This is a general guide for using the Opera Mini or Opera Mobile browser on mobile phones. Some information may not be applicable, depending on the version of the browser, your phone type and platform. For information about available features and functions, see the technical specifications table.

To start the Opera browser once you have installed it, select the Opera icon. If the icon is not displayed, Opera may be listed in folders on your phone, such as Applications, Java Applications, Program, File Manager, or Games.

Browser layout

Basic browsing

To start browsing, take one of the following steps:

  • Type a web address.
  • Enter a search term.
  • Select a dial in Speed Dial.

Select options by either tapping with your finger for touchscreens, or using the arrow keys and clicking a soft-key for keypad phones.

Pages display as an overview. To navigate:

  • Zoom in with a single tap or click.
  • Scroll with a flip of your finger for touchscreens, or the arrow keys.
  • Zoom out by selecting the back button or pressing the back key on the phone.
  • For touchscreens, get a more precise view by using two fingers to adjust the size of the page. Pinch your fingers together to shrink it, or spread your fingers apart to expand it.

The navigation bar generally offers the following options:

Option Description
Back, Forward and Reload/Stop buttons
Tabs button; Opens the tab tray to display all open tabs
Menu icon, providing more options

Long-touch or long-click (context) menus

Select and hold an element of the page for additional actions in a context menu.

Depending on what you select, you can:

  • Add a new search engine.
  • Open a new tab.
  • Edit a dial in Speed Dial.
  • Edit a bookmark.
  • Edit a saved page.

Speed Dial

Speed Dial gives you single-click access to your favorite websites. To save a website on your Speed Dial:

  1. Select an empty dial.
  2. Enter a web address or select from your viewing history.
  3. Select the Add button.

To edit a dial, long-touch or long-click it to open the context menu.

Bookmarks

To add a webpage to return to later:

  1. Select the menu icon, then "Bookmark".
  2. Select "Add".
  3. Edit the bookmark details, if desired.
  4. Select the Save button.

To open a bookmark, select the menu icon, then "Bookmarks", and select the bookmark in the list.

Tabs

To add a new tab:

  1. Select the tabs icon to open the tabs tray.
  2. Select the + sign on the tabs tray.
  3. Enter a web address or select a dial.

To close a tab, select the close (x) icon on the tab twice.

Find in page

To find a word or phrase in the current webpage:

  1. Select the menu icon, then "Find in Page".
  2. Type the word or phrase. Matches are highlighted.
  3. If there is more than one match, select "Next" on the virtual keyboard to see the next one.

Share with friends

Easily share webpages via Gmail, email, messages or Twitter. Display the webpage, select the menu icon, then "Share".

Saved pages

To save the current webpage to read later, even if offline:

  1. Select the menu icon, then "Saved Pages".
  2. Select the page address in the list, then "Save".
  3. Edit the title if you wish, then select "Save".
  4. To read it later, select the menu icon, then "Saved Pages".
  5. To delete it, select the trash can icon next to it twice.

Search with any site

There is a default search engine in the search field, but you can add other sites to use when searching.

  1. Display the site and long-touch or long-click the site's search field.
  2. Select "Add Search Engine".
  3. To search with a different site, select the search field drop-down and select one from the list.
  4. You can also edit and delete search sites by selecting "Manage Search Engines" from this list.

Settings

To change the settings, select the menu icon, then "Settings". Some of the following options may be available, depending on the version of the browser, your phone type and platform.

Setting Description
Load images Control data traffic by turning images on or off. For faster browsing and lower cost, choose not to load new images.
Image quality Control the quality of images.
Font size Control the size of fonts for easy reading.
Opera Turbo (Opera Mobile) Turn on to boost speed on slow connections and save data costs by reducing the size of transferred webpages. More
Opera Link Synchronize bookmarks, Speed Dial and more across phones and computers. More
Mobile View Disable page overview and zoom and display webpages to suit a small screen.
Fullscreen Remove the address bar and navigation bar to view more of the webpage.
Zoom Change the default zoom level.
Text wrapping Fit text to the screen to remove the horizontal scroll bar on large webpages. On supported devices, text will even wrap to fit your screen as you zoom into content.
Status bar Toggle the status bar on or off.
Navigation bar Toggle the navigation bar on or off.
Default browser Toggle the default browser on or off.
Wi-Fi Manage Wi-Fi connections.
Landscape Toggle landscape screen orientation.
Privacy Manage passwords, cookies, history, and cache:
  • Remember passwords: Turn on to save your passwords and log in to your favorite websites with a single click.
  • Accept cookies: Accept or reject cookies.
  • Clear history/cookies/passwords/shared locations: Delete private data.
Advanced Change various advanced settings. These may include protocol settings, and the handling of the virtual keyboard, page links, pop-ups, and media plug-ins.

Permissions

Opera Mobile may need permissions to perform certain functions. See our post on My Opera, which explains the permissions we need, and why we need them.

Related links