RAM is the temporary (volatile) storage for software data. When RAM is depleted on your PC, virtual memory will be allocated from its drive. Higher RAM usage can slow down your PC.

Do not hesitate to close unneeded background tabs

  • The Opera browser’s RAM usage can exceed two gigabytes when its overloads with open page tabs and extensions.

  • You can reduce the Opera browser’s memory consumption by closing superfluous tabs.

  • Some tab management extensions for Opera can also limit that browser’s RAM usage.

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  • Download Opera GX

Opera isn’t the most notorious browser for hogging large amounts of RAM. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean it can’t use up lots of system memory.

Some Opera users have complained in forum posts about high RAM usage for that browser. Those users have reported Opera hogging two to three gigabytes of system memory.

So, is your Opera browser hogging a bit too much RAM? If yes, you can limit its RAM usage with the methods below.

How much memory should Opera use?

Opera RAM usage can vary widely. So, there isn’t necessarily any kind of specific memory usage range you can usually expect Opera to be it.

However, Opera’s minimum memory system requirement is 512 MB RAM. That doesn’t mean it will always use more memory than that. You should be able to keep Opera’s RAM usage below one GB.

How do I tell how much RAM my Opera uses?

You can check RAM usage for Opera and other software in Windows 11/10 with Task Manager. You can open Task Manager by pressing Windows key + X and selecting its Power User menu shortcut.

The Processes tab in Task Manager shows all your active software. There you’ll see a RAM usage figure for Opera in the Memory column.

Quick Tip:

With the GX Control in Opera GX, you can live check from the interface how much CPU and RAM are being used during the browsing session. It’s more manageable than the Opera normal browser.

You may also limit the traffic to reserve bandwidth for services that demand greater resources outside the browser. You will feel like a captain of the ship if you use Opera’s gaming browser.

How do I make Opera use less memory?

1. Close unneeded background tabs

Every webpage you open in Opera will have a memory footprint. Thus, opening more page tabs increases Opera’s RAM utilization.

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Create your own browser commands and set resource limits for a balanced session.

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Therefore, the easiest way to make Opera use less memory is to close page tabs in that browser you don’t need open. Closing lots of pages can considerably reduce Opera’s RAM usage.

2. Add OneTab to Opera

If you need to have lots of pages open in Opera, check out the OneTab extension. OneTab is both a Google Chrome and Opera extension that can reduce tab memory usage by 95 percent.

You can add that extension by clicking Add to Opera on the OneTab page. Then you’ll see a OneTab button on Opera’s Extensions menu. Click the Extensions button, and select the Pin option for OneTab.

Pressing that OneTab button will move all open pages into a single OneTab tab. Moving pages to that tab will reduce Opera’s RAM usage. To send a single page there, right-click the OneTab extension and select Send only this tab.

3. Disable background processes with Opera’s Task Manager

  • Click the red O (Opera) button at the top left of the browser.
  • Select the Developer menu.
  • Click Task Manager to view the window directly below.
  • Select a process, webpage, or extension there to disable.
  • Press the End process button.

Note that disabling more essential processes may cause some browser issues. However, it’s fine to disable high memory pages and extensions with Task Manager.

4. Disable JavaScript

  • Type opera://settings Opera’s address bar and press Return.
  • Click Site Settings to bring up page content controls.
  • Select the JavaScript navigation option from there.
  • Click the radio button for the Don’t allow sites to use JavaScript option.

5. Disable all extensions in Opera

  • Press the O menu button.
  • Move the cursor over the Extensions submenu.
  • Select the Extensions option.
  • Then press the Disable buttons for all enabled extensions.

Opera RAM usage vs Chrome

We haven’t directly tested and compared RAM usage for Opera and Chrome. However, it’s no secret that Google Chrome is one of the most system resource-heavy browsers in existence.

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Opera isn’t necessarily the most system-resource efficient browser, but it compares favorably with Chrome for RAM usage. We rate it among one of the 10 best lightweight browsers for Windows.

So, there you have five surefire ways to reduce Opera’s RAM consumption. Reducing Opera’s RAM consumption with the above methods will free up memory for other active software and speed up your browsing.

There’s also an alternative Opera GX browser version worth noting. Opera GX is a different version of the same browser that incorporates a RAM Limiter feature with which you can reduce its memory usage.

Do you have any questions about reducing Opera’s RAM usage? If so, feel free to add them in the comments section below.

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