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The VPN built into the Opera browser hasn't worked in Russia since June 2021. Roskomnadzor restricted Opera VPN together with VyprVPN, and Opera responded by removing the VPN button from the browser for Russian users. The developer closed the standalone Opera VPN app even earlier, in April 2018. So instructions on "how to turn on VPN in Opera" from old articles don't help now: the option isn't in the settings or it won't connect.
Queries like "opera vpn", "opera vpn how to turn on", "opera vpn download for android" and "opera vpn extension" are still in Yandex suggestions: many people remember how it used to work.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 2018 | Opera closed the standalone Opera VPN app for phones |
| June 17, 2021 | Roskomnadzor announced restrictions on Opera VPN and VyprVPN |
| June 2021 | Opera suspended the built-in browser VPN for Russia |
The regulator justified the decision by "the protocol for responding to threats of bypassing restrictions on access to child pornography, suicidal, pro-drug and other prohibited content". An exception was made for 130 Russian companies that used these services in technological processes.
It's important to understand: Opera's built-in VPN was technically a browser proxy. It only protected Opera tabs, not the whole phone or computer.
If you're in Russia, there's no standard way: the option is either hidden or won't connect. You'll come across tips to:
Option 1. A VPN browser extension. Opera supports Chrome extensions. It's quick, but an extension only protects the browser, and many free extensions quickly stop working in Russia. Pros, cons and risks of extensions: VPN extension or app. A similar situation with Yandex Browser is covered in VPN for Yandex Browser.
Option 2. A VPN app for the whole device. It protects not only Opera but any other programs: messengers, games, email. This is closer to what people expected from "Opera VPN", and it works more stably if the service has a camouflaged protocol.
| Opera VPN (before) | VPN extension | VPN app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works in Russia | No, since 2021 | Depends on the extension | Depends on the service's protocol |
| Protects | Only Opera tabs | Only the browser | The whole device |
| Camouflaged protocol | No | Usually not | Modern services have one |
BessyConnect is an app for the whole device, so Opera, other browsers and any programs go through the tunnel without separate setup. It runs on VLESS with Reality camouflage: the connection looks like ordinary HTTPS, so it holds where simple proxies are blocked. There are more than a hundred servers, no logs, no required registration and no device limit.
Honestly about the limits: BessyConnect has no separate extension for Opera. If you only need protection for one tab, we're not the right fit.
Why doesn't the VPN in Opera work? Roskomnadzor restricted Opera VPN in June 2021, and Opera disabled the built-in browser VPN for users in Russia. So the option is either not shown or won't connect.
How do I turn on VPN in Opera on Android? In Russia there's no standard way: the built-in VPN is disabled for Russian users. On Android, use a VPN app that protects the whole phone, including Opera.
Can I download Opera VPN? The standalone Opera VPN app has been closed since April 2018. Files under that name on third-party sites are other people's rebuilds and are best not installed.
Does changing the region in Opera help? No. Access to the built-in VPN is determined by IP address, not by the region in browser settings.
What can replace Opera's VPN? A VPN extension if you only need the browser, or a VPN app if you need to protect the whole device. For Russia, what matters most is that the service has a traffic-camouflage protocol.
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