Guide: How to Configure a Proxy On Any Device

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to configure a proxy on various operating systems and browsers. Each section covers the setup process for your target OS or browser. Please note these instructions are for providing one proxy connection. If you are using a tool that allows you to add multiple proxies, please see our other guides.

Once you have set up any of these options, you could and should test it. As an initial step, go to WhatIsMyIPAddress now and take a note of your current IP address. After you complete the setup, go back to WhatIsMyIPAddress and make sure it has changed.

How to Configure a Proxy in the Major Browsers:

Chrome Browser

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
3. Go to Settings > System > Open your computer’s proxy settings.
4. This will redirect you to the proxy settings for your OS (Windows, macOS, etc.).
5. Under Manual Proxy Setup, toggle Use a proxy server.
6. Enter your proxy IP address and Port number.
7. Click Save.

Edge Browser

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner and choose Settings.
3. Scroll to the bottom and click System and performance.
4. Under Open your computer’s proxy settings, you’ll be redirected to the system’s proxy configuration (Windows or macOS).
5. Toggle Use a proxy server and input the IP address and Port.
6. Click Save.

Firefox

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll to Network Settings and click Settings.
4. In the Connection Settings window, select Manual proxy configuration.
5. Enter the IP address and Port for your proxy.
6. Click OK to apply the settings.

Brave Browser

1. Open Brave Browser.
2. Click the three lines in the upper-right corner and go to Settings.
3. Scroll to System and click Open your computer’s proxy settings.
4. This redirects you to the OS proxy settings (Windows or macOS).
5. Enter your Proxy IP and Port.
6. Click Save.

Safari

Safari relies on the system settings on your Mac, so to use a proxy through Safari, follow the instructions on “How to set up a Proxy on Mac” below.

How to Configure a Proxy in the Major OSes

Windows

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Network & Internet > Proxy.
3. Under Manual proxy setup, toggle Use a proxy server to On.
4. Enter your Proxy IP address and Port.
5. Click Save.

macOS

1. Open System Preferences.
2. Go to Network and select your current network connection.
3. Click Advanced, then navigate to the Proxies tab.
4. Check the proxy protocol you want to configure (e.g., Web Proxy (HTTP), Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS)).
5. Enter the Proxy server IP address and Port.
6. Click OK and Apply.

Linux

General Command-Line Method (Across Linux Distributions):

This general command-line method for setting up a proxy will work across Linux distributions. you can set them by editing the following environment variables in either the /etc/environment file (for system-wide configuration) or your ~/.bashrc file (for user-specific configuration):

1. Open a terminal and use a text editor to modify the appropriate file:

sudo nano /etc/environment

2. Add your proxy details:

export http_proxy="http://proxy-server-ip:port"
export https_proxy="http://proxy-server-ip:port"
export ftp_proxy="ftp://proxy-server-ip:port"
export socks_proxy="socks://proxy-server-ip:port"

3. Save the file and apply the changes:

source /etc/environment

4. You can test if your proxy is functioning correctly by running this curl command in the terminal.

curl ifconfig.me

How to Configure a Proxy on Mobile Devices

Android

1. Open Settings on your Android device.
2. Go to Wi-Fi and select the network you’re connected to.
3. Tap Advanced options.
4. Under Proxy, select Manual.
5. Enter the Proxy IP and Port.
6. Tap Save.

iOS

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
2. Go to Wi-Fi and tap on the network you’re connected to.
3. Scroll down to HTTP Proxy and select Manual.
4. Enter the Proxy IP and Port.
5. Tap Save.

This step-by-step guides has shown you how to set up a proxy on various OS platforms and browsers. Be sure to test the setup by checking your IP on whatismyipaddress.com or similar websites after configuring your proxy to ensure the proxy connection is functioning correctly.

If you need to set up multiple proxies, you might need specialized tools which are also covered in our guides!