera on Mac
- Method 2: Quick removal with App Cleaner & Uninstaller
A personal note before you go
FAQs

Why remove Opera from your Mac?

There are several reasons you might want to uninstall Opera.

You’re switching to a different browser
Opera Neon, the company’s newest take on browsing, launched on May 28. If you’ve installed it or are exploring other modern browsers, uninstalling the older Opera versions might be your next step.
You’re experiencing performance issues
Although rare, Opera may start to lag, freeze, or behave unpredictably. In such cases, a clean reinstall can help. However, a smarter approach might be to clear the cache and disable unnecessary extensions first.
You’re managing multiple Opera versions
With Opera GX for gamers, Opera Air for minimalists, and the default Opera browser all available, it’s easy to accumulate clutter. Removing unused versions keeps things tidy.
You want to free up space or remove leftover files
Like many apps, Opera leaves behind system files even after it’s deleted from the Applications folder. Fully removing these can help recover storage and improve Mac performance.

Also Read:How to uninstall browsers on Mac

When reinstallation makes sense

In some cases, you may not want to completely give up on Opera. Instead, reinstalling it can help fix persistent issues. Here are the most common situations where a clean reinstall is the right choice.

Corrupted installation or system crash
- Opera won’t launch or keeps freezing even after a restart.
- Resetting settings does not fix the issue. Configuration files may be damaged.
Conflicts with extensions or other software
- Some extensions cause crashes or interfere with macOS services.
- You notice compatibility problems with antivirus tools, VPNs, or network utilities.
- Websites look broken in Opera while opening normally in other browsers.
Also Read:How to delete browser extensions on Mac
Security concerns or signs of compromise
- Opera opens unfamiliar sites or installs extensions by itself.
- Suspicious extensions cannot be removed manually.
- You notice changes in settings that cannot be undone.
You want a clean slate to fix rare bugs
- Some persistent settings are stored in user folders.
- A full reinstall deletes these hidden files and allows for a completely fresh setup.

Two ways to uninstall Opera from your Mac

Now that you know why you might want to remove Opera, let’s look at how to do it.

There are two effective approaches.

The first is manual removal. It gives you full control but requires more time and attention. You’ll need to find and delete the app along with all its support files scattered across your system.
The second is using a tool that automatically finds all the files associated with the app, including hidden ones, and lets you remove them in just a few clicks.
Go with the manual option if you want to double-check what exactly is being removed and don’t mind digging into system folders. Choose the tool-based method if you prefer a quick and effortless cleanup.

Go with the manual option if you want to double-check what exactly is being removed and don’t mind digging into system folders. Choose the tool-based method if you prefer a quick and effortless cleanup.

Note:

Opera has a built-in VPN feature. If you’re uninstalling it, make sure you’re not relying on that VPN for private browsing or access to restricted websites. After removal, you’ll need to find an alternative VPN solution if this feature was important to you.

Method 1: Delete Opera from Mac manually

This guide is written for macOS 15.5 and Opera 119. It covers the default Opera One, as well as Opera GX and Opera Air.

Manual removal means deleting the app from the Applications folder and then clearing all its support files, including caches, preferences, and leftover installer data.

Important: Log out of extensions first

Before you delete Opera, it’s a good idea to log out of any built-in extensions such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Aria, or ChatGPT.

These tools are tightly integrated with the browser and may store session tokens or cached login data locally. Logging out ensures your data isn’t left behind on a shared Mac or accessible if someone recovers those support files later.

Also Read:How to set default browser on Mac

1. Quit the browser completely

Right-click the Opera icon in the Dock.
Select Quit.
Open Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities) and search for any Opera-related processes. If found, select them and click the X button to stop them.

2. Remove the application

Open Finder and go to the Applications folder.
Drag each Opera version you want to remove (Opera, Opera GX, Opera Air) to the Trash.
Empty the Trash.

3. Delete application support files

Use Finder’s Go to Folder feature (Command + Shift + G) to open each path listed below or navigate to it manually. If the folder exists, move it to Trash.

Opera One

~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.Opera

Copy

Opera GX

~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.OperaGX

Copy

Opera Air

~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.OperaAir

Copy

Installer Support

~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.operasoftware.Installer.Opera

Copy

~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.operasoftware.Installer.OperaGX

Copy

~/Library/HTTPStorages/com.operasoftware.Installer.OperaAir

Copy

4. Remove cache and saved state files

Continue cleaning by deleting the following folders in Finder.

Note:

Some of these folders are hidden, so you’ll need to use the Command+Shift+.(dot) shortcut to see them in Finder. If prompted for your user password while deleting them, feel free to enter it. This is asked because you’re navigating system folders.

Opera

~/Library/Caches/com.operasoftware.Opera

Copy

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.nsurlsessiond/Downloads/com.operasoftware.Opera

Copy

~/Library/Saved Application State/com.operasoftware.Opera.savedState

Copy

Opera GX

~/Library/Caches/com.operasoftware.OperaGX

Copy

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.nsurlsessiond/Downloads/com.operasoftware.OperaGX

Copy

~/Library/Saved Application State/com.operasoftware.OperaGX.savedState

Copy

Opera Air

~/Library/Caches/com.operasoftware.OperaAir

Copy

~/Library/Caches/com.apple.nsurlsessiond/Downloads/com.operasoftware.OperaAir

Copy

Installer Caches

~/Library/Caches/com.operasoftware.Installer.Opera

Copy

~/Library/Caches/com.operasoftware.Installer.OperaGX

Copy

~/Library/Caches/com.operasoftware.Installer.OperaAir

Copy

For

/private/var/folders/

Copy

, the easiest way to find the following folders and files is to search for “opera” specifically in this directory.

You will most probably find files with the following names:

opera_installer_<long_number>.log
com.operasoftware.Opera.code_sign_clone
com.operasoftware.Opera
com.operasoftware.Opera.helper
com.operasoftware.Installer.Opera

The “Opera” part might also say “OperaAir” or “OperaGX” depending on the browser you have installed.

Also Read:Why is Mac browser running slow and how to fix it?

5. Remove preference files

Finally, delete the browser’s preference files to clear saved settings.

Opera
```
~/Library/Preferences/com.operasoftware.Opera.plist
```
Copy

Opera GX

~/Library/Preferences/com.operasoftware.OperaGX.plist

Copy

Opera Air

~/Library/Preferences/com.operasoftware.OperaAir.plist

Copy

Method 2: Quick removal of Opera with App Cleaner & Uninstaller

If you’re looking for a faster and more convenient way to uninstall the browser, you can use App Cleaner & Uninstaller. This tool automatically detects all related files on your Mac, including hidden support data, cache folders, leftover installer files, and even preference settings.

Using this approach, you can remove Opera, Opera GX, or Opera Air in just a few clicks.

Open App Cleaner & Uninstaller on your Mac.
Let it scan your system. It will automatically list all installed apps, including Opera variants.
In the list of applications, find and select all Opera apps you want to remove.
If you tick the Expert mode at the top of the app, the tool will show all support files associated with the apps, such as application support data, caches, preferences, saved states, and installer leftovers.
Confirm and remove everything.
Review the list of files and click the Uninstall (or Remove in the Expert mode) button. The tool will move the app and all selected files to the Trash. Empty the Trash to complete the uninstallation.

Search for Opera in App Cleaner & Uninstaller

Note:

This method is especially helpful if you want to remove not only Opera, but also other browsers or apps in general. It saves time and eliminates the need to dig through hidden folders manually.

If you trashed Opera already

In case you want to uninstall Opera completely but have already trashed the application, no worries.

In App Cleaner and Uninstaller, go to the Remaining Files tab and find Opera leftovers there.

Search for Opera files in the Remaining Files tab

Then, select them and click Remove.

A personal note before you go

I have to admit, I’m genuinely excited about Opera Neon. Once again, Opera is doing what it has always done best – innovating.

The screenshot of the Operaneon.com website

In this new AI-driven era, it’s still unclear how artificial intelligence will shape our daily lives. But one possibility is that it will completely change the way we interact with the web. Not just how we search or summarize, but how we browse the Internet in general.

That means the browser itself needs a reboot. And Opera seems ready to lead that change again.

So if you’re uninstalling Opera today, I hope it’s because you’re about to try something new, not because it let you down.