Disable instant search feature in Opera browser?. Recently, Opera Software has introduced Instant Search and My Flow features, we’ve noticed Opera instant Search looks similar to Vivaldi Quick Commands, which also lets you search the web and find what you’re looking for a query in open tabs, bookmarks and history. For the same, we’ve found the latter more useful than former.
FYI, you can activate the Instant Search feature in Opera browser, either by clicking on the magnifying search icon on the sidebar or by using Alt+Space bar keyboard shortcut on Windows. Doing so, opens a pop up window in the current page to search without leaving the tab you’re on and this also avoids the need to open a new tab or shift the focus to address field in the current tab.
READ: How to Set up Flow in Opera Desktop browser
Opera’s Instant Search is like Quick Commands in Vivaldi
If you don’t like Instant Search in Opera for a reason or two, you can disable it (sort of) like you’ve done for My Flow. Before doing that do know, Instant Search feature only appears when you first run browser after its installation,when you reset Opera browser settings and when you click its con on sidebar or when you press keyboard combinations Alt+ Space bar or Ctrl+Space bar. So hiding the search icon on sidebar and assigning instant Search shortcuts to other actions, will turn off the unwanted feature, we’re going to do that below.
Disable Instant Search feature in Opera browser on desktop
UPDATE June 14, 2018: Opera now lets you enable or disable Instant Search in its Settings. So the instructions mentioned prior to this update may not be required from Opera 54 onwards.
Opera 55 brings Material Design Settings
Opera 54+: Enable or Disable Instant Search from Opera Settings
1. Open Opera Menu
2. Select Settings > Basic,
3. Scroll down and under ‘Instant Search’, uncheck’ Enable Instant Search’
Done, Instant Search in Opera has been deactivated, nothing will happen when you press Alt+ Space bar or Ctrl+Space bar and the magnifying Search glass icon on sidebar also vanishes.
To re-enable Instant Search in Opera, follow the steps from visit Basic Settings and select ‘ Enable Instant Search’.
Hide Instant Search icon on sidebar
1. Launch Opera browser
2. Right click on sidebar and untick Instant Search, this hides the search icon on the sidebar.
Assign Instant Search shortcuts to other actions
Alt+ Space shortcut: open and closes the instant Search
Ctrl+Space shortcut lets you switch between web and tab search modes.
READ: Chromium-Based Opera Keyboard Shortcuts
1. Open Opera menu, select Settings
2. Click Browser > Shortcuts, click Configure Shortcuts
3. Find the shortcut you don’t use that often, for instance, if you’re more an end user than developer and may not use inspect element, find and select ‘Inspect Element’, click ‘Type a shortcut’ field and assign Alt+Space shortcut, Opera warns about keyboard shortcut conflict and warns that shortcut assigned to open and close instant Search, click ‘Yes Replace’ you’re done.
Similarly, you can map Ctrl+Space shortcut to Inspect Element as well.
Note: Updating Opera browser won’t undo these changes,but fresh installation and doing a settings reset will.
Also SEE: How to disable My Flow in Opera browser?
Are you using Opera Instant Search?