How to Change Region in Opera GX VPN
Quick Answer
To learn how to change region in Opera GX VPN, click the blue 'VPN' icon in the address bar. In the popup window, locate the 'Virtual Location' dropdown menu (which defaults to 'Optimal'). Click this menu and select your desired region: **Americas**, **Europe**, or **Asia**. The proxy will immediately reconnect and update your IP address.
Available Regions in the Free Browser Proxy
Unlike dedicated commercial VPN apps that feature lists of individual countries, the free Opera GX VPN location panel offers four broad region options:
- Optimal Location: The browser automatically connects to the server with the lowest ping relative to your physical location.
- Americas: Routes your connections through proxy servers in the US, Canada, or South America.
- Europe: Connects to servers located in Western, Northern, or Central Europe.
- Asia: Redirects traffic to datacenters in Singapore and surrounding Asian tech hubs.
Step-by-Step Selection Guide
To change your active server region, follow this simple process:
- Step 1: Confirm that the VPN is enabled (the 'VPN' icon next to your URL must be blue).
- Step 2: Click the blue 'VPN' icon to open the status dropdown menu.
- Step 3: Click the dropdown box labeled 'Virtual Location'.
- Step 4: Select either 'Americas', 'Europe', or 'Asia' from the list.
- Step 5: The connection status will briefly turn orange and then back to blue, indicating the region has changed.
Maximizing Connection Speeds After Switching
Connecting to a distant Opera GX VPN server (for example, selecting 'Asia' while in New York) increases the distance data packets must travel. This leads to higher ping and slower page load times.
To maintain high browsing speeds, we recommend selecting the region closest to your physical location, or keeping it set to 'Optimal Location' unless you need to bypass a geo-restriction.
Data Matrix & Comparison
| Virtual Location Profile | Server Locations Range | Average Latency Increase | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimal Location | Closest available datacenter | 10ms - 30ms (Lowest latency) | Safe daily browsing and security |
| Americas Region | USA, Canada, Brazil | 40ms - 120ms (Medium latency) | Bypassing US-restricted media blocks |
| Europe Region | Oslo, Frankfurt, Amsterdam | 30ms - 100ms (Medium latency) | Accessing European websites while traveling |
| Asia Region | Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong | 120ms - 250ms (High latency) | Testing server routing from Asian markets |