How to Set Up a Proxy in Microsoft Edge on Windows and macOS: Complete Guide for SMM and Arbitrage

Microsoft Edge is a browser used by millions, but few know that it does not have its own built-in proxy settings: it operates through the system settings of the operating system. This creates difficulties when you need to connect a proxy only for Edge without affecting other programs. In this guide, we will explore all the working methods — from system settings on Windows and macOS to extensions and anti-detect browsers for professional multi-account management.

Why set up a proxy in Edge: SMM and arbitrage tasks

Before diving into the settings, it is important to understand why you need a proxy in Microsoft Edge. The tasks vary for everyone, and this determines which connection method to choose.

SMM specialists use proxies to manage client accounts on Instagram, TikTok, VK, and other platforms from different IP addresses. If you log into 10 Instagram accounts from one IP, the platform will immediately block them as suspicious. Each account must operate through its unique IP — this is a basic security rule.

Arbitrage specialists work with Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads, and Google Ads. Advertising accounts are tied to specific IPs, and if Facebook sees that multiple Business Managers are accessed from one address — it leads directly to a ban. Proxies allow you to separate accounts and reduce the risk of blocks.

Marketers and analysts use proxies to check search engine results from different regions, test ad displays in other countries, and monitor competitor prices on Wildberries, Ozon, or Avito.

How Edge works with proxies: an important nuance

Microsoft Edge is built on the Chromium engine — the same one used in Google Chrome. And like Chrome, Edge does not have its own proxy settings. Instead, it uses the system proxy settings of the operating system — Windows or macOS.

This means that when you set up a proxy through system settings, not only Edge but also other browsers and applications that use the system proxy will operate through it. This can be a problem if you want to direct only one browser through the proxy.

There are three main ways to connect a proxy to Edge:

1. System settings — the proxy applies to the entire system (Windows or macOS). Simple but global.
2. Browser extensions — the proxy works only in Edge. Convenient for basic tasks, but not suitable for multi-accounting.
3. Anti-detect browsers — each profile has its own proxy, its own fingerprint, its own cookies. This is a professional tool for managing multiple accounts.

Let's break down each method in detail.

Setting up a system proxy on Windows 10 and 11

The system proxy in Windows is set up through the "Network settings" section. This is the simplest way, suitable if you need a proxy for the entire computer or if you are working with one account.

Step 1: Open Windows settings

Press Win + I to open "Settings". In Windows 10, go to "Network & Internet", then select "Proxy" from the left menu. In Windows 11, the path is slightly different: "Network & Internet" → "Proxy".

Step 2: Choose the type of setup

You will see two options:

• Automatically detect settings — enable this if you have a PAC file or auto-configuration script from your proxy provider.
• Use a proxy server — manual entry of the address and port. This is the most common option.

Step 3: Enter proxy details

Turn on the "Use a proxy server" switch. In the "Address" field, enter the proxy IP address, and in the "Port" field — the port number (usually 8080, 3128, or another provided by the provider). If the proxy requires authentication, Windows will prompt for a username and password upon the first connection through the browser.

Step 4: Save and check

Click "Save". Open Microsoft Edge and go to 2ip.ru or whatismyip.com — you should see the proxy server's IP address, not your real one. If the IP hasn't changed, check the accuracy of the entered data.

Important note about protocols: the Windows system proxy supports HTTP and HTTPS proxies. SOCKS5 through system settings does not always work correctly — for SOCKS5, it is better to use extensions or third-party programs (for example, Proxifier).

Setting up a system proxy on macOS

On macOS, the proxy is set up through the network system settings. The principle is the same — the proxy applies to the entire system, including Edge.

Step 1: Open system settings

Click on the apple in the top left corner → "System Preferences" (or "System Settings" in macOS Ventura and newer) → "Network". Select the active network connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet) and click "Advanced" (button in the bottom right corner of the window).

Step 2: Go to the "Proxies" tab

In the opened window, select the "Proxies" tab. You will see a list of protocols:

• Web Proxy (HTTP) — for HTTP traffic
• Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS) — for HTTPS traffic (use for most websites)
• SOCKS Proxy — for SOCKS4/SOCKS5 proxies

Step 3: Enter proxy details

Check the box next to the desired type of proxy. On the right, fields for input will appear. Enter the IP address in the "Server" field and the port number in the "Port" field. If the proxy requires authentication, check the box "Proxy server requires password" and enter the username and password.

Step 4: Save settings

Click "OK", then "Apply" in the main network settings window. Open Edge and check your IP on 2ip.ru. If everything is set up correctly, you will see the proxy server's IP.

Extensions for proxies in Edge: installation and setup

If you want the proxy to work only in Edge and not affect other programs, use extensions. Edge supports extensions from its own store and from the Chrome Web Store — this is a big plus, as the selection of tools is vast.

Enabling Chrome extensions in Edge

By default, Edge may not allow the installation of extensions from the Chrome Web Store. To enable this feature: open Edge → click the three dots in the top right corner → "Extensions" → at the bottom of the page, turn on the switch "Allow extensions from other stores". Now you can install extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store.

Proxy SwitchyOmega extension

This is the most popular tool for managing proxies in Chromium-based browsers. Find it in the Chrome Web Store by the name "Proxy SwitchyOmega" and install it in Edge.

After installation, the setup looks like this:

1. Click on the extension icon in the browser toolbar → "Options"
2. In the left menu, click "New profile" — create a new proxy profile
3. Select the profile type "Proxy Profile" and enter a name
4. Specify the protocol (HTTP, HTTPS, or SOCKS5), IP address, and port
5. If authentication is needed — enter the username and password
6. Click "Apply changes"
7. Click on the extension icon and select the created profile — the proxy is activated

The main advantage of SwitchyOmega is the ability to quickly switch between multiple proxies and set rules: for example, directing only certain sites through the proxy while opening others directly.

Other proxy extensions

Extensions are a good solution for single use: checking results from another region, accessing a site with the desired IP. But for professional work with multiple accounts, this is not enough — read the next section.

Anti-detect browsers instead of Edge: a solution for multi-accounting

If your task is to manage several accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Ads, or other platforms, regular Edge with a proxy won't save you. Platforms track not only the IP address but also dozens of other parameters: browser fingerprint, cookies, User-Agent, screen resolution, fonts, time zone, and much more. Two accounts with the same fingerprint will be linked by the system, even if they have different IPs.

For this, there are anti-detect browsers — specialized tools where each profile has a unique fingerprint and its own proxy. This makes accounts completely isolated from each other.

Popular anti-detect browsers

How to connect a proxy in Dolphin Anty (example)

Dolphin Anty is one of the most popular tools among arbitrage specialists working with Facebook Ads. Here’s how to add a proxy to a profile:

1. Open Dolphin Anty and click "Create profile"
2. In the "Proxy" section, click "Add proxy"
3. Select the type: HTTP, HTTPS, or SOCKS5
4. Enter the IP, port, username, and password (if required)
5. Click "Check proxy" — the system will show the country and speed
6. Save the profile and launch it — each profile will open in a separate window with a unique fingerprint and IP

For managing multiple Instagram or TikTok accounts, residential proxies are best suited — they have IPs of real home users and are significantly less likely to raise suspicion with platform security systems.

Which type of proxy to choose for your task

Not all proxies are equally effective for different tasks. The choice of proxy type directly affects whether you will get banned or work without issues. Let's break down the main types and their applications.

Residential proxies

Residential proxies use IP addresses of real home users. From the platform's perspective, traffic through such a proxy looks like a regular user from a specific city. This makes them practically invisible to security systems.

Suitable for: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Ads, Google Ads, price monitoring on marketplaces (Wildberries, Ozon), account registration.

Mobile proxies

Mobile proxies operate through IP addresses of mobile operators (4G/5G). This is the "cleanest" type of traffic from the platform's perspective — mobile IPs almost never end up on blacklists, as one IP can be used by thousands of real users through the operator's NAT.

Arbitrage specialists often choose mobile proxies for working with Facebook Ads — they provide minimal risk of blocking advertising accounts even during active farming.

Suitable for: Facebook Ads, TikTok Ads, account farming, working with highly sensitive platforms.

Datacenter proxies

Datacenter proxies are the fastest and most affordable. Their IPs belong to datacenters, which is easily identified by security systems. They are poorly suited for social media work but excel at data scraping, price monitoring, and SEO position checking.

Suitable for: scraping Wildberries, Ozon, Avito, monitoring search results, tasks where speed is more important than "cleanliness" of IP.

Common errors and how to fix them

When setting up a proxy in Edge, typical problems arise. Let's review the most common ones and how to solve them.

Problem 1: Edge is not using the proxy, IP has not changed

Check the following:

• Make sure the "Use a proxy server" switch is indeed turned on in the Windows or macOS settings
• Check that you entered the IP and port correctly — extra spaces or incorrect format can hinder the connection
• If you are using an extension, make sure the correct profile is selected (not "Direct" or "System Proxy")
• Restart Edge after changing system settings

Problem 2: Proxy connects, but websites do not open

Possible reasons:

• Proxy requires authentication — upon first connection, Edge should prompt for a username and password. If this did not happen, try accessing any HTTP site (not HTTPS).
• Proxy is not working — check its status with the provider. Try connecting to another proxy from the pool.
• Incorrect protocol — if the proxy is SOCKS5, and you specified it as HTTP, nothing will work. Clarify the protocol with the provider.
• Firewall blocks the port — some corporate networks block non-standard ports. Try the proxy on port 80 or 443.

Problem 3: Proxy works, but the site still sees the real IP (WebRTC leak)

This is a common problem when using HTTP/HTTPS proxies through extensions. WebRTC is a browser technology that can reveal the real IP even with an active proxy.

Solution: install the WebRTC Leak Prevent or uBlock Origin extension (there is an option in the settings to block WebRTC). You can also disable WebRTC directly: in the Edge address bar, enter edge://flags/#disable-webrtc and disable the corresponding flag.

Problem 4: SOCKS5 does not work through Windows system settings

The system proxy settings in Windows do not always correctly transmit SOCKS5 traffic to all applications. If you need SOCKS5 at the system level, use the Proxifier program — it intercepts the traffic of all applications and directs it through the SOCKS5 proxy. Alternatively, use the Proxy SwitchyOmega extension in Edge — it works great with SOCKS5.

Problem 5: Proxy is slow

Slow proxy performance is usually related to the geographical distance to the proxy server or overload of the pool. Recommendations:

• Choose a proxy in a region close to the target site or your location
• Check the speed of the proxy using online tools or built-in checks in Dolphin Anty / AdsPower
• If you are using residential proxies with rotation, make sure the session is "sticky" — frequent IP changes slow down performance

Conclusion

Setting up a proxy in Microsoft Edge is not a difficult task if you understand how the browser works with network settings. For one-time tasks (checking IP, accessing a site from another region), the system settings of Windows or macOS, or the Proxy SwitchyOmega extension are sufficient. This takes 5-10 minutes and does not require special knowledge.

If your task is professional work with multiple accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Ads, or other platforms, Edge as a tool is not suitable. Here, anti-detect browsers (Dolphin Anty, AdsPower, GoLogin) combined with quality proxies are needed. Only such a combination provides complete isolation of accounts and protection against blocks.

For SMM tasks and working with social networks, we recommend using residential proxies — they provide a high level of trust from the platforms and minimal risk of blocks, as they use IPs of real home users.