Experiencing crashes with Opera GX? The most common fixes involve managing browser extensions, clearing corrupted data, and updating your browser and graphics drivers. Start by disabling extensions one-by-one to identify conflicts. If that doesn’t work, clear your browser’s cache and cookies, ensure Opera GX is updated to the latest version, and update your GPU drivers.

Common Reasons for Opera GX Crashes

Several factors can lead to Opera GX randomly closing or freezing:

  • Resource Overload: Opera GX consumes system resources (CPU, RAM, GPU). Too many open tabs, resource-intensive extensions, or demanding games can overload your system.
  • Extension Conflicts: Faulty or outdated extensions can conflict with each other or Opera GX.
  • Corrupted Browser Data: Corrupted cache, cookies, and other stored data can trigger instability.
  • Outdated Browser Version: Using an outdated version exposes you to bugs and security vulnerabilities.
  • Driver Issues (Especially GPU Drivers): Outdated or corrupted GPU drivers can cause browser crashes, especially with graphical glitches. Look out for nvlddmkm.sys errors related to NVIDIA cards in the Windows Event Viewer.
  • Operating System Conflicts/Errors: Issues within the operating system (Windows, macOS) can lead to application crashes.
  • Hardware Problems: Failing RAM or a struggling CPU can cause application instability.

Troubleshooting Opera GX Crashes: Step-by-Step Solutions

Safety First: Before attempting any advanced troubleshooting, back up important data.

Here’s a breakdown of troubleshooting steps, progressing from simple fixes to more advanced solutions:

1. Basic Checks and Restarting

  • Close Unnecessary Tabs: Close tabs you aren’t actively using.
  • Restart Opera GX: Completely close and re-launch Opera GX. Right-click the Opera icon and choose quit instead of just closing the window.
  • Restart Your Computer: A complete system restart can resolve underlying operating system issues.
  • Check System Resource Usage: Open Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (macOS) to see how much CPU, RAM, and Disk usage Opera GX is consuming.

2. Manage and Disable Extensions

  • Disable Extensions One by One: Go to opera://extensions. Disable extensions one at a time, restarting Opera GX after each disablement. Remove the problematic extension if crashes stop.
  • Remove Problematic Extensions: Remove the problematic extension completely and consider an alternative.
  • Consider a Clean Extension Profile: Disable all extensions to see if that resolves the crashing. If it does, re-enable them one-by-one until the crashing returns.

3. Clear Browser Data

  • Clear Cache and Cookies: Go to opera://settings/clearBrowserData and clear browsing data, including cached images and files, cookies, and other site data. Choose “All time” for the time range.

4. Update Opera GX

  • Check for Updates: Click the Opera GX menu (top-left corner) and go to “Help” -> “About Opera GX.” The browser will automatically check for updates.

5. Update Graphics Drivers

  • Update GPU Drivers: Visit your GPU manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel) and download the latest drivers. Alternatively, use the driver update utility (NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Radeon Software).
  • Perform a Clean Driver Installation: During installation, select the option for a “clean install” or “custom installation”.

6. Hardware Acceleration Settings

  • Disable Hardware Acceleration (Temporarily): Go to opera://settings/system and disable “Use hardware acceleration when available.” Restart Opera GX.

7. Check System Files (Windows)

  • Run System File Checker (SFC): Open Command Prompt as administrator and run sfc /scannow.

8. Create a New Opera GX Profile

  • Create a Clean Profile: Go to opera://about, find the “Profile path”, close Opera GX, rename that folder (e.g., to “Default_backup”), and then restart Opera GX.

9. Check for Malware

  • Run a Malware Scan: Run a full system scan using a reputable antivirus or anti-malware program.

10. Reinstall Opera GX (Last Resort)

  • Uninstall and Reinstall: Uninstall Opera GX completely and then reinstall it from the official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Opera GX keep crashing even after restarting my computer?

Crashing after a restart often points to deeper issues like corrupted browser data, extension conflicts, outdated drivers, or even malware. Follow the troubleshooting steps to identify the root cause.

How do I know if a specific extension is causing Opera GX to crash?

The best way to identify a problematic extension is to disable them one by one, restarting Opera GX after each disablement. If the crashes stop after disabling a particular extension, that’s likely the culprit.

Will clearing my browser data delete my saved passwords?

Clearing browser data can delete saved passwords if you choose to clear the ‘Passwords’ option. When clearing your cache and cookies, be careful not to select the password option if you don’t want to lose that data. Using a password manager is a good alternative.