How to Block Ads and Unwanted Popups in Opera

Opera browser comes with a built-in ad blocker, making it easy to block ads and unwanted popups without installing third-party extensions. Additionally, Opera offers customization options to block specific popups and ads based on user preferences. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to block ads and unwanted popups in Opera.

Step 1: Enable Opera’s Built-in Ad Blocker

1. Open Opera on your computer.
2. Click on the Opera icon (the red “O” logo) in the top-left corner of the browser window.
3. From the dropdown menu, select Settings (or press Alt + P on your keyboard for quick access).
4. Scroll down to the Privacy & Security section.
5. Under Privacy Protection, find the Block ads option and toggle the switch to Enable the ad blocker.
   • You will see a message confirming that ads are blocked, and it will provide statistics on how many ads have been blocked during your browsing sessions.
6. You can also check the box to Block trackers if you want to prevent tracking scripts from collecting your browsing data.

Step 2: Block Popups in Opera

1. In the same Privacy & Security section of the Settings menu, scroll down to Site Settings.
2. Click on Pop-ups and redirects under the “Content” section.
3. Ensure the toggle is set to Do not allow sites to send pop-ups or use redirects. This will block most unwanted popups from appearing while you browse.

Step 3: Manage Ad Blocking Exceptions

Sometimes, you may want to allow ads on certain trusted websites or manage exceptions where ads should not be blocked. To control these settings:

1. Go back to the Settings page and scroll to the Privacy & Security section.
2. Under Block ads, click Manage exceptions.
3. Here, you can add specific website URLs where you want to allow ads by clicking Add and typing the website’s URL.
   • This is useful for sites you trust or want to support through ad revenue.

Step 4: Use Ad Block Customization (Optional)

Opera’s ad blocker allows you to customize your experience by using custom filters.

1. In the Settings menu, under the Block ads section, click on Manage lists.
2. Opera uses default filter lists (like EasyList), but you can add custom filters if you want to block ads more aggressively or target specific ad types.
3. Add your custom filter list URL in the provided field.

Step 5: Check for Popup and Ad Blocking Extensions (Optional)

If you need more advanced control over ads and popups, Opera supports various extensions, such as uBlock Origin or AdBlock Plus.

1. Go to the Opera Extensions Store by navigating to the browser’s sidebar and clicking the Extensions icon (or visit Opera Add-ons).
2. Search for ad-blocking extensions like uBlock Origin or AdBlock.
3. Click Add to Opera to install the extension.
4. After installation, you can manage the extension’s settings to customize your ad-blocking preferences further.

Step 6: Clear Browser Data (Optional for Popups)

Sometimes, persistent popups or ads are caused by unwanted cookies or cached data. Clearing your browser data can help eliminate these popups.

1. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Clear browsing data.
2. In the popup, select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
3. Choose the time range and click Clear data.

Conclusion

Opera’s built-in ad blocker and popup blocker provide an easy way to improve your browsing experience by eliminating unwanted ads and intrusive popups. By enabling these features and customizing the ad-blocking settings, you can enjoy a faster and cleaner browsing experience. If needed, you can further enhance your control by using extensions like uBlock Origin or AdBlock for more advanced filtering.