Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Proxies on Windows: Step-by-Step Instructions for All OS Versions

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Open Windows Settings — press the key combination Win + I or right-click the "Start" menu and select "Settings"
2. Navigate to "Network & Internet" — find the corresponding menu item in the left sidebar
3. Select "Proxy" — scroll down and click on this section
4. Disable automatic detection — if you are not using a corporate network, switch the "Automatically detect settings" toggle to OFF
5. Configure proxy manually — find the "Manual proxy setup" section and click "Set up"
6. Enable the proxy server — switch the "Use a proxy server" toggle to ON
7. Enter proxy details:
   • Proxy Server IP Address — e.g., 192.168.1.100 or proxy.example.com
   • Port — usually 8080, 3128, 1080 (check with your proxy provider)
8. Configure exceptions (optional) — in the "Don't use the proxy server for addresses" field, specify local addresses: localhost;127.0.0.1;*.local
9. Activate the option "Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses" — check the box
10. Save settings — click the "Save" button

⚠️ Important: This method does not allow entering a login and password directly. If your proxy requires authorization, a pop-up window will appear when you first connect to a site via the browser to enter credentials. Save them in the browser for automatic login in the future.

Setup instructions:

1. Open the "Run" window — press Win + R
2. Enter the command inetcpl.cpl and press Enter
3. Go to the "Connections" tab
4. Click the "LAN settings" button at the bottom of the window
5. Uncheck "Automatically detect settings" (if not using a corporate network)
6. Check the box "Use a proxy server for your LAN"
7. Enter the proxy address and port in the respective fields
8. Click "Advanced" for detailed settings:
   • You can specify different proxies for HTTP, HTTPS, and SOCKS protocols
   • Add addresses to bypass the proxy in the "Exceptions" field
9. Click "OK" in all windows to save changes

How to set up a PAC file:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy
2. In the "Use setup script" section, click "Configure"
3. Enable the toggle "Use setup script"
4. Enter the PAC file URL — for example, http://proxy.company.com/proxy.pac
5. Save settings — click "Save"

💡 Tip: PAC files are especially useful when you need to use different proxies for internal and external resources, or automatically switch between multiple proxy servers.

Setting proxy via netsh:

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator — press Win + X and select "Terminal (Admin)" or "Command Prompt (Admin)"
2. Enter the command to set the proxy:
   netsh winhttp set proxy proxy-server="PROXY_IP_ADDRESS:PORT" bypass-list="localhost;127.0.0.1"

   Example: netsh winhttp set proxy proxy-server="192.168.1.100:8080" bypass-list="localhost"

3. Check current settings:
   netsh winhttp show proxy
4. To reset the proxy (disable):
   netsh winhttp reset proxy

⚠️ Attention: The netsh command configures the proxy at the WinHTTP level, which is used by Windows services and some applications. Additional configuration via system settings may be required for browsers.

Registry setup:

1. Open the Registry Editor — press Win + R, type regedit and press Enter
2. Navigate to the path:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
3. Find the "ProxyEnable" parameter — set its value to 1 to enable the proxy
4. Find the "ProxyServer" parameter — enter the value in the format IP_ADDRESS:PORT (e.g., 192.168.1.100:8080)
5. Restart the computer to apply changes

🚨 Warning: Incorrect registry editing can lead to system instability. Back up the registry before making changes. Use this method only if you are confident in your actions!

1. Press Win + I to open Windows Settings
2. Select "Network & Internet"
3. Click on "Proxy" in the left menu
4. Disable "Automatically detect settings" (if you are not using WPAD)
5. Scroll down to the section "Manual proxy setup"
6. Enable the toggle "Use a proxy server"
7. Fill in the fields:
   • Address — Proxy IP address or domain name
   • Port — Port number (usually 8080, 3128, or 1080)
8. In the "Don't use the proxy server for" field, add exceptions separated by a semicolon: localhost;127.0.0.1;*.local
9. Check the box "Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses"
10. Click "Save"

1. Open the Control Panel — type "Control Panel" in the Windows search or press Win + R, type control
2. Go to "Network and Internet"
3. Select "Internet Options" (Internet Properties)
4. Open the "Connections" tab
5. Click the "LAN settings" button
6. Check the box "Use a proxy server for your LAN"
7. Enter the proxy address and port
8. Click "Advanced" for extended settings:
   • Separate proxies for HTTP, Secure (HTTPS), FTP, and Socks
   • List of exceptions to bypass the proxy
9. Save all changes by clicking "OK"

1. Open the "Start" menu and find "Control Panel"
2. Select "Network and Internet" → "Internet Options"
3. Go to the "Connections" tab
4. Click "LAN settings"
5. In the opened window:
   • Uncheck "Automatically detect settings" (if not needed)
   • Check "Use a proxy server for your LAN"
   • Enter the proxy IP address and port
6. Click "Advanced" to configure different protocols and exceptions
7. Save changes by clicking "OK"

💡 Useful to Know: In Windows 7 and 8, these settings apply to the entire system and affect Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, and other applications that use system proxy settings.

// Set proxy

netsh winhttp set proxy 192.168.1.100:8080

// Check settings

netsh winhttp show proxy

// Reset proxy

netsh winhttp reset proxy

How it works:

1. Configure the proxy in Windows system settings (only IP and port, no login/password)
2. Open any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) and try to visit a website
3. An authorization window will appear requesting the proxy login and password
4. Enter your credentials and check the "Remember password" box
5. The browser will now automatically use the saved credentials to connect to the proxy

✅ Advantages: Simplicity, no additional software required, works in most browsers

❌ Disadvantages: Only works for browsers, not suitable for system applications

📦 Proxifier Features:

• Price: $39.95 (license), 31-day trial period
• Protocol Support: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, SOCKS5
• Platforms: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10/11 (32-bit and 64-bit)
• Size: 5.2 MB (Portable version available)
• Features: Login/password authorization, flexible rule system, traffic monitoring, proxy chain support

Proxifier Setup Step-by-Step:

Step 1: Download and Installation

1. Go to the official website proxifier.com
2. Download Standard Edition or Portable Edition (Portable is recommended for portable use)
3. Run the installer and follow the instructions
4. After installation, run the program as administrator

Step 2: Adding a Proxy Server

1. In the main Proxifier window, click the menu Profile → Proxy Servers
2. Click "Add" to add a new proxy
3. Fill in the fields in the settings window:
   • Address: Proxy server IP address or domain (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
   • Port: proxy port (e.g., 8080, 3128, 1080)
   • Protocol: select HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5
4. If the proxy requires authorization:
   • Check the box "Enable" in the Authentication section
   • Enter Username (proxy login)
   • Enter Password (proxy password)
5. Click "Check" to verify the connection — a green message "Proxy is ready to work with Proxifier" should appear

Step 3: Configuring Proxy Rules

1. Go to Profile → Proxification Rules
2. The "Default" rule is created by default — all applications will use the added proxy
3. To configure individual applications, click "Add":
   • Name: rule name (e.g., "Chrome through Proxy")
   • Applications: click "Browse" and select the program's .exe file (e.g., chrome.exe)
   • Action: select the added proxy server or "Direct" to bypass the proxy
4. Click "OK" to save the rule

Step 4: DNS Configuration (Important!)

1. Go to Profile → Name Resolution
2. Select "Resolve hostnames through proxy" for maximum anonymity
3. Click "OK" to apply

✅ Proxifier Advantages:

• Full support for login/password authorization
• Works with all applications (games, messengers, torrents)
• Flexible rule system for different programs
• Real-time traffic monitoring
• Support for proxy chains
• Built-in Proxy Checker for testing

❌ Disadvantages: Paid software ($39.95), may slightly reduce connection speed

💡 Pro Tip: After setup, Proxifier runs automatically in the background. In the main program window, you can monitor all active connections passing through the proxy, their IP addresses, and the amount of data transferred.

Popular Extensions:

How to set up IP authorization:

1. Log in to the proxy provider's personal account
2. Find the section "Authorization" or "IP Whitelist"
3. Add your current IP address to the whitelist (you can find it on sites like 2ip.ru or myip.com)
4. Configure the proxy in Windows using the standard method — only IP:Port, without login/password
5. The proxy will work automatically for your IP address

✅ Advantages: No need to enter login/password, works with all applications, simple setup

❌ Disadvantages: Tied to one IP (a problem with dynamic IP from the provider), you need to update the IP in the whitelist if it changes

Popular IP Check Services:

• 2ip.ru — shows your current IP, provider, geolocation, and proxy presence
• whoer.net — detailed analysis: IP, DNS leak, WebRTC leak, browser fingerprint
• whatismyipaddress.com — basic IP check with geographical location
• ipleak.net — check for DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks
• browserleaks.com — comprehensive check for all possible data leaks

Step-by-step check:

1. Open any browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
2. Go to 2ip.ru or whoer.net
3. Compare the displayed IP address with your proxy's IP address
4. Check the country and city — they should match the proxy's location
5. Ensure your real IP address is not displayed

Commands for proxy check:

1. Checking WinHTTP settings:

netsh winhttp show proxy

2. Checking current Internet Explorer settings:

reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxyEnable

3. Viewing the proxy address in the registry:

reg query "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxyServer

The main Proxifier window displays:

• List of active connections — all programs using the proxy
• Target host — where the connection is going
• Proxy server — which proxy the traffic is passing through
• Data volume — sent/received in bytes
• Connection status — active/completed

Causes:

• The proxy server is down or unreachable
• Incorrect IP address or port specified
• Proxy has expired
• Proxy requires authorization, but login/password are not entered
• Conflict with VPN or other proxy extensions
• Your IP is blocked by the proxy provider

Solutions:

1. Verify the correct IP address and port in the settings
2. Use a Proxy Checker or ping to check server availability
3. Ensure the proxy has not expired (check in your personal account)
4. Disable VPN and browser proxy extensions
5. Try another proxy from your pool
6. Contact the proxy provider's technical support

Causes:

• Proxy server overload (especially for shared proxies)
• Large distance between you and the proxy server
• Using a slow proxy type (e.g., free ones)
• Bandwidth limitation by the provider
• DNS resolution problems

Solutions:

1. Switch to a private proxy instead of shared
2. Choose a proxy closer to your geographical location
3. Use datacenter proxies for maximum speed (up to 1 Gbps)
4. In Proxifier, enable "Resolve hostnames through proxy"
5. Change the DNS server to a faster one (Google 8.8.8.8, Cloudflare 1.1.1.1)
6. Check speed without a proxy for comparison

Some programs ignore system proxy settings and use a direct internet connection. This is typical for torrent clients, games, and some messengers.

Solutions:

1. Use Proxifier — it will forcibly redirect all traffic through the proxy
2. Check application settings — many programs have a built-in proxy option
3. For torrents: configure the proxy in the client (uTorrent, qBittorrent)
4. For games: use Proxifier with rules for specific game .exe files

Causes:

• Domain group policies override settings
• Antivirus or firewall blocking changes
• Third-party network management software
• Corrupted system files

Solutions:

1. Check group policies: run gpedit.msc
2. Add the proxy to the antivirus exceptions
3. Use Proxifier — it saves settings independently of the system
4. Reset network settings: netsh winsock reset
5. Create a .bat file with proxy setup commands and add it to startup

Solutions:

1. Change DNS servers in network adapter settings to Google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4)
2. Clear DNS cache: ipconfig /flushdns
3. In Proxifier, enable "Resolve hostnames through proxy"
4. Check the hosts file for blocks: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

Methods of rotation implementation:

Setup in Proxifier:

1. Add multiple proxies in Profile → Proxy Servers
2. Click "Proxy Chains" in the main proxy settings window
3. Create a new chain: Add → select proxies in the desired order
4. In Proxification Rules, specify this chain as the Action for the required applications
5. Traffic will pass: Your PC → Proxy 1 → Proxy 2 → Target site

💡 Tip: Use chains of different proxy types — for example, Datacenter → Residential for an optimal balance of speed and anonymity.

Method 1: Via Proxifier Rules

1. Profile → Proxification Rules → Add
2. In the "Target hosts" field, specify domains separated by a semicolon: facebook.com;instagram.com;youtube.com
3. Action → select the desired proxy
4. For all other sites, leave Action = Direct

Method 2: Via PAC File

Create a proxy.pac file with routing logic:

function FindProxyForURL(url, host) { // Use proxy for blocked sites if (shExpMatch(host, "*.facebook.com") || shExpMatch(host, "*.youtube.com")) { return "PROXY 192.168.1.100:8080"; } // Other sites directly return "DIRECT"; }

Traffic Saving Methods:

📊 Average Traffic Consumption:

• Basic web surfing: 50-200 MB/hour
• Data parsing: 100-500 MB per 1000 pages
• Social media use: 100-300 MB/day per account
• Streaming video: 1-3 GB/hour (not recommended via proxy)

📋 Current ProxyCove Prices:

• ✓ Residential Proxies: $2.7 per GB — ideal for parsing and social media
• ✓ Mobile Proxies: $3.8 per GB — maximum platform trust
• ✓ Datacenter Proxies: $1.5 per GB — for speed and basic tasks

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