Install Opera Browser on RHEL 10 / Fedora 42 [Guide]

Opera is a feature-rich web browser built on the Chromium engine that stands out with its built-in free VPN, native ad blocker, and a customizable sidebar for quick access to messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. The latest stable release is Opera 129, based on Chromium 145, with improved stability across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

This guide covers three methods to install Opera browser on RHEL 10, Rocky Linux 10, AlmaLinux 10, and Fedora 42 – from the official Opera RPM repository, via Flatpak from Flathub, or via Snap from Snapcraft. We also cover how to set Opera as the default browser, enable the built-in VPN and ad blocker, and compare it against Firefox and Chrome.

Prerequisites

A system running RHEL 10, Rocky Linux 10, AlmaLinux 10, or Fedora 42 with a graphical desktop environment
Root or sudo access
Active internet connection to download packages

Step 1: Install Opera Browser from Official RPM Repository

The recommended way to install Opera on RPM-based distributions is from the official Opera repository. This method gives you automatic updates through your system’s package manager.

Import the Opera GPG signing key to verify package authenticity:

sudo rpm --import https://rpm.opera.com/rpmrepo.key

Create the Opera repository configuration file:

sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/opera.repo <<'REPO'
[opera]
name=Opera packages
type=rpm-md
baseurl=https://rpm.opera.com/rpm
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://rpm.opera.com/rpmrepo.key
enabled=1
REPO

Install Opera stable:

sudo dnf install opera-stable -y

Verify the installation by checking the installed version:

opera --version

The output confirms Opera is installed with the current stable version:

129.0.5823.15

Launch Opera from the application menu or run opera from the terminal. On the first launch, Opera asks if you want to set it as the default browser and whether to enable ad blocking.

Step 2: Install Opera Browser via Flatpak

Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that runs independently of your system packages. This is a good option if you prefer application isolation or want to keep Opera separate from your system package manager. If you are new to managing Flatpak applications on Linux, check our dedicated guide.

Install Flatpak if it is not already present on your system:

sudo dnf install flatpak -y

Add the Flathub repository, which is the primary source for Flatpak applications:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install Opera from Flathub:

flatpak install flathub com.opera.Opera -y

Launch the Flatpak version of Opera:

flatpak run com.opera.Opera

To update Opera installed via Flatpak, run:

flatpak update com.opera.Opera

Step 3: Install Opera Browser via Snap

Snap is another option for sandboxed application installation. The Opera snap package is published by Opera Software directly. Understanding the differences between Snap, Flatpak, and AppImage can help you decide which packaging format works best for your workflow.

Install snapd if it is not already available:

sudo dnf install snapd -y
sudo systemctl enable --now snapd.socket
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap

Log out and log back in (or reboot) to ensure snap paths are updated. Then install Opera:

sudo snap install opera

Verify the snap installation:

snap list opera

You should see the Opera snap with version and revision details:

Name   Version          Rev    Tracking       Publisher   Notes
opera  128.0.5807.77    321    latest/stable  opera✓      -

Launch Opera from the application menu or run snap run opera from the terminal.

Step 4: Set Opera as Default Browser

After installation, you can set Opera as your default web browser so that all links from other applications open in Opera.

For the RPM installation, set it using xdg-settings:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser opera.desktop

Verify the change took effect:

xdg-settings get default-web-browser

The output should confirm Opera is now the default:

opera.desktop

For Flatpak installations, the desktop file name is different:

xdg-settings set default-web-browser com.opera.Opera.desktop

You can also set the default browser from within Opera by going to Settings > Basic > Default browser and clicking “Make default”.

Step 5: Enable Built-in VPN in Opera

Opera includes a free, no-login VPN that encrypts your browser traffic and masks your IP address. Unlike standalone WireGuard VPN setups, Opera’s VPN works at the browser level only – it does not cover system-wide traffic.

To enable the VPN:

Open Opera and go to Settings (Alt+P)
Scroll down to the Privacy and security section
Find VPN and toggle Enable VPN to on

Once enabled, a VPN badge appears in the address bar. Click it to choose between Optimal, Americas, Europe, or Asia server locations. The VPN is completely free with no bandwidth limits and no account required.

Keep in mind that the Opera VPN is a browser proxy – it protects only traffic within Opera. For full system-level VPN protection, consider a dedicated solution like WireGuard or OpenVPN.

Step 6: Enable Built-in Ad Blocker

Opera ships with a native ad blocker that blocks ads and trackers without needing a third-party extension. Enabling it noticeably speeds up page loading.

To enable the ad blocker:

Open Opera Settings (Alt+P)
Under Privacy and security, find Block ads
Toggle Block ads and surf the web up to three times faster to on

You can also enable Block trackers from the same section to prevent tracking scripts from following your browsing activity. To whitelist specific sites, click the shield icon in the address bar when visiting a site and toggle the ad blocker off for that domain.

Step 7: Opera vs Firefox vs Chrome – Feature Comparison

Choosing a browser on Linux depends on your priorities. Here is a practical comparison of the three most popular options for RHEL and Fedora users. If you need Google Chrome on Fedora, we have a separate installation guide.

Feature	Opera	Firefox	Chrome
Engine	Chromium (Blink)	Gecko	Chromium (Blink)
Built-in VPN	Yes (free, no login)	No	No
Built-in ad blocker	Yes	Enhanced Tracking Protection only	No (requires extension)
Sidebar messengers	Yes (Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.)	No	No
RAM usage	Moderate	Lower	Higher
Extension support	Chrome Web Store + Opera addons	Firefox Add-ons	Chrome Web Store
Open source	No (proprietary)	Yes (MPL 2.0)	No (based on open-source Chromium)
RPM repo available	Yes	Yes (Fedora default)	Yes
Flatpak available	Yes	Yes	No (Chromium only)
Snap available	Yes	Yes	No

Opera is the best choice if you want VPN and ad blocking built in without extra extensions. Firefox is the go-to for users who prioritize open source and lower memory usage. Chrome works best if you are invested in the Google ecosystem and need maximum extension compatibility.

Uninstall Opera Browser

If you need to remove Opera, use the command matching your installation method.

For the RPM installation:

sudo dnf remove opera-stable -y

For Flatpak:

flatpak uninstall com.opera.Opera -y

For Snap:

sudo snap remove opera

To also remove your Opera profile data and cache:

rm -rf ~/.config/opera
rm -rf ~/.cache/opera

Conclusion

Opera is now installed on your RHEL 10, Rocky Linux 10, or Fedora 42 system with the VPN and ad blocker enabled. The RPM repository method is best for automatic updates through dnf, while Flatpak and Snap provide sandboxed alternatives with their own update mechanisms.

For a production workstation, consider pairing Opera with a system-level firewall and keeping the browser updated regularly. Opera’s auto-update through the RPM repo handles this when you run sudo dnf upgrade as part of your routine system maintenance.