[Tip] How to Disable or Block Auto-Update Feature (Opera_AutoUpdate.exe) in Opera

SUMMARY: This article will help you in understanding what is Opera_AutoUpdate.exe background process and why is it running in Task Manager in Windows? It’ll also help you in disabling and removing Opera_AutoUpdate.exe from running in background as well as disabling or blocking auto-update feature in Opera web browser.

If you are using Opera web browser, you might have noticed that the browser automatically checks for new updates and downloads them whenever available. There is no built-in option or preference available to disable this auto-update feature. In older versions of Opera, we could turn off automatic update feature but newer versions do not provide any such option.

Opera_Auto_Update_Feature.png

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Sometimes you may want to disable this auto-update functionality in Opera, for example, you don’t want to upgrade to newer versions due to some unwanted features or you have limited bandwidth connection and don’t want to waste your Internet connection bandwidth in downloading Opera versions.

Recently an AskVG reader “George Corcoran” contacted us regarding similar problem. He wanted to stop Opera auto-update feature on his Windows 7 computer.

Actually Opera launcher uses a standalone EXE file “Opera_AutoUpdate.exe” to automatically check for new updates. Opera also creates a new task in Task Scheduler to regularly check for new version updates. We can delete or disable these files and tasks to block auto-update functionality in Opera.

Once we successfully disable auto-update feature in Opera, it’ll always show “An error occurred while checking for updates” message in about window as shown in following screenshot:

Stop_Opera_Auto_Update_Feature.png

Just check out following simple steps to disable auto-update feature in Opera:

STEP 1: Delete Auto-Update Task in Task Scheduler

First of all we need to delete the task scheduled for automatically checking for new updates:

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1. Press Win+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box, then type taskschd.msc in RUN box and press Enter.

2. It’ll open Task Scheduler program. Now click on “Task Scheduler Library” in left-sidebar and look for “Opera Scheduled Autoupdate” task in right-side pane.

3. Select this task and press Delete key to delete it from the list. Click on Yes button to confirm the action.

Delete_Opera_Scheduled_Autoupdate_Task.png

That’s it. Now the scheduled task responsible for Opera auto-update feature has been removed.

STEP 2: Block Opera Auto Update Executable File

Now its turn of Opera’s Autoupdate EXE file which is used by Opera to automatically check and download new updates.

This EXE file name is “opera_autoupdate.exe” (Opera auto-updater) which is present inside following folder:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\

Open above mentioned folder (copy and paste the folder path in RUN dialog box and press Enter). You might see several version number folders inside above mentioned folder such as “%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Programs\Opera\42.0.2393.85”, etc depending upon which Opera version is currently installed in your PC. Open the folder which contains highest version number in its name, that’s the folder which we need.

Opera_Executable_File_Folder.png

If you are using a Firewall program, you can block the “opera_autoupdate.exe” file present in above mentioned folder from accessing Internet by creating a new rule.

Once you block this EXE file, Opera will not be able to check and download new updates.

STEP 3: Delete or Rename Opera Auto Update Executable File

If you are not using a firewall program or unable to block the file from accessing Internet, you can simply delete or rename the “opera_autoupdate.exe” file. Once you delete or rename this EXE file, Opera will be unable to find this file and will never download new updated versions.

Just go to above mentioned folder and delete or rename the “opera_autoupdate.exe” file. If you delete the file, make sure to create a backup of this file at a safe place so that you can restore the file if you want to restore auto-update functionality in future.

Rename_Opera_AutoUpdate_EXE_File.png

The safest way to disable Opera auto-update feature is renaming “opera_autoupdate.exe” file. In future if you want to download and install new versions of Opera, you can restore the original name of the “opera_autoupdate.exe” file and Opera will start using the file to download new versions.

NOTE: Previous methods such as adding “–check-for-update-interval=0” or “–disable-update” parameters to Opera shortcut no longer works in newer versions.

Also Check:

What is Opera Browser Assistant? How to Disable or Remove it?

How to Disable or Remove GoogleUpdate.exe Process After Installing Google Chrome

How to Disable or Remove MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe Process Running in Task Manager?

[Tip] Disable Automatic Background Updates Feature in Mozilla Firefox

Published in: Opera

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. thanks. this is useful.
    and on unix/mac environments, we can simply change the file to be non-executable.

  2. Show de bolêta, tutorial maravilhoso, odeio ver o opera update ocupando espaço nas minhas tarefas.

  3. Fantastic.
    The only thing that works, thanks.
    Sick and tired with Opera Updates. With every updates, more problems come wth it. No clue who these clowns are in their camp, most likely some outranged IT wannabees

  4. You have to add a customized start line adding -noautoupdate, or edit installer_prefs.json file and change the line from “autoupdate”:true to “autoupdate”:false

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