Opera FAQs, Tips, Tricks & Tweaks

Tips for Opera browser since 2005

Opera ad block filters

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Get a faster browser, download Opera

Try Opera or Opera Mini to see the difference.

If you are new to content blocking in Opera, see tutorial.

Easy way to block ads is to disabling the IFrames & JavaScript globally and enabling them for required sites in site preferences.

To block particular JavaScript or IFrame ad in a page, open info panel, note path under Scripts or Inline frames and add it to content blocker. Tools > Preferences... > Advanced > Content > Blocked Content... > Add...

To block flash use Flashblock for Opera 9.

From Opera 9.50, you can enable/disable content blocker globally using Block Ads button or per site basis using site preferences. F12 > Edit Site Preferences... > Content > Enable content blocking

  • Large urlfilter.ini file will increase startup time of Opera.
  • You will get blank page when you try to visit a site blocked by content blocker in version below 11 and the following message in version 11.
    Web Address Blocked

    The address XYZ is blocked by the content blocker. To undo the block, open the context menu for the page, select the content blocker, and remove the address from the list of blocked content.

    To undo the block, right-click on the page, select "Block Content", and click the "Details" button to edit the list of blocked content.

A frequently updated filters can be downloaded from

Optimized filter to block most of the ads
Add the following under [exclude] section of urlfilter.ini file (see this if you don't have one) after closing Opera.

*-ad.cgi*
*-ads/*
*.ad-*
*.ad.*
*.adbrite.*
*.adrevolver.*
*.ads.*
*.adsonar.*
*.adtomi.*
*.advertising.*
*.atdmt.*
*.banner*
*.blogads.*
*.buysellads.*
*.casalemedia.*
*.chartbeat.*
*.click*
*.directtrack.*
*.doubleclick.*
*.etology.*
*.fastclick.*
*.google.*/adfetch*
*.googleadservices.*
*.googlesyndication.*
*.googletagservices.*
*.infolinks.*
*.kontera.*
*.linkbuddies.*
*.mochibot.*
*.overture.*
*.pheedo.*
*.qksrv.*
*.quantserve.*
*.roar.*
*.slickkicks.*
*.tradedoubler.*
*.tradepub.*
*.trafficzap.*
*.tribalfusion.*
*.vibrantmedia.*
*.wunderloop.*
*.zedo.*
*/accresults.*
*/ad.*
*/ad/*
*/ad_*
*/adbot.*
*/adc_*
*/adclient.*
*/adcouncil/*
*/adframe.*
*/adgifs/*
*/adgraph/*
*/adimages/*
*/adinfo*
*/adlog.*
*/adlog/*
*/adrotator.*
*/ads.*
*/ads/*
*/ads_*
*/advert*
*/adview.*
*/affiliates/*.js
*/banner/*
*/banners/*
*/hotfreebies.html*
*/housead/*
*/liveads/*
*/pagead/*
*/phpads/*
*/pop.cgi*
*/pop.htm
*/pops/*
*/poptest.*
*/popup/*
*/printads/*
*/redir.asp*
*/skyscraper/*
*/softad/*
*/sponsor/*
*/sponsors/*
*/tw/adt*
*120x240*
*120x600*
*120x90*
*160x600*
*234x60*
*336x280*
*468x60*
*728x90*
*_ad.js
*_ad_*
*_ads.js
*_ads_*
*_advert*
*_adx_*
*_banner_*
*_borders/*
*_superad*
*a.p.f.qz.*
*a.r.tv.*
*ad-flow*
*ad.trafficmp.*
*ad_type*
*adbot*
*adclick*
*adclix*
*adclub*
*adcycle*
*adflight*
*adframe*
*adimage*
*adknowledge*
*adlink*
*adlogix.*
*admaximize*
*admex*
*admonitor*
*adpulse*
*adrunner*
*adserv*
*adsoftware*
*adswap*
*adtomi.*
*aureate*
*avenuea*
*banner.*
*banners.*
*bluestreak.*
*burstmedia*
*burstnet*
*clickxchange*
*darkblue.*
*darkbluesea.*
*dbbsrv.*
*exitpopup*
*flycast*
*focalink*
*headerpopup*
*hitexchange*
*hitlist*
*hitsites*
*houseads_*
*i.us.rmi.yahoo.*
*imaginemedia*
*intellitxt*
*jsads*
*linkads*
*linkexchange*
*linkpopup*
*linkshare*
*linksynergy*
*media.fastclick*
*paypopup*
*popieen.*
*popme.*
*popunder*
*popupad*
*ps.interpolls.*
*radiate*
*secure.webconnect*
*smartsize_*
*spinbox.versiontracker.*
*spylog*
*subs.timeinc.*
*toolbar.google.*
*trafic.ro/*
*us.a1.yimg.*
*us.f.yahoofs.*
*valueclick*
*x.mycity.*
*z.about.*
*zdmcirc*


The following will block most of the counters. Don't add the following filters if you want to show Opera in browser statistics.

*.123count.*
*.123counted.*
*.2o7.net*
*.3dstats.*
*.4count.*
*.a-counters.*
*.acestats.*
*.addfreestats.*
*.aflashcounter.*
*.amazingcounters.*
*.analytics.live.*
*.christianstats.*
*.clickcounters.*
*.clickwit.*
*.coolwebcounter.*
*.count-all.*
*.counted.*
*.counter-intelligence.*
*.counter.*
*.counter4all.*
*.counterbot.*
*.countercentral.*
*.counters.*
*.counting4free.*
*.countmypage.*
*.countville.*
*.cqcounter.*
*.dataplain.*
*.debuging.*
*.devstats.*
*.digits.*
*.downloadcounter.*
*.dstats.*
*.easycounter.*
*.evostats.*
*.extreme-dm.*
*.extremewebstats.*
*.fakecounter.*
*.fastcounter.*
*.fastonlineusers.*
*.fhcotn.*
*.fishclix.*
*.flowcounter.*
*.free-hit-counter.*
*.free-hit-counters.*
*.free-stats.*
*.free-web-counters-online.*
*.freehitcounter.*
*.freeinvisiblecounters.*
*.freestats.*
*.freestatscounter.*
*.freeweblogger.*
*.fxcounters.*
*.geo.yahoo.*
*.goldstats.*
*.google-analytics.*
*.gostats.*
*.guesttrace.*
*.histats.*
*.hit-counter.*
*.hit-o-meter.*
*.hit-tracker.*
*.hitbox.*
*.hitmatic.*
*.hits-counter.*
*.hitscreen.*
*.hitslink.*
*.hitstats.*
*.hypercounter.*
*.ideal-tracker.*
*.imrworldwide.*
*.jellycounter.*
*.linkcounter.*
*.logclicks.*
*.magicounter.*
*.masterstats.*
*.max-stats.*
*.megastats.*
*.metacount.*
*.my-stats.*
*.myfreecounter.*
*.nedstat.*
*.nedstatbasic.*
*.nextgenstats.*
*.okcounter.*
*.onestat.*
*.onlinecount.*
*.opentracker.*
*.optimizely.*
*.our-counter.*
*.paycounter.*
*.pinkcount.*
*.pluslog.*
*.pmstats.*
*.procounter.*
*.prostats.*
*.pstats.*
*.q-counter.*
*.qcounter.*
*.realtracker.*
*.refcount.*
*.reliablestats.*
*.relmaxtop.*
*.rightstats.*
*.s-tracking.*
*.scorecardresearch.*
*.servustats.*
*.shinystat.*
*.shockcounter.*
*.site-stats.*
*.sitemeter.*
*.sitestats.*
*.sitetracker.*
*.sitetrafficanalyzer.*
*.sitetrafficstats.*
*.statcounter.*
*.stats4all.*
*.stats4me.*
*.stats4you.*
*.statsbank.*
*.statsession.*
*.statsforyoursite.*
*.statsrjnc.*
*.statswhere.*
*.stattrax.*
*.supercounters.*
*.superstats.*
*.td-soft.*
*.tdstats.*
*.the-counter.*
*.thecounter.*
*.trackyourstats.*
*.trafficexaminer.*
*.trafficfile.*
*.trafficserverstats.*
*.true-counter.*
*.trustats.*
*.tulipstats.*
*.ultimatecounter.*
*.ultrastatsnet.*
*.urgentclick.*
*.usertracer.*
*.vioclicks.*
*.virtualmall.*
*.vstats.*
*.w3counter.*
*.web-stat.*
*.webcounter.*
*.webhitcounter.*
*.webhits.*
*.websitestatistics.*
*.websitetracker.*
*.websitetrafficreport.*
*.webstat.*
*.webstats4u.*
*.webtistic.*
*.webtrends.*
*.whowasthere.*
*.wundercounter.*
*.wysistat.*
*.xcounters.*
*.xstats.*
*.xxxcounter.*
*.yahoostats.*
*.yourstats.*
*counter*.bravenet.*


To block Snap Preview Anywhere bubble, add the following to content blocker.

*spa.snap.com*


The following will block social network buttons.

*widgets.digg.com/button*
*.facebook.com/plugins/*
*.fbcdn.net/connect.*
*connect.facebook.*
*.gigya.*
*apis.google.com/*/plusone.js
*plus.google.com/*/apps-static/*
*plusone.google.com/*fastbutton*
*platform.linkedin.com/*
*.pinterest.*pinit*
*.stumbleupon.com/badge/embed/*
*platform.tumblr.com/*
*platform.twitter.com/*/tweet_button*
*vkontakte.ru/*/share.js*
*.wibiya.*


To save images from Flickr, add the following to content blocker.

*.yimg.com/*/spaceball.gif


If you don't have urlfilter.ini file, create a text file with the following, place it inside profile and restart Opera.

Opera Preferences version 2.1
; Do not edit this file while Opera is running
; This file is stored in UTF-8 encoding

[prefs]
prioritize excludelist=1

[include]
*

[exclude]
Remove this line and add ad block filters here.


Updates:
2007
Feb 1
Apr 7 (*i.imdb* removed as it blocks CSS. Thanks to M3CSL.), 22
Jun 12
Sep 3, 12
Oct 2 (*popup_* & *.mochiads.* removed), 8 (*_popup.* & */tracker/* removed. Thanks to Lex1.)
Nov 16

2008
Feb 24
Apr 13 (*/ads.* blocks Lifehacker CSS), 23
May 20
Jun 15, 28 (*.google.*cleardot.gif & *doubleclick* removed. Thanks to mp3geek.)
Jul 2, 3
Aug 8

2009
Jan 28
Mar 18, 30 (*view.atdmt* changed to *.atdmt.*. Thanks to Chas4.)
Aug 14

2010
Feb 24
Apr 2, 5
Aug 29
Dec 24

2011
Apr 23 (*.adserver.* & *.googleadservices.* removed as *adserv* blocks them. Thanks to kulma. *.2o7.net* moved to counters.)

2012
Apr 9
Oct 20

How to correct wrong favicons in Opera bookmarks & personal bar?Spotlighted again in Opera Community

Comments

jkforde Monday, November 8, 2010 5:32:12 PM

it's an Irish forum called boards.ie, they have their Home logo in the top left corner and the dropdown list My Forums is above it. here's a screenshot of the cursor and the background Home logo link activated even though what I really want to use is the dropdown menu... thanks for any ideas! http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5547229/E52Scr000002.jpg

Tamil Wednesday, November 10, 2010 2:45:36 PM

Use the following CSS code.
table[id='topbar'] { display:none !important; }

jkforde Wednesday, November 10, 2010 9:04:05 PM

Many thanks for the CSS code Tamil. So I've created a 'user.css' file in the '\styles' folder (verified using opera:config) and all I have in the file is your exact code. Do I need to add any other code to make it work or should I add it to a pre-existing CSS file (sorry, I don't actually know CSS syntax!.. doh)

Tamil Thursday, November 11, 2010 3:54:39 AM

jkforde Thursday, November 11, 2010 5:49:12 AM

ok, it's not working for me so far, though I'll keep playing around with the config settings, I'll get it to work! thanks

gregzeng Thursday, November 18, 2010 6:56:24 AM

The initial instructions were wrong. Most Opera users are using some version of Windows.

On my Win7-32 bit, C:\Users\[user naame]\AppData\Roaming\Opera\Opera\Urlfilter.ini is the location of:

"Urlfilter.ini"

C:\Users\gg\AppData\Roaming\Opera\Opera\Styles\User\user.css
is the location of:

"user.css"

Not sure where it is in Android & Linux ... I'll look later maybe. Or someone else could write it here.

Retired (medical) IT Consultant
Australian Capital Territory

Bucic Friday, November 19, 2010 7:34:36 AM

I'm on 5 KB/s.
Recently I saw that websites are now crawling with Facebook elements and alike. I don't use any of that so I place *facebook* in the urlfilter.ini. Result? Tom's Hardware loads in 5 instead of 15-20 seconds.

Does anyone have a list of similar domains and subdomains I could block?

Unregistered user Friday, December 24, 2010 6:53:14 AM

Anonymous writes: i just added urlfilter.ini in a mac computer. When I opened opera almost all websites showed this error "The address is blocked by the content blocker. To undo the block, open the context menu for the page, select the content blocker, and remove the address from the list of blocked content. To undo the block, right-click on the page, select "Block Content", and click the "Details" button to edit the list of blocked content." I deleted all content under [exclude] a few websites started working but most of them still didn't work. Deleted urlfilter.ini and everything is back to normal. Any ideas why this would happen?

Tamil Friday, December 24, 2010 9:06:41 AM

Which websites did you try to open?

Unregistered user Friday, December 24, 2010 6:14:03 PM

Anonymous writes: @Tamil Here are some websites that did't open even after deleting code under [exclude]. gmail dropbox sfy.ru twitter wordpress blog vimeo But, google.com/reader worked after removing the code under [exclude]. I am using reader theme javascript for this. don't know if that makes any difference.

Unregistered user Monday, December 27, 2010 8:27:45 PM

Anonymous writes: Alright, it works now. It occurred to me today that when I copied each bunch of code into urlfilter.ini using textedit, it might have taken longer than 30 seconds during which textedit might have autosaved the file before I closed Opera. Now that I edited urlfilter.ini after closing Opera, it's working perfectly. Hopefully that's the reason. Wonderful stuff.

Bucic Sunday, January 30, 2011 1:35:01 PM

It seems that some of my filters interfere with ling.pl operation. Any hints?
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b68/Bucic/Opera%20forum/ling_pl_content_blocker.png -

Tamil Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:10:43 PM

Originally posted by Bucic:

Any hints?

No idea.

Bucic Sunday, January 30, 2011 2:59:27 PM

Originally posted by Tamil:

No idea.


Too bad, I use it every day. ... Hey, I can disable content blocking for this site by going to context menu -> Site preferences -> Content and disabling Content blocking. <DOH>

Warning:
Deleting rules from context menu -> Block content deletes them globally - from urlfilter.ini!

Anyway, thanks for your reply. I really appreciate what you (and other "blockers") did. You're one of those people who make contributions to Opera that... simply change Opera for better to a large degree. cheers

Tamil Sunday, January 30, 2011 3:23:01 PM

Originally posted by Bucic:

I can disable content blocking for this site

http://files.myopera.com/Tamil/Smilies/Yes.gif - I have mentioned that in post.

Bucic Sunday, January 30, 2011 3:53:15 PM

Originally posted by Tamil:

I have mentioned that in post.


I read your post long time ago and haven't re-read it since smile

Bucic Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:02:12 PM

One more thing (example):
If I go to site context menu -> Block content... and delete, say, *banner* rule I see there, will the rule be deleted just for the site or globally? If just for the site - how it's being handled in configuration files?

Tamil Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:13:56 PM

Originally posted by Bucic:

will the rule be deleted just for the site or globally?

Globally.

Bucic Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:19:04 PM

Originally posted by Tamil:

Globally.


Too bad. I'll edit my previous post then not to spread misinformation... Thanks!

Unregistered user Sunday, January 30, 2011 5:13:58 PM

mantra writes: Amazing blog! really i want to thank you very much because this blog did make me change from firefox to opera!!! may i ask a question ? could be possible write an extension for opera to update every month for example the block filters ? there are 2 extension but they don't work great like your list!!! thanks you again CHEERS

myloft Friday, February 4, 2011 7:06:13 AM

tamil this site
http://ourdogs.gr/ad/
is unusable with the filter set you propose

Tamil Friday, February 4, 2011 7:37:29 AM

Try anyone of the following.
  • Remove */ad/* filter.
  • Temporarily disable content blocker.
  • Go to http://ourdogs.gr/ > Right click on page > Edit Site Preferences... > Content > [Disable] Enable content blocking

Charles SchlossChas4 Sunday, February 6, 2011 3:48:28 AM

Web Address Blocked The address XYZ is blocked by the content blocker. To undo the block, open the context menu for the page, select the content blocker, and remove the address from the list of blocked content. To undo the block, right-click on the page, select "Block Content", and click the "Details" button to edit the list of blocked content.



Strange I got that even tho there was nothing blocked on the site sherlock

Edit:

Is
[include]
*=UUID:6BEE7D5A277640CD920A2FEF357740E6

right?

shadowfox87 Monday, February 7, 2011 2:28:53 PM

I wish there was a way to edit the pop-up blocker as there was a way to edit the urlfilter.ini. I mean certain sites, if I could just right-click and say add to pop-up blocker, it would be great. I'm guessing though since the pop-blocker is built-in, I can't modify it, right? If I block the site in urlfilter.ini, the website will still pop-up, but with a blank page. Any solution?

Unregistered user Tuesday, February 8, 2011 2:54:16 PM

mantra writes: Hi i use the last version of opera 11.01 but i haven't F12 > Edit Site Preferences... > Content > Enable content blocking in my preferences what have i to do to Temporarily disable content blocker? thanks

Tamil Friday, February 11, 2011 9:45:06 AM

Originally posted by Chas4:

Is
[include]
*=UUID:6BEE7D5A277640CD920A2FEF357740E6

right?

http://files.myopera.com/Tamil/Smilies/Yes.gif -

Originally posted by shadowfox87:

Any solution?

Right click on page > Edit Site Preferences... > General > Pop-ups > Block unwanted pop-ups

i haven't
F12 > Edit Site Preferences... > Content > Enable content blocking
in my preferences

what have i to do to Temporarily disable content blocker?

Right click on page and not F12.

Charles SchlossChas4 Friday, February 11, 2011 2:13:58 PM

I am sometimes seeing when I try to load a page it say web address blocked, yet there is nothing in the content blocker blocking the page

Tamil Friday, February 11, 2011 2:44:44 PM

Send blocked address and your urlfilter.ini file.

Heta Rikalayakuzakyuu Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:09:44 PM

For some reason css nor Javascript (Greasemonkey script) can't remove Google ads in Opera under Linux Ubuntu. irked

Tamil Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:15:31 PM

Are you sure?

Heta Rikalayakuzakyuu Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:33:07 PM

Tamil Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:38:45 PM

Which CSS code did you use? Did you try this CSS code?

Heta Rikalayakuzakyuu Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:46:50 PM

I used totally different code.. Maybe that's the reason

----
/* Top sponsored links */
#tads { display: none !important; }

/* Side sponsored links */
#mbEnd { display: none !important; }
----

Tamil Thursday, February 24, 2011 5:55:44 PM

It is for Google search.

Heta Rikalayakuzakyuu Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:02:29 PM

doh <- my answer

(Thanks for .nH .u5 { display: none !important; })

Tamil Thursday, February 24, 2011 6:13:13 PM

p

Unregistered user Sunday, March 20, 2011 6:41:14 AM

Swap writes: Where should I paste this urlfilter.ini file? I am using Opera 11.01

Tamil Sunday, March 20, 2011 7:57:17 AM

Click urlfilter.ini to see path.

Haros Wednesday, March 23, 2011 2:57:44 PM

For all those who want an one-click solution for installing the latest urlfilter.ini from fanboy, check this out http://my.opera.com/Haros/blog/opera-adblock-program

Unregistered user Thursday, March 31, 2011 4:52:20 AM

Swap writes: Thanks Tamil :)

Unregistered user Sunday, April 10, 2011 9:32:48 AM

Chris writes: Many thanks tamil really makes browsing a pleasure again.

Chris Whitechris0200 Saturday, April 16, 2011 12:31:25 PM

Hi great list but I am struggling to get flash video to run with your list installed any ideas as to which statements refer to flash?

Many thanks

Tamil Saturday, April 16, 2011 12:36:56 PM

Specific site or all flash videos?

Unregistered user Monday, April 18, 2011 9:13:14 AM

Mike writes: This thing is wonderful, until today i didnt know this is possible by so simple way. Thx, ill spread this info as much as possible:D

kulma Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:49:06 AM

Great list, thanks! BTW there is an unnecessary entry in the list. *adserv* already blocks everything that *.adserver.* does.

Tamil Saturday, April 23, 2011 8:56:43 AM

Another duplicate *.googleadservices.*

Updated and thanks.

Unregistered user Saturday, April 23, 2011 2:13:21 PM

Anonymous writes: 2o7.net is a counter not an ad site.

Tamil Saturday, April 23, 2011 2:23:39 PM

Updated and thanks.

Charles SchlossChas4 Saturday, April 23, 2011 10:19:25 PM

changed my filters to see if they help

tho still can't get gmail


some facebook groups to load right (same way with opera extension pages)

Tamil Sunday, April 24, 2011 12:58:06 AM

sherlock

How to use Quote function:

  1. Select some text
  2. Click on the Quote link

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