How To Fix Opera GX Panic Button Not Working

Are you a user of Opera GX and finding that the panic button feature is not working as expected?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The panic button is a valuable tool for quickly hiding your browsing activity, but it can be frustrating when it malfunctions.

In this blog, we’ll explore some common reasons why the Opera GX panic button may not be working and provide practical solutions to get it back up and running as intended.

How To Fix Opera GX Panic Button Not Working?

To fix the Opera GX Panic Button not working, you can enable the early bird feature, update Opera GX to the latest version, and restart Opera GX. Additionally, you can check panic button settings, and disable conflicting extensions.

1. Enable Early Bird Feature

The panic button is part of the Early Bird features in Opera GX, which you need to enable to use the panic button. To do this:

For Windows:

• Open Opera GX.
• Click on the gear icon on the left sidebar or press ALT+P for Settings.
• Scroll down to the GX section.
• Find and enable the Early Bird toggle.

For Mac:

• Open Opera GX.
• Click on “Opera GX” in the menu bar and select Preferences or press CMD+,.
• Scroll to the GX section.
• Toggle the Early Bird feature to enable it.

2. Update Opera GX To The Latest Version

An outdated browser can lead to features not working properly. Ensure your Opera GX is up to date:

For Windows:

• Click on the Opera GX logo in the top-left corner to open the menu.
• Select Update & Recovery.
• Click to download and install if an update is available.

For Mac:

• Click on “Opera GX” in the menu bar.
• Select Update & Recovery.
• Download and install any available updates.

3. Restart Opera GX

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix minor glitches:

For Windows:

• Completely close Opera GX (check the system tray to ensure it’s not running in the background).
• Reopen Opera GX.
• Try the panic button again.

For Mac:

• Quit Opera GX (press CMD+Q to ensure full closure).
• Reopen Opera GX.
• Attempt to use the panic button.

4. Check Panic Button Settings

Ensure that the panic button settings are configured correctly:

For Windows:

• Go to Settings (gear icon or ALT+P).
• Navigate to the GX section.
• Check and adjust the panic button settings.

For Mac:

• Access Preferences (CMD+,).
• Go to the GX section.
• Ensure the panic button is configured with the correct shortcut.

5. Disable Conflicting Extensions

Extensions can sometimes interfere with browser features:

For Windows:

• Open the Extensions menu (cube icon or CTRL+SHIFT+E).
• Disable any extensions that might conflict with the panic button.
• Test the panic button.

For Mac:

• Open the Extensions page (CMD+SHIFT+E).
• Disable extensions that may be causing issues.
• Retry using the panic button.

6. Reset Browser Settings To Default

If none of the above solutions work, you may need to reset your browser settings:

• Go to Settings.
• Search for Reset settings.
• Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
• Confirm by clicking Reset.

7. Try Alternative Shortcuts (For Mac Users)

If you’re using Opera GX on a Mac, the F12 key might not trigger the panic button due to macOS’s unique keyboard layout and shortcuts. In this case, you may need to explore alternative shortcuts:

• Open Opera GX on your Mac.
• Click on “Opera GX” in the menu bar and select Preferences or press CMD+,.
• Alternatively, type opera://settings/panic_button_settings in the address bar and press Enter.
• In the settings, navigate to the GX section or the panic button settings directly.
• Choose a new keyboard shortcut for the panic button that does not conflict with other macOS shortcuts.

8. Directly Access Panic Button Settings

Some users might find themselves stuck in a “Try It Now” loop within the panic button feature.

If you’re caught in this loop and can’t seem to activate the panic button, here’s a way to break free:

• If you’re unable to navigate through the settings menu due to a loop directly type opera://settings/panic_button_settings into the address bar.
• Press Enter to go straight to the panic button settings.

9. Uninstall And Reinstall Opera GX

As a last resort, uninstalling and reinstalling the browser can resolve persistent issues:

For Windows:

To Uninstall Opera GX:

• Close Opera GX completely.
• Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
• Find Opera GX in the list of installed programs.
• Click on it and select Uninstall.
• Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.

To Reinstall Opera GX:

• Open your preferred web browser.
• Visit the official Opera GX download page.
• Click on the download button to get the Opera GX installer for Windows.
• Once downloaded, double-click the installer file.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to install Opera GX.
• After installation, open Opera GX and test the panic button functionality.

For macOS:

To Uninstall Opera GX:

• Close Opera GX completely.
• Open the Finder.
• Navigate to the Applications folder.
• Locate Opera GX, then drag it to the Trash, or right-click and select Move to Trash.
• To remove residual files, click on Go > Go to Folder in the Finder menu bar, type ~/Library/Application Support, and move the Opera GX folder to the Trash.

To Reinstall Opera GX:

• Open a web browser of your choice.
• Go to the official Opera GX download page.
• Click to download the Opera GX installer for macOS.
• Locate the downloaded .dmg file and double-click to open it.
• Drag the Opera GX icon to the Applications folder.
• Wait for the copy to complete, then open Opera GX from the Applications folder.
• Verify that the panic button is working correctly.

10. Contact Opera Support

If you’ve tried all the above solutions and the panic button still isn’t working, it’s time to seek professional help:

• Reach out to Opera GX’s support team for personalized assistance.
• You can contact them through the Opera GX forums or via the help section on the Opera website.