Issue

New browser instances do not display shortcut icons on the taskbar.

This is a known issue in Windows 11 Version 24H2.

Prerequisites

• Opera GX browser installed
• Browser instance already created
• Access to your browser instance ID (instructions below)

Finding Your Browser Instance ID

1. Open File Explorer to the local AppData folder:

   • Press WIN + R

   • Type %localappdata%

     

   • Press Enter

2. Enable hidden files and folders:

   • Click 'View' in File Explorer's top menu

   • Hover over 'Show' in the drop down menu

   • Check 'Hidden items' in the Show/hide section

     

3. Navigate to: AppData/Roaming/Opera Software/Opera GX/_side_profiles

4. Locate your browser instance:

   • Review the folders listed to find your instance
   • You can identify it by creation date or by comparing with existing pinned instances by reviewing their properties
   • Copy the browser instance ID and place somewhere easy to access for later use

Creating a Custom Shortcut

1. Locate the Opera GX executable:

   • Right-click your default Opera GX browser instance in the taskbar

   • Right-click 'Opera GX Browser' then click 'Properties'

     

   • Click 'Open File Location'

     

   • Right-click opera.exe

   • Select 'Create shortcut' (it will be created on the desktop)

     

2. Rename the shortcut:

   • Click ‘Rename’

     

   • Format: Opera GX - [profile name]

   • Example: Opera GX - psilovechai

     

3. Configure the shortcut:

   • Right-click the new shortcut and select 'Properties'

   • Set "Start in:" to C:\\Program Files\\Opera GX

   • Edit "Target:" with the following, update to include your instance ID:

     "C:\\Program Files\\Opera GX\\opera.exe" --side-profile-name=YOUR_INSTANCE_ID --with-feature:side-profiles --no-default-browser-check --disable-usage-statistics-question
     

     • Replace YOUR_INSTANCE_ID with the ID we pulled earlier.

     

Optional Parameters

Add these before --with-feature:side-profiles if desired:

• Disable GX sounds: -side-profile-no-gx-sounds
• Auto-mute tabs: -side-profile-muted