How to Set Up a Proxy on Windows 11 and 10 (With Authentication)
To set a proxy on Windows 11, open Settings → Network & internet → Proxy, choose Set up next to Use a proxy server, enter the proxy address and port, and save. Windows 10 has the same page under Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy. Browsers such as Edge and Chrome will then ask for the proxy's username and password the first time they connect. The system setting is HTTP only: for SOCKS5, configure the proxy in the application itself or use a tool such as Proxifier.
- setup
- windows
- proxy settings
Table of contents
Windows 11: step by step
- 1Open Settings (Win + I) and go to Network & internet → Proxy.
- 2Under Manual proxy setup, click Set up next to Use a proxy server.
- 3Turn on Use a proxy server.
- 4Enter the Proxy IP address (or hostname) and Port from your proxy dashboard.
- 5Optionally list addresses that should skip the proxy, separated by semicolons — for example
*.local;192.168.*. - 6Tick Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses unless you need it.
- 7Click Save.
On Windows 10 the path is Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy, with the same fields under Manual proxy setup and a toggle instead of a Set up button.
Username and password
The Windows proxy page has no fields for credentials. When a browser first connects through the proxy, the proxy asks for authentication and the browser shows a sign-in dialog; enter your proxy username and password there. If you would rather not type them, whitelist your IP in the proxy dashboard — the proxy then accepts your machine without credentials.
Whitelisting follows your public IP. If your router gets a new address, the proxy starts asking for credentials or refusing connections. Check your current IP against the whitelist first when something breaks.
SOCKS5 on Windows
The modern settings page only configures HTTP proxies. For SOCKS5, set the proxy inside the application that supports it — Firefox, many download managers and game clients do — or route selected programs through a tool like Proxifier, which forces any app through a SOCKS5 or HTTP proxy, with authentication.
Setting it from the command line
# Current-user proxy (what Edge and Chrome follow)
$key = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings"
Set-ItemProperty $key ProxyServer "PROXY_HOST:PROXY_PORT"
Set-ItemProperty $key ProxyEnable 1
# Turn it off again
Set-ItemProperty $key ProxyEnable 0
# WinHTTP proxy for system services (separate setting, needs admin)
netsh winhttp set proxy PROXY_HOST:PROXY_PORT
netsh winhttp reset proxyWhich apps use the Windows proxy
| Application | Follows the system proxy? | Otherwise |
|---|---|---|
| Edge, Chrome | Yes | — |
| Firefox | Optional | Settings → Network Settings → Use system proxy settings, or manual |
| cURL | No | -x flag or HTTPS_PROXY — see cURL proxy errors |
| Python, Node.js | Mostly no | Proxy in code or environment variables |
| Games, some desktop apps | Often no | In-app setting or Proxifier |
HTTP and SOCKS5 on every plan
Residential from €1.20/GB and static ISP from €1.80/IP, with username or IP-whitelist authentication.
Check that it works
Open our IP checker in the browser. It should show the proxy's IP and country, not your own. If a page fails to load instead, the error tells you where: ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED means the proxy was never reached, usually a wrong port.
Turning the proxy off
Go back to Settings → Network & internet → Proxy, click Edit next to Use a proxy server, and switch it off. Also check that Use setup script is off unless your organisation requires it — a leftover script is a common reason pages stop loading after uninstalling a VPN.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up a proxy on Windows 11?
Open Settings, go to Network & internet, then Proxy. Click Set up next to Use a proxy server, switch it on, enter the proxy address and port, and click Save.
Where do I enter the proxy username and password in Windows?
Windows has no credential fields on the proxy page. Your browser asks for the username and password the first time it connects through the proxy. Alternatively, whitelist your IP address with the proxy provider so no credentials are needed.
Can I use a SOCKS5 proxy in Windows settings?
Not reliably. The Windows proxy settings are designed for HTTP proxies. Configure SOCKS5 inside the application or use a tool such as Proxifier to route programs through it.
Why does an app ignore my Windows proxy?
Many applications, command-line tools and programming languages use their own network settings instead of the Windows proxy. Configure the proxy in the app or through environment variables.
How do I turn off a proxy in Windows?
In Settings, Network & internet, Proxy, switch off Use a proxy server under Manual proxy setup, and switch off Use setup script unless your organisation requires it.
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