How to Set Up a Proxy Server: Configuration Instructions
Learn how to set up your proxies on various devices, operating systems, and apps.
Proxy servers can help you filter traffic, improve anonymity, and access geo-restricted content. They’re also frequently used to collect information at scale by scraping the web.
You might be new to proxies, or simply wonder how to set them up for a particular tool. This page will show you how to configure a proxy server with various operating systems, browsers, and apps. The guides here feature step-by-step instructions with illustrations to make your proxy setup simple and straightforward.
If you didn't find the integration instructions you were looking for, contact us and we’ll add them to the list.
Set Up a Proxy on an Operating System
Enabling a proxy server on an operating system will make all your connection requests go through proxies. In other words, the settings apply system-wide, unless you use applications that override them.
How to Set Up a Proxy on Windows
Setting up a proxy on Windows is relatively easy. All you need to do is navigate to the Proxy tab (Settings -> Network & Internet), find the Manual proxy setup, and toggle “Use a proxy server”. There you’ll have to fill in the Address and Port numbers, and click “Save”. Use the address and port numbers given to you by your proxy provider.
We have a more detailed guide on how to set up a proxy on Windows with alternative setup methods, too:
Learn three methods to configure your proxies on Windows.
How to Set Up a Proxy on macOS
Proxy setup on macOS is also quite simple. Open System Settings, and navigate to the Network tab. Open the Wi-Fi tab, select the network you’re connected to, and then click Details… Navigate to the “Proxies” tab, and toggle your proxy type(s), then manually enter the proxy server’s details: server IP (or hostname if you’re using backconnect proxies) and port.
We also have an in-depth guide on how to set up a proxy on macOS with more details:
Learn how to configure your proxies on macOS.
How to Set Up a Proxy on Android
Android devices have a pretty simple way of configuring proxy settings. Go to the Settings app, and tap on Wi-Fi & Internet. Once there, click on the gear icon shown next to the network you’re currently using, and tap “Modify”. Once a screen with options opens, tap “Proxy” and then “Manual”. There, you’ll be able to enter the proxy server’s information.
For a more detailed guide with illustrations, you can check out our article for proxy configuration on Android phones and tablets:
Learn how to configure the Android proxy settings on your phone or tablet.
How to Set Up a Proxy on iOS
If you use a device with the iOS or iPadOS operating system, you can configure proxies by going to the Settings app, and tapping on Wi-Fi.
Tap on the “i” symbol next to the Wi-Fi network you’re currently connected to, scroll to the bottom of the screen, and click on “Configure proxy”. This will take you to configuration settings, where you can manually write down proxy settings.
Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up or disable proxies on iPhone and iPad:
Learn how to configure proxies on your iPhone or iPad and access content without restrictions.
Set Up a Proxy on a Web Browser
There are several reasons why someone would want to set up a proxy on a web browser instead of an entire operating system. For example, you might need to route web browser traffic through a proxy to access geo-restricted web content, but still want an online video game to use a direct connection.
Setting Up Proxies on a Web Browser for Single Use
If you need proxies for a one-time session, you can also use the command line to configure a custom proxy. Don’t forget to close your web browser entirely beforehand.
On a Windows device, run the following command in Command Prompt (CMD) to configure proxy settings for Chrome:
chrome.exe --proxy-server="http://your.proxy.com:PORT"
Or this one, if you use Firefox:
firefox.exe -private -proxy-server="your.proxy.com:PORT"
On macOS or Linux devices, run this command in Terminal to set up proxies on Chrome:
open -a "Google Chrome" --args --proxy-server="http://your.proxy.com:PORT"
Firefox users should use this command instead:
firefox --private-window --proxy-server="your.proxy.com:PORT"
Setting Up Proxies on a Web Browser for Multiple Uses
You can set up proxies on a web browser via operating system settings, browser settings, or various browser extensions, such as FoxyProxy and SwitchyOmega. If you’re not planning to have proxies on all the time, an extension is probably the best tool for the job.
We have a few useful guides on how to configure proxy settings on different browsers:
Learn how to configure & disable Chrome proxy settings.
Learn how to configure a proxy server on Firefox.
If you want to use and manage proxies with a browser extension instead, you can find the tutorial here:
Learn to control proxies on your browser the easy way.
Set Up a Proxy with Web Scraping Libraries
Proxy servers are used in web scraping scripts, once you start encountering blocks with your local IP address. Some integrations are relatively straightforward, while others, often involving headless browser libraries, require workarounds.
How to Set Up Proxies with Selenium
Selenium is excellent for automating headless browsers. It’s a good idea to set up your proxies if you’re planning to scrape at large with Selenium.
We have prepared a quick, step-by-step guide to help you set up HTTP(S) and SOCKS5 proxies with Selenium:
Learn how to set up a proxy server with Selenium.
How to Set Up Proxies with Puppeteer
If you’re planning to scrape JavaScript-heavy websites with a Chromium-based browser, you’ll need to use Puppeteer. You can check our extensive guide on setting up proxies with Puppeteer with steps and most common errors:
Learn how to set up a proxy server with Puppeteer.
How to Set Up Proxies with Requests
If your web scraping project is simple (i.e., does not include scraping dynamic elements), it might be enough to use Python Requests only. In that case, we prepared a proxy setup guide with Python Requests:
Learn how to run proxies with Python Requests.
Set Up a Proxy on Applications
You can also use applications like Proxifier to configure your proxy settings. Proxifier is a software that allows network applications route requests via a proxy server – even when those applications don’t have built in proxy settings.
We have a guide on how to use the application and multiple ways to configure proxies with it.
Learn to make any app compatible with proxy servers.
General Information on How to Use Proxies
Understanding a Proxy Server Address
Whether you’ve bought proxies or found a list online (we don’t recommend using free proxies, by the way), a proxy server consists of three main elements: protocol, address, and port.
1) The protocol shows what kind of content on the internet you can access using the proxy server. You’ll encounter three main protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS. The first two support website traffic; HTTPS is safer because it encrypts the information you send. The SOCKS protocol allows accessing more diverse content, such as torrents or SMTP.
2) The address shows where the proxy server is located. It functions like a ZIP code. The proxy server’s address can look like a regular IP (192.168.0.1). Or, it can use a DNS hostname and look like a website (en.proxyprovider.net).
3) The port number indicates how you can reach that address. It doesn’t reflect which ports the proxy server actually has open – you’ll have to find that out from your provider.
So, here are the two formats of a proxy IP address you’re most likely to encounter:
- 192.168.0.1:10000
- en.proxyprovider.net:10000
Proxy Authentication Methods
If you’ve bought access to private proxies, you’ll most likely need to authenticate them before you can start using the proxy server. The two main authentication methods are credentials and IP whitelisting. Some proxy suppliers offer both, while others have only one method available.
1) Credentials simply refer to a username and password. Apps may have separate fields for them or require adding credentials to the proxy IP address. In the latter case, the address would look like this: 192.168.0.1:10000:username:password. If your proxy server requires password, you most likely haven’t entered the credentials.
2) IP whitelisting lets you specify an IP address that can access the proxy server. This method isn’t ideal if you have a dynamic IP (there are workarounds) but it doesn’t modify the proxy IP address and doesn’t require any other fields like credentials.
What happens if you’re not authenticated? The proxy server won’t let you access any content. Instead, you’ll get the proxy server is refusing connections or the 407 error.
Working with Rotating Proxy Servers
Unlike proxy lists, which have a separate address for each IP, rotating proxies often use backconnect gateway servers. These servers provide one hostname and allow you to access different IPs by changing the port number or adding parameters to the username. After a while (it depends on the provider’s settings), the IP rotates; the gateway server remains the same.
