Set Proxy Server Windows 10
How to Set Up a Proxy Server on Your PC, Mac, or Web Browser
As for what a proxy server is, think of your proxy as a gateway between you and the internet. When you visit a website, the proxy server communicates with it on behalf of your browser. Then, when the website answers, the proxy forwards the data to you.
Proxy servers can do many jobs. These include scanning for viruses, acting as a firewall, speeding up your connection by caching, and hiding your public IP address.
You have lots of choices when it comes to internet privacy. There’s a lot to learn, such as understanding what a reverse proxy is or distinguishing between VPNs, proxies, and Tor. If you want dependable protection and encryption for your internet traffic, consider a VPN. Avast SecureLine VPN hides your data from snoopers and protects your online identity, and it’s also much easier to set up than a proxy server.
There’s no similar guarantee of protection with a proxy, especially if you’re using one of the many web-based proxies available online. These public proxy services may slow down your service, and even worse, they may be insecure. Instead, we suggest you learn how to set up a proxy server on Windows, MacOS, and the most popular web browsers.
If you’re configuring your browser to use a proxy operated by a company, school, or other similar organization, some of these instructions may require you to contact your IT staff. This is the case particularly when you are asked to manually enter a script name, formally called a proxy auto-configuration (PAC) file. You may also need to type in the proxy’s IP and port numbers. In both cases, turn to your IT helpdesk if you haven’t been given this information. If you’re using a proxy that you’ve purchased or created on your own, you’ll already have these details.
How to set up a proxy server in Windows
Here’s how to set up your Windows PC to use a proxy server on Windows 8 or Windows 10:
Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to access the Windows Settings menu.
On Windows 10, click Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. On Windows 8, click Settings > Network Proxy.
Under the Manual Setup section, set the “Use a Proxy Server” toggle to On. Make sure the “Automatically detect settings” toggle is also on.
By default, Windows automatically checks to see if your business, school, or local network already has an automatic proxy server setup ready to run for you. If it does, Windows tells you its name, and encourages you to follow its instructions.
Assuming that Windows finds a PAC file, in the Automatic Proxy Setup, set the Use Setup Script switch to On.
Enter the script address and click Save.
Congratulations! You’re done and ready to proxy.
How to manually set up a proxy in Windows 8 or Windows 10
Not every organization sets up the process automatically. If you need to set up a proxy manually in Windows 8 or Windows 10, here’s how to do it.
To access the Windows Settings menu, press the Windows + I keys simultaneously.
On Windows 10, click Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. On Windows 8 systems, click Settings > Network Proxy.
Scroll down to “Manual proxy setup” and set the “Use a Proxy Server” switch to On.
In the address field, type the proxy server name or IP address. In the Port field, enter the proxy port number. You can get these from your IT support tech.
If the proxy server is protected by a password, select the “Proxy server requires password” checkbox. Enter your account name and password in the Username and Password fields.
Click Save.
That’s all there is to it. You’re now set up to use your proxy server on Windows. The next time you use the internet, you’ll be using the proxy server.
How to set up a proxy server on a Mac running macOS
Here’s how to set up a proxy server on a Mac running macOS 10. 15 Catalina. Other macOS versions use essentially the same commands.
Open System Preferences. One way to get there is to click on the Apple menu > System Preferences.
Choose the Network icon to adjust connectivity settings.
Select the type of network you use, which is usually Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Click Advanced > Proxies.
To automatically configure your proxy server settings, select Auto Proxy Discovery. Click on Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS). Type in the proxy server address and its port number in the fields on the right.
To use a proxy auto-configuration (PAC) file, select Automatic Proxy Configuration and enter the proxy address into the URL field.
Click OK to save the proxy setup.
You’re now ready to surf the internet via your proxy.
How to set up a proxy in Google Chrome
By default, Chrome uses your macOS or Windows proxy. To change your proxy settings from within Chrome, take the following steps:
Open the Chrome toolbar and select Settings.
Scroll down to the bottom of the display. Click on Show advanced settings…
Scroll down to “System” and choose Open your computer’s proxy settings.
Next, go back to the instructions for your operating system listed above to set up your proxy server settings and follow them.
In short, to set up a proxy server in Google Chrome, you’re just doing the first few steps in the browser, and then completing the process in your machine’s operating system.
How to set up a proxy server in Safari
Like Chrome, Safari’s default setting is to follow the proxy configurations within your OS. Here’s how to change your proxy settings from within Safari:
Click on Safari in the browser toolbar. Choose Preferences.
Click on the Advanced tab. Under “Proxies, ” click Change settings…
Next, you must go back to the instructions for macOS listed above to set up your proxy server settings and follow them.
How to set up a proxy server in Edge
Edge is Windows 10’s built-in web browser, and unless you tell it otherwise, it’ll use your proxy configurations in Windows. The latest versions of Edge are based on Chrome, so the configuration is similar. The following steps show you how to set up a proxy from within Edge:
In Microsoft Edge, at the top-right corner, click the Menu button. Select Settings.
Scroll down to the Advanced settings section and click the View advanced settings icon.
Click the Open proxy settings button.
Next, go back to the instructions for Windows 10 listed above, then follow them to configure your proxy server settings.
How to set up a proxy server in Firefox
Unlike other web browsers, Firefox doesn’t default to using your system’s proxy settings. You’ll need to change your proxy from within Firefox:
Open the Firefox menu and select Options.
Click on the Advanced icon.
Select the Network tab.
In the Connection Settings, select, Auto-detect proxy configuration for this network. When prompted, enter the proxy address.
Alternatively, in the Connection Settings, you can select, Use system proxy settings. If you choose that option, Firefox uses the proxy settings in your operating system.
Click OK to save your settings.
How to set up a proxy server in Internet Explorer
Please keep in mind that Internet Explorer is an outdated web browser. Instead, switch to a browser that’s still receiving regular updates and support, such as Avast Secure Browser, Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Though since quite a few people and companies still use Internet Explorer (IE), you should know how to set things up when necessary.
As with other browsers, IE defaults to using your Windows proxy configurations. Here’s how to set your proxy up from within IE.
Open the IE toolbar and select Internet Options.
Open the Connections tab.
Select LAN Settings.
Check the “Use a proxy server for your LAN” box.
When prompted, enter the proxy server name and port number.
How to set up a proxy server in Android
With Android, you must configure proxy settings for each network you use. In addition, the proxy will only be used by your web browser. Other internet applications may choose to use or ignore the proxy based on their own internal settings. This is another reason why VPNs tend to be better choices — when you use one, it covers all the internet traffic from your device.
Open Android’s Settings and tap Wi-Fi to view a list of Wi-Fi networks.
Long-press the Wi-Fi network name for which you want to change the proxy settings. Tap Modify Network.
Tap Advanced Options.
Tap Manual to change your proxy’s settings. Enter your hostname and proxy port.
OR
If you have a Proxy Auto-Config (PAC) file, select Proxy Auto-Config and Android will prompt you to enter the PAC address.
Tap SAVE.
How to set up a proxy server in iOS
Go to Settings > Wi-Fi.
Select the active Wi-Fi connection.
Under HTTP proxy, click Configure Proxy.
Tap Manual to change your proxy’s settings. Enter your host name, proxy port, and, if needed, your authentication username and password.
If your provider supports Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD), tap Automatic. If required, enter the Proxy Auto-Config (PAC) file location.
Tap back to the Wi-Fi selection window.
Protect your online anonymity the easy way
Proxy servers have their uses, particularly within large organizations. However, setting one up requires a bit of work, and this is a job typically entrusted to network administrators and other IT professionals.
Avast SecureLine VPN is an internet privacy solution that’s both simpler to use and far more protective of your identity and online activities. A single click or tap of a button gets you encryption that keeps you anonymous online and prevents anyone from snooping on your sensitive personal info, such as your online banking, health info, or private photos. Enjoy true online privacy on your desktop, laptop or mobile device with a VPN that’s as convenient as it is secure.
How to Set Up a Proxy Server on Windows 10 (Native Method)
While VPNs are undeniably advanced and better at routing internet traffic securely, proxy servers are still a quick go-to way for many users. It lets you access geographically restricted content and allows you to control your bandwidth usage with a simple intermediary called proxy server. The best part is that you don’t have to install any VPN application and the setup is almost a breeze. So in this article, I have shared an easy way to set up a proxy server on Windows 10. You just have to enter the proxy server’s IP address and you are done. Now having said that, let’s get started.
Set Up a Proxy Server on Windows 10
While you can use free proxy servers from the internet, we would advise you to pick a reliable and secure service provider if you are doing serious business on the internet. Anyway, here are the steps to configure proxy servers on Windows 10.
1. Press the Windows key once and type “Proxy” in the search box. After that, open “Proxy Settings” from the search result. Alternatively, you can also open the desired menu by following this path: Windows Settings -> Network and Internet -> Proxy.
2. Here, disable “Automatic proxy detection” and enter the forwarding URL under the script box and hit the “Save” button. This is the easiest way to set up a proxy server on Windows 10 using a PAC script offered by your service provider.
3. In case, you are old school, you can enter the IP address and port number manually in separate boxes just down below. In addition, you can mention websites that you don’t want to tunnel through the proxy server.
Best Proxy Servers
There are a lot of free proxy servers available on the internet, but not all services offer good performance and enhanced security. However, few of the paid and reliable services are Oxylabs, MyprivateProxy and Luminati. In case, you are looking for free proxy servers, you can get a list from here.
Configure Proxy Server on Windows 10 in a Jiffy!
So that was a short guide on how to set up a proxy server on Windows 10. As we can see, the steps are quite easy and straightforward. That’s why Windows 10 is a great operating system as it allows you to make many network-related changes which can be very useful to IT administrators. Anyway, that is all from us. If you want to learn more about Windows 10, stay tuned with us.
Google Chrome Proxy configuration on Windows 10 – intoProxy
Chrome Proxy Configuration
Or Else
Click on the icon Customize and control… in the top-right corner of Google Chrome.
Then click on Settings
Click on the link Show advanced settings…
Scroll the page down until you reach the Network paragraph.
Press the button: Change proxy settings.
Select Connections tab from the Internet Options window.
Then click on the LAN settings button
Tick the option: Use a proxy server for your LAN…
In the field named Address: enter any proxy server address from our locations page.
In the field named Port: enter any valid port from our locations page.
Example: Proxy Server Address:
and Port: 80
Click OK, then click Apply to finish the configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions about set proxy server windows 10
How do I setup a proxy server?
Here’s how to set your proxy up from within IE.Open the IE toolbar and select Internet Options.Open the Connections tab.Select LAN Settings.Check the “Use a proxy server for your LAN” box.When prompted, enter the proxy server name and port number.Click OK to save your settings.Mar 11, 2020
How do I setup a free proxy on Windows 10?
Press the Windows key once and type “Proxy” in the search box. After that, open “Proxy Settings” from the search result. Alternatively, you can also open the desired menu by following this path: Windows Settings -> Network and Internet -> Proxy.Nov 25, 2019
How do I manually set a proxy in Chrome Windows 10?
Windows 10 configuration Click on the icon Customize and control… in the top-right corner of Google Chrome. Scroll the page down until you reach the Network paragraph. Press the button: Change proxy settings. Select Connections tab from the Internet Options window.