My recommendations for the ultimate configuration of the Vivaldi Browser :)
NOTE: This project can be found on both Codeberg, which will act as the main & preferred way to contribute, and GitHub.
NOTE: This is specifically tailored for Vivaldi on Desktop. For Android, see here.
Startup -> Default Browser -> Check on Startup -> ❌
Startup -> Homepage -> Start Page
✅
Startup -> Startup with -> Start Page
✅
Updates -> Automatically Download and Install Updates -> ✅
Productivity Features -> Enable Mail, Calendar, and Feeds -> ❌ (if you don't use)
Website Appearance -> Force dark theme on all websites -> ✅
Window Appearance -> Open Popups in Tabs -> ✅ (Why are Firefox and Vivaldi the only browsers with this feature?? Should be default everywhere)
Window Appearance -> Use Animation -> ❌ (Optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery)
Menu -> You can go through here and customize it to your heart's content. I usually delete sections for functionality I don't use, such as Mail
.
Tab Display -> Tab Bar -> Display Synced Tabs Button -> ❌ (if you don't use Sync)
Address Field Options -> Show Full Address -> ✅
Address Auto-Complete -> Enabled -> ❌
Address Auto-Complete -> Auto-Complete On Item Title -> ❌
Address Auto-Complete -> Auto-Complete On Domain First -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu -> Show Search Queries in Typed History -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Search Suggestions -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Direct Match -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Frequently Visited Pages -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Typed History -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Browser History -> ❌
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Sync Tabs -> ❌ (if you don't use Sync)
Drop-Down Menu Priority -> Vivaldi Pages -> ❌
Extension Visiblity -> Toggle All Extensions
✅
Security Features -> Always Use Secure Connection (HTTPS) -> ✅
Security Features -> Strip JavaScript from Pasted Text -> ✅
Security Features -> Highlight Base Domain in Address -> ✅
Open Bookmarks in New Tab -> ✅
Default Search Engine -> DuckDuckGo
Private Window Search Engine -> DuckDuckGo
Search Field Display -> Always Search in New Tab -> ✅
Search Options -> Search in Address Field -> Allow Control by Extensions -> ❌ (Should be default)
Search Options -> Keep Typed Text After Searching -> ❌ (Should be default)
Allow Search Suggestions -> In Address Field -> ❌
Allow Search Suggestions -> In Search Field -> ❌
Allow Search Suggestions -> Enable Direct Match -> ❌
Search Engines -> Go through here and delete any search engines you don't need/use
Search Types and Priority -> Notes -> ❌ (if you don't use)
Search Types and Priority -> Browsing History -> ❌
Quick Command Options -> Open Links in New Tab -> ✅
Tracking Prevention -> Block Ads on Abusive Sites -> ❌ (Use uBlock Origin instead, see recommended configuration here)
Tracking Prevention -> Block Hyperlink Audit Tracking -> ✅
Tracking Prevention -> Broadcast IP for Best WebRTC Performance -> ❌ (Don't set this if you have to call on the web through services like Discord & Zoom)
Google Services -> Phishing and Malware Protection -> ✅ (Harmless, should be default)
Google Services -> DNS to Help Resolve Navigation Errors -> ❌
Google Services -> Form Autofill Assist -> ❌
Google Extensions -> Meet (was Hangouts) -> ❌ (This feature gives Google domains special access that other sites can't use... also seems useless nowadays, tested screen sharing & video calling and seems to work without issue in most cases)
Search -> Suggestions in Address Field -> ❌
Search -> Suggestions in Search Field -> ❌
Show Typed History -> In Address Field -> ❌
Show Typed History -> In Search Field -> ❌
Save Browsing History -> Session Only
Autofill -> Form Autofill -> ❌ (You should not save info in your browser like this for security reasons, use a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden or Proton Pass instead)
Autofill -> Credit Card Autofill -> ❌ (You should not save info in your browser like this for security reasons, use a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden or Proton Pass instead)
Private Windows -> Show Introduction -> ❌
Crash Reporting -> Allow Vivaldi to Send Automatic Crash Reports -> ❌
Apple Events -> Allow Javascript from Apple Events -> ❌
Tracker and Ad Blocking -> Blocking Level -> No Blocking
(Use uBlock Origin instead, see recommended configuration here)
Tracker and Ad Blocking -> Manage Sources (This section is only applicable if you do use the built-in content blocking for whatever reason even though not recommended):
-
Tracker Blocking Sources -> DuckDuckGo Tracker Radar -> ✅
-
Tracker Blocking Sources -> EasyPrivacy -> ✅
-
Ad Blocking Sources -> ABP anti-circumvention list -> ✅
-
Ad Blocking Sources -> Adblock Warning Removal List -> ✅
-
Ad Blocking Sources -> Allow ads from our partners (support Vivaldi) -> ❌
-
Ad Blocking Sources -> EasyList -> ✅
-
Ad Blocking Sources -> Remove annoyances, can break sites (Fanboy's Annoyance List) -> ✅
-
Ad Blocking Sources -> Remove cookie warnings (Easylist Cookie List) -> ✅
Passwords -> Save Webpage Passwords -> ❌ (You should not save info in your browser like this for security reasons, use a dedicated password manager like Bitwarden or Proton Pass instead)
Website Permissions -> Global Website Permissions:
-
Autoplay ->
Block
-
Geolocation ->
Block
-
Camera ->
Block
(Obviously don't set if you use sites that need camera access, but you can still set exceptions for sites if needed) -
Microphone ->
Block
(Obviously don't set if you use sites that need microphone access, but you can still set exceptions for sites if needed) -
Motion Sensors ->
Block
-
Notifications ->
Block
-
Popups ->
Block
-
Intrusive Ads ->
Allow
(Use uBlock Origin instead, see recommended configuration here) -
Bluetooth Devices ->
Block
-
MIDI Devices ->
Block
-
Idle Detection ->
Block
-
Background Synchronization ->
Block
-
USB Devices ->
Block
-
Serial Ports ->
Block
-
File Editing ->
Block
-
HID Devices ->
Block
-
Clipboard ->
Block
-
Payment Handlers ->
Block
-
Augmented Reality ->
Block
-
Virtual Reality ->
Block
-
Third-Party Sign-in ->
Block
-
Window Management ->
Block
-
Fonts ->
Block
Cookies -> Third-Party Cookies -> Block All
Save Files to Default Location Without Asking -> ❌ (Should be default)
Display Downloads Automatically -> ✅ (Should be default)
Notify on Completed Downloads -> ✅ (Should be default)
Webpages -> Allow Text Selection in Links -> ✅ (Should be default, another feature other browsers need to adopt)
Webpages -> Show Selected Text Translate Button -> ✅
Play Image Animation -> ❌ (Optional but recommended for lower-end or older devices to improve performance and battery)
Prefetch -> Prefetch Resources -> ❌
Plugins -> Enable Widevine Plugin -> ❌ - https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/10/drms-dead-canary-how-we-just-lost-web-what-we-learned-it-and-what-we-need-do-next
User Agent Brand Masking -> Report Browser Brand as -> Google Chrome
(Should be default)
User Agent Brand Masking -> Append Vivaldi Brand -> ❌ (Should be default)
On Vivaldi's Start Page/Speed Dial, feel free to remove the built-in sponsored links.
Similarly, I'd also recommend deleting the built-in sponsored bookmarks, as well as the Vivaldi
folder.
I usually also remove the links to Vivaldi Social
& Vivaldi's Help Center
from the sidebar here as well.
#block-insecure-private-network-requests -> Enabled
#content-settings-partitioning -> Enabled
#enable-parallel-downloading -> Enabled
#private-network-access-permission-prompt -> Enabled
#reduce-accept-language -> Enabled
#strict-origin-isolation -> Enabled
#third-party-storage-partitioning -> Enabled
-
Keep extensions to a minimum and only install what you actually need. Having unnecessary extensions reduces performance, increases attack surface, increases fingerprintability, etc.
-
Similarly, please don't use more than one content blocking extension.
-
Use a private, secure, & reputable DNS provider of your choice. I would recommend setting up your own NextDNS configuration if you are able to (See my recommendations for NextDNS here), otherwise I would recommend Quad9.
-
Use a (reputable) VPN. I would recommend either Mullvad or ProtonVPN.
-
Use a (reputable) anti-virus if possible. On Windows, you can use the built-in Microsoft Defender Antivirus, on macOS, you can stick to the built-in XProtect, and on Linux, you can use ClamAV.