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 Brave 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.