Vivaldi distinguishes itself from mainstream browsers through recent feature additions, notably Android extension support and advanced productivity options.
Vivaldi Brings Chrome Extension Compatibility to Android
Continuing its trajectory as a Chromium-based browser dedicated to an expansive user toolkit, Vivaldi has unveiled a major update enabling support for Chrome extensions on its Android app. This progress positions Vivaldi ahead of Google Chrome, which lacks such functionality for Android. Now, Android users can enhance privacy and workflows by installing popular extensions like uBlock Origin Lite for blocking ads and trackers, Decentraleyes to reduce reliance on centralized CDNs, and SponsorBlock for skipping sponsored segments on YouTube videos. To get started, users simply tap the puzzle piece icon in the address bar to browse and install extensions from the Chrome Web Store directly within Vivaldi.
Workspaces and Follower Tabs for Efficient Tab Organization
The Workspaces feature in Vivaldi offers users a way to manage myriad tabs by grouping them based on themes or ongoing projects—so separate spaces can be set up for work tasks, use for reading, or leisure browsing. To initialize a workspace, click on the Workspaces button in the tab bar, assign a name, and relocate relevant tabs using the right-click context menu.
“Follower Tabs” further streamline tab management by letting users keep reference to their original page while exploring links. When you right-click any link and select “Open Link as Tiled Follower Tab,” Vivaldi displays both the source and the new destination side by side, ideal for in-depth research or making direct comparisons between sites.
Productivity Upgrades: Quick Commands and Command Chains
Vivaldi incorporates robust productivity shortcuts, such as its Quick Commands tool—similar to Spotlight on macOS—which can be opened with F2 or Ctrl-E (use Command-E if you’re on a Mac). This interface lets users rapidly locate browser controls, settings, and commands, as well as execute tasks like copying all open tab URLs or running calculations.
Additionally, Command Chains let users automate sets of actions in the browser. By visiting Settings > Quick Commands, users can compose or revise their own command sequences—for example, setting a chain that switches on Fullscreen and Reader View at once for distraction-free browsing. These chains are executed from the Quick Commands interface by typing and selecting their name.
Extensive Customization and Accessibility Settings
Users can tailor Vivaldi’s interface with advanced menu editing, reorganizing or paring down the right-click context menu using Settings > Appearance and the Menu Customization tool. If needed, it’s simple to revert to the original menu setup via Restore Default Menu.
Keyboard-centric users benefit from caret browsing, which places a text cursor on web pages—enabling navigation, selection, and copying of text, images, or links using only the keyboard. Activate this feature with Shift-F7, echoing the behavior found in classic word processors. The browser also offers mouse gesture customization, configurable by heading to Settings > Mouse, for mapping actions to specific gestures.
Performance Controls and Battery-Saving Tools
To maximize battery life and overall performance, Vivaldi presents features such as Energy Saver and Memory Saver under Settings > Performance. These allow users to enable Energy Saver automatically at 20% battery or less and employ “Balanced Savings” mode to free up memory by unloading tabs that aren’t being used.
Automatic tab refresh can also be scheduled directly from any tab by right-clicking and selecting a timed reload interval, ranging from every single minute to a 90-minute maximum—ideal for staying updated on feeds or active pages without manual intervention.
This set of advanced controls underlines Vivaldi’s dedication to a powerful, customizable browsing environment designed to offer features rarely found in standard browsers—and to keep evolving with its user base.