How to delete Opera GX on Mac without leaving a trail of junk files behind

So, you downloaded Opera GX because the aesthetics were cool or you wanted to limit your RAM usage while gaming, but now it’s just taking up space. It happens. Honestly, most people think they can just drag the icon to the Trash and call it a day. If only macOS were that tidy. If you want to know how to delete Opera GX on Mac properly, you have to dig a little deeper than the Applications folder. Otherwise, you’re leaving behind cache files, support logs, and weirdly persistent "GX Profiles" that just sit there eating up your disk space.

It’s annoying. You think it's gone. Then, six months later, you're digging through your Library folder and find 400MB of Opera-related junk. Let's make sure that doesn't happen.

👉 See also: How Do You Convert m into km Without Doing Extra Math?

Why the "Drag to Trash" Method Fails

When you install a browser like Opera GX, it doesn't just stay in one spot. It’s like a guest who brings three suitcases and hides them under different beds. The main app (the .app file) lives in your Applications folder, sure. But its "soul"—your browsing history, saved passwords, extensions, and those custom shaders—is scattered across your system Library.

Dragging the icon to the Trash only deletes the executable file. It leaves the "Application Support" and "Caches" intact. If you're switching back to Safari or Chrome because Opera GX was feeling sluggish, leaving those old cache files behind can actually interfere with your system's indexing. It's just clutter.

The Manual Deep Clean (The Hard Way)

If you don't want to use third-party uninstaller tools, you can do this yourself. It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt.

First, make sure the browser is actually closed. This sounds obvious, but Opera GX has a habit of running background processes. Press Command + Option + Esc to bring up the Force Quit menu. If you see Opera GX there, kill it.

Now, go to your Applications folder. Grab the Opera GX icon and drag it to the Trash. You’re 20% done.

📖 Related: Why There Is No Sound in YouTube iPhone Apps and How to Actually Fix It

Now for the real work. Open Finder. In the menu bar at the top of your screen, click Go, then select Go to Folder.... You can also just hit Command + Shift + G. You need to paste in this path: ~/Library/.

This is where the skeletons are buried. You are looking for specific folders. Check these locations one by one:

1. ~/Library/Application Support/ – Look for a folder named "com.operasoftware.OperaGX". Delete it. This is usually the largest chunk of leftover data.
2. ~/Library/Caches/ – Look for "com.operasoftware.OperaGX" or "Opera Software". Trash it.
3. ~/Library/Preferences/ – Find "com.operasoftware.OperaGX.plist".
4. ~/Library/Saved Application State/ – Look for "com.operasoftware.OperaGX.savedState".

Be careful in here. Don't just start deleting random folders if you aren't sure what they are. Only touch the ones that explicitly mention Opera or Opera Software. Once you've moved those to the Trash, empty it. That’s the only way to actually reclaim the space.

What about GX Profiles?

Opera GX introduced a feature called "GX Profiles" which allows you to have different browser setups for streaming, gaming, or work. These sometimes create sub-directories within the Application Support folder. If you’ve used multiple profiles, double-check the ~/Library/Application Support/com.operasoftware.OperaGX/ directory specifically. Sometimes it creates nested folders that are easy to miss if you’re just skimming the surface.

Using a Dedicated Uninstaller

Look, I get it. Digging through Library folders feels like open-heart surgery on your Mac. If you’d rather not risk deleting a critical system file, using a tool like AppCleaner (which is free and very lightweight) or CleanMyMac X (which is paid but more thorough) is a solid move.

When you use an uninstaller, you drag the Opera GX icon into the tool instead of the Trash. The software scans your entire drive for every single associated file. It’s basically doing the "Go to Folder" steps for you, but faster and with less chance of human error.

Interestingly, some users on forums like Reddit’s r/OperaGX have noted that even some uninstallers miss the "Opera Autoupdate" daemon. This is a tiny background process that checks for updates. If you still see "Opera" mentioned in your Activity Monitor after a restart, you might need to check your Login Items. Go to System Settings > General > Login Items and see if there's anything from Opera Software hiding in the "Allow in the Background" list. Toggle it off.

Dealing with Synced Data

One thing people forget when learning how to delete Opera GX on Mac is their cloud data. If you were logged into an Opera account, your data isn't just on your Mac—it’s on Opera’s servers.

Deleting the app doesn't delete your account. If you're walking away from Opera for good because of privacy concerns or just a change of heart, you might want to visit the Opera auth portal in another browser and wipe your synced data. It’s a separate step, but it’s part of a "clean" break.

Why did you want it gone anyway?

Usually, people ditch Opera GX for one of three reasons.

👉 See also: Black People in Space: What Most People Get Wrong About History

1. Performance bloat: Despite the "RAM Limiter," the browser itself can be heavy on resources compared to something like Orion or a stripped-down Firefox.
2. The "Gaming" Gimmick: Let’s be real, sometimes the neon lights and typing sounds get old.
3. Privacy: Opera is owned by a Chinese-led consortium (Kunlun Tech Co. Ltd). While they claim to follow GDPR, some users prefer the transparency of Brave or the "walled garden" security of Safari.

Regardless of your reason, making sure the files are actually gone is the goal. A "ghost" installation can occasionally cause issues with default browser settings. Have you ever clicked a link in an email and had your Mac try to open it in a browser that doesn't exist anymore? That’s exactly what happens when you don't clean out the Plist files in the Preferences folder. Your Mac still thinks Opera GX is a valid option for handling web protocols.

Final Steps for a Clean Mac

After you have emptied the Trash, do a quick restart. It sounds old-school, but macOS clears out temp files and refreshes its cache during a reboot.

Open your Activity Monitor (Command + Space, then type "Activity Monitor"). Search for "Opera." If nothing shows up, you’re golden. If something does show up, click the "X" at the top to kill the process and then use the "Go to Folder" method to find where that specific process is running from. Usually, it’s a leftover helper tool in ~/Library/LaunchAgents.

Actionable Summary for a Total Wipe

• Force Quit: Ensure the app isn't running in the background via Activity Monitor.
• Trash the App: Move Opera GX from Applications to the Trash.
• Clear the Library: Manually delete folders in ~/Library/Application Support, ~/Library/Caches, and ~/Library/Preferences that contain "com.operasoftware.OperaGX".
• Check Login Items: Remove any Opera-related background tasks in System Settings.
• Empty Trash & Restart: This finalizes the removal and prevents "ghost" browser errors.
• Manage Cloud Data: Log into your Opera account via another browser to delete synced history or passwords if you want a total privacy reset.

Following these steps ensures your Mac stays fast and doesn't get bogged down by "zombie" files from apps you no longer use.