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How to Set Up a Proxy on Windows 10: In-depth Guide

Learn three methods to configure your proxies on Windows.

windows proxy setup

Contents

Setting up proxies via Network Settings

Step 1. Click on the Start button and then click on the gear icon⚙️  (Settings).

Step 2. In Settings, click on Network & Internet.

Step 3. In the left column, choose the Proxy tab. It’s located at the very bottom.

Step 4.  Scroll down until the section Manual proxy setup & set the Use a proxy server switch to On.

Step 5. Fill in the Address and Port fields with your proxy provider’s data. Check the box Don‘t use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses and click the Save button.

Alternative method: Proxy Settings for Windows 7, 8 and 10

If you‘ve recently upgraded to Windows 10 from a previous version or just looking for an alternative proxy setup method, you can configure the same settings using Control Panel.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it properly:

Step 1. Type Control Panel in the Search Bar and click on the Control Panel icon.

Step 2. After opening Control Panel, click on Internet Options.

Important note: if you‘re using this method on Windows 10, your Control Panel might look like this:

If you‘re seeing this window, just click on Network and Internet. Then select Manage browser add-ons.

Step 3. Select the Connections tab and then click on the LAN settings button.

Step 4. Check the box Use your proxy server for your LAN, fill in Address and Port fields with your proxy provider’s data, check the box Bypass proxy server for local addresses, and click Ok.

Important note: If you‘re using HTTPS, FTP, SOCK5 proxies, or want not to use proxies for specific URLs, press the Advanced button, fill in the fields you need, and click OK.

Setting up proxies via Command Prompt

If you feel comfortable using Command Prompt, this proxy setup for Windows method is definitely for you! It‘s really fast because you can set up proxies just by writing one line of code.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1. Press ⊞ Windows + R buttons at the same time.

Step 2. Type cmd and click OK.

Step 3. Type the command bellow and press ENTER.

netsh winhttp set proxy <proxy>:<port>

In fields <proxy> & <port>, use your proxy provider’s data.

Warning: If you‘re receiving the error Error writing proxy settings. (5) Access is denied, go to Start and type cmd. Right-click Command prompt and select Run as administrator. Then repeat Step 3.

 

Modified: September 29, 2020
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9 comments

  1. henry on August 17, 2020 at 9:38 am

    Thanks for guide.

    Reply
  2. geezer on August 31, 2020 at 1:48 pm

    why does my proxy server keep turning on even tho I disabled it?

    Reply
  3. Chris Becker on September 2, 2020 at 2:21 pm

    Geezer, a VPN might be controlling your proxy settings. If you have one, try turning it off.

    Or, you might have accidentally caught malware. You can try installing and running your computer through MalwareBytes.

    Reply
  4. Gill Bates on September 25, 2020 at 11:07 am

    What is a script address? I keep hearing about this from people that use proxies often. As far as I know script address for proxy using is necessary. Please correct if wrong.

    Reply
  5. jr on September 30, 2020 at 10:58 am

    Thanks, I always found manual proxy configuration quite difficult. Wish there was an automatic proxy setup to use for Windows 10. Maybe someday, right? haha

    Reply
  6. Chris Becker on October 1, 2020 at 1:53 pm

    Gill Bates, a script address is something like an URL. You can enter it, and it will automatically configure the proxy settings for you. It’s not necessary – you can also configure the proxies manually.

    jr, see above. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Mike1 on December 18, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    Do proxy features depend on the type of device you use? Is there a best proxy server for Windows and one for MAC? Or maybe there’s proxies that cannot be set up on MAC or vice versa?

    Reply
    • Chris Becker on December 22, 2020 at 12:33 pm

      Not really, as long as the device supports all the same protocols and the OS doesn’t have any restrictions configured.

      Reply

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Frequently Asked Questions About Windows 10 Proxy Setup

What Is a Windows 10 Proxy Server?

It’s simply a proxy server that you can set up on the Windows 10 operating system.

Where Can I Get Free Proxies for Windows 10?

You can try searching for them on Google, but we wouldn’t advise doing that – free proxies are dangerous!

Where Can I Test My Proxies After I Set Them Up on Windows 10?

You can go to a website like Whoer and see if your IP and location have changed. For more in-depth testing, feel free to read our article on how to test proxies.