10 Hacks Every Vivaldi Browser User Should Know

Vivaldi offers a surprisingly rich toolbox for users who want to tighten their online privacy without juggling multiple apps. The browser’s Chromium foundation means it can run the same extensions that power Chrome on desktop, yet it adds layers—workspaces, follower tabs, and a flexible UI—that many mainstream browsers lack. For anyone who already worries about trackers, ads, and data‑harvesting, those built‑in capabilities turn a simple browsing session into a proactive privacy stance.

Leveraging Chrome Extensions on Vivaldi for Android

Vivaldi for Android recently opened the Chrome Web Store directly from its address bar via the puzzle‑piece icon, a feature Chrome for Android still omits. This means users can install uBlock Origin Lite to block ads and tracking scripts, mirroring the desktop experience. The extension’s lightweight design keeps mobile performance smooth while still eliminating most third‑party trackers.

Beyond ad blocking, the Decentraleyes extension reroutes requests away from centralized content delivery networks, reducing the fingerprinting surface that advertisers exploit. SponsorBlock, another Chrome‑compatible add‑on, automatically skips paid segments in YouTube videos, cutting down on unwanted commercial exposure. Because Vivaldi treats these extensions as first‑class citizens, the privacy gains are immediate and require no separate browser.

Workspaces: Segregating Digital Life to Limit Data Spillover

The “Workspaces” feature acts like a folder system for open tabs, letting users compartmentalize browsing contexts such as “Research,” “Long Reads,” or “Social Media.” By clicking the Workspaces button in the tab bar and creating a new workspace, users can keep work‑related sites isolated from personal ones, reducing cross‑site tracking that relies on shared cookies. This structural separation also curtails accidental data leakage when a personal account is left logged in on a work tab.

Moving a tab into a specific workspace is as simple as right‑clicking the tab and selecting Move > Workspace. Because each workspace maintains its own session state, cookies and local storage do not bleed between them, creating a practical barrier against cross‑domain profiling. For privacy‑focused users, this means a single browser can serve multiple personas without the risk of one identity contaminating another.

Follower Tabs: Browsing Without Leaving a Trace

Vivaldi’s “Follower Tabs” let users open a link while keeping the original page active, effectively creating a parallel browsing thread. When a user clicks a link with the middle mouse button or a designated shortcut, a new tab follows the link but the source tab remains untouched. This design reduces the need to close and reopen pages, which can generate additional HTTP referrer data that trackers harvest.

Because the original tab stays open, any scripts that would normally fire on page unload—such as analytics pings—are avoided. The follower tab can be closed independently, leaving the source page’s state intact and its tracking footprint minimal. For those who habitually hop between articles, this feature trims the cumulative data trail left across sites.

What This Actually Means For You

1. Install uBlock Origin Lite on Vivaldi Android to block the majority of ads and tracking scripts with a single tap.
2. Add Decentraleyes and SponsorBlock from the Chrome Web Store to cut CDN‑based fingerprinting and skip paid video segments.
3. Use Workspaces to isolate professional and personal browsing, preventing cookie sharing across contexts.
4. Employ Follower Tabs for link‑following tasks, reducing referrer leakage and keeping original pages static.
5. Regularly review installed extensions via the puzzle‑piece icon to ensure they remain up‑to‑date and compatible.

Immediate Action Steps

Open Vivaldi on your Android device, tap the puzzle‑piece icon in the address bar, and navigate to the Chrome Web Store. Search for “uBlock Origin Lite,” “Decentraleyes,” and “SponsorBlock,” then install each with a single tap. After installation, enable them from the extensions menu to start blocking unwanted content immediately.

Next, click the Workspaces button in the tab bar, create distinct workspaces for “Work,” “Personal,” and “Research,” and begin moving existing tabs into their appropriate categories. Finally, familiarize yourself with the follower‑tab shortcut (usually middle‑click or a long‑press gesture) to keep your browsing trace minimal as you explore new links.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install Chrome extensions in Vivaldi for Android?

Tap the puzzle‑piece icon in the address bar, select the menu option to open the Chrome Web Store, then search for the desired extension and install it directly from there.

Do Workspaces prevent all forms of tracking between tabs?

Workspaces separate session data such as cookies and local storage, which limits cross‑site tracking, but they do not block network requests made by the pages themselves.

Can Follower Tabs replace the need for private browsing mode?

Follower Tabs reduce referrer data and keep original pages static, but they do not clear history or cookies, so private browsing still offers additional isolation.

What Do You Think?

Given Vivaldi’s built‑in privacy tools, is it time to replace your default mobile browser with a platform that lets you control tracking without sacrificing functionality?