If the proxy is configured incorrectly, it simply won't work. A competent proxy server setting will help you organize an anonymous connection for a browser, a separate program, or all network connections. Below we will tell you in more detail how to set up a proxy on Windows, MAC OS, Linux, Android, iOS, a router and all popular browsers. We will also analyze how to turn off the proxy server for cases when you need a direct connection to the final web resource.
Before setting up proxies, you need to figure out why they are generally important and need to be used by professionals and ordinary Internet users:
Next, we'll talk about how to use proxies after purchasing them or getting them for free.
On a personal computer or laptop, the proxy server can be configured in the system parameters. The big plus here is that no additional software is needed. There is also a drawback - this method allows you to organize anonymous connections only through one intermediary server. If you are going to use a proxy pool, then setting through the system parameters will not work.
Below are instructions for connecting a proxy on the three most popular versions of this operating system: 7, 8 and 10.
How to use a proxy server on Windows after setup? Just go to the Internet in the usual way. The Mediation Server will be active across all network connections.
We figured out how to install a proxy on Windows 7, 8 and 10. Now let's move on to analyzing the features of connecting an intermediary server on the operating system of computers from Apple.
On personal computers and laptops from Apple, you can change the proxy in the same way as on Windows (via network settings). In this case, the procedure is carried out in the following way:
How to connect to a proxy server on Mac OS through the Safari browser:
Within this operating system, the process of connecting intermediary servers will be more complicated than, for example, the procedure on how to configure a proxy server on Windows 10/8/7 or MAC OS. Here you already have to enter special values through the command line, so if you are new to this question, it is better to contact the experts. If you still want to try it yourself, then follow the recommendations below.
Instructions on how to install a proxy server on the Linux operating system:
$ Export ftp _ proxy = "http://ip-address:port;
$ Export http _ proxy = "http://IP address:port"
$ Export https _ proxy = "https://IP-address:port;
Proxy settings on Linux with login and password authentication:
$ export ftp_proxy = "http://login: password @ IP address: port"
$ export http_proxy = "http://login: password @ IP address: port"
$ export https_proxy = "http s://login: password @ IP address: port"
An important addition: when using special characters in the password, they must be replaced with ASCII codes on the command line. For example, if your password contains a comma, then you need to specify the ASCII code of this character - "%2C" on the command line instead. That is, if you use the password "parol, parol", then you need to write it in the following format: "parol%2Cparol".
Checking current proxy variables:
$ env | grep -i proxy;
Checking the proxy operation by finding out the IP address from the command line:
$ wget -q -O - checkip.dyndns.org \
sed -e ‘s /.* Current IP Address: //’ -e ’s /<.*$//’
Ping launch:
ping 8.8.8.8
Checking the connection speed with and without a proxy using the time command:
$ time wget -q -O - checkip.dyndns.org \
| sed -e ‘s /.* Current IP Address: //’ -e ’s /<.*$//’
Checking internet download speed:
$ wget —output-document = \
/dev/null http://speedtest.wdc01.softlayer.com/downloads/test500.zip
You can also use the simplified proxy setup guide if you are going to use only one proxy server for all types of traffic:
$ export {http,https,ftp}_proxy = "http: // proxy-server: port"
$ unset {http,https,ftp}_proxy
Let's take a closer look at how to connect to a proxy server through a browser. Below you will find detailed instructions on how to use proxies in Chrome, Opera, Explorer, Firefox, Yandex browser, Tor, Edge and Safari.
We have outlined the steps for manually configuring proxy servers, but you can also find and install special proxy extensions in the online store of add-ons for your browser. With their help, it will be possible to launch an anonymous connection in a couple of clicks. Proxy extensions can be installed in Chrome, Opera, Firefox and Yandex Browser.
Instructions on how to connect to a proxy server in the Chrome browser:
If desired, before the final saving, you can set additional options: specify a list of sites where the proxy server will not be active, and also prohibit its use on local (intranet) addresses.
The system settings interface may differ depending on your operating system, but the general principle will be similar.
After launching the Opera browser, follow these instructions to configure the proxy server:
If you are using a different operating system, then enter the new settings, following the same logic, but relying on the features of your interface.
Open this browser and follow the instructions:
Launch the Firefox app and follow the instructions below:
Once you've launched your browser, follow these simple steps:
If you have Windows 10, then scroll down the window that opens to the "Manual proxy settings" section, move the toggle switch to the on position, specify the IP address and port of your proxy server and save the changes. If necessary, in the free field, you can also specify web resources on which the anonymous connection will not be active.
If you have a different operating system, the browser will redirect you to the system parameters with a slightly different interface. Follow the same principle, but taking into account the specifics of your specific system settings.
To protect your personal data from leakage using the Tor browser, follow these simple steps:
After opening the Microsoft Edge app, follow these steps:
If you have Windows 10, then scroll down the page in a new window to the section "Manual proxy settings", put the "Use proxy server" toggle switch to "On", specify the proxy data and save the changes.
If you are using a different operating system, then the interface will be slightly different, but the essence of the settings will remain the same: enter the proxy data, check the box to activate it and save the changes.
To set up a proxy server on Safari, follow the instructions:
Let's move on to how to set up anonymous and secret work on the Internet on mobile devices. Let's analyze the setting of proxy servers on Android (with and without root-rights) and iOS operating systems.
There are 2 ways to set up mobile proxies:
The first is for rooted Android devices:
The second is for non-rooted Android devices:
If you do not know if your smartphone is rooted, you can check this fact using the Root Checker application. Download it, run it and click the "Check ROOT" button. In response, the application will give you the verification result.
To use a proxy server when working with 3G, 4G and other similar networks, you will have to install a browser on your mobile device. Browsers work well on smartphones and tablets: Opera, Firefox, Habit Browser. Install one of them on your mobile device, find in its settings the parameters responsible for working with a proxy, and enter new values there to launch an anonymous Internet connection.
To connect a proxy server to your iPhone or iPad, follow these simple steps:
If you need to enter a username and password to access your proxy, then next to the "Authentication" parameter, turn the toggle switch to the "On" position, and then enter the data for authorization.
Without deep knowledge in this matter, it will be difficult to configure anonymous connection through a proxy on the router. Unfortunately, there is no universal instruction for all routers. It is better to contact a specialist, since there are many nuances associated with the differences in routers and the subtleties of solving the problem in a particular case.
The scheme for setting up a proxy server on a router will look something like this:
You can also set up a proxy server on your smartphone using one of the instructions above, and then use your mobile device to distribute the Internet to your computer. Many modern gadgets have this special feature that allows the smartphone to work like a modem.
One of the best ways to do the most granular proxy configuration is with proxies. We will provide step-by-step instructions on how to configure proxies in the two most popular programs of this type - Proxy Switcher and Proxifier.
Instructions for working with the program:
If you get an error, it means that the added proxy is not working. It needs to be replaced.
After completing the above steps, tunneling will start through the proxy server you specified. All applications that use the Internet will automatically connect through it.
To add a new IP address to the Proxifier application follow these instructions:
To configure proxy servers for individual programs, use the "Proxification Rules" parameter.
If you are going to use a proxy server to browse the Internet anonymously, then we recommend that you clear your browser history and cache before that. Without cleaning, there is a risk that your identity can be identified from previous actions on the site, even if this time you went through a proxy.
For those who are engaged in online promotion using automated software, the ideal solution would be to select a separate proxy server for each promoted account. That is, if you are promoting pages on the social network VKontakte or Instagram, then it is better to visit them from different IP addresses. This decision will increase the chances that the social media administration will not block promoted accounts for botting, spam, etc.
If you need an intermediary server for simple tasks like surfing the web and bypassing blocking on sites, then you can use free public proxies. They are not suitable for serious tasks, since they slow down the process and do not provide the proper level of anonymity.
Proxy servers are changed in the same way as the initial connection. If your current server no longer adequately meets your needs, then go to the settings and replace the used IP address with another one. Some proxy providers are sometimes ready to provide the user with a new server absolutely free.
Using proxifiers (special programs for working with proxies), you can add all the servers that you are going to use to the database in advance. In the future, it will be possible to switch among them in a few clicks. Also, through proxifiers like Proxy Switcher or Proxifier, you can configure the launch of individual proxy servers for a specific site or software.
Let us now analyze the features of disabling proxy servers in the system parameters of the computer and smartphone, as well as in the browser and router settings.
On Windows 8 and 10, the process of deactivating proxy servers is as similar as possible, so we will provide general instructions for these versions of the operating system. Plus, we will separately analyze how to disable the proxy server on Windows 7.
To deactivate the proxy server, follow the instructions:
How to disable proxy server on Windows 7:
Instructions on how to turn off the proxy server on the Mac OS operating system:
To disable proxy on Linux operating system, follow these steps:
If you need to disable the mediation server only within the current session, then:
Let's analyze the features of disabling the proxy server on mobile devices.
Take a few simple steps:
If you connected to the proxy server on your smartphone or tablet through a special mobile application, then simply remove the installed software.
Follow 5 easy steps:
Let's analyze the principle of deactivating a proxy server in popular browsers: Chrome, Opera, Explorer, Firefox, Yandex Browser, Tor and Edge.
5 steps you need to take to disable the proxy server in the Google Chrome browser:
To deactivate the proxy on the Opera browser, follow these steps:
Follow the instructions:
To disable the proxy server, you need to follow these steps:
Do the following to disable the proxy:
Follow the step by step instructions:
To disable the proxy, follow these steps:
You can reset the current settings to disable the proxy server on your router. To do this, follow the instructions for your router.
After a factory reset, you will be able to configure the router to the new suitable settings.
How do you know that proxies are working?
You can check the performance of proxy servers on special sites to determine the IP address. For example, for these purposes, you can use the site 2ip.ru. When you go to this web resource, the system will automatically display your current IP address and geolocation. Check if they match with the proxy server you are using.
Many programs for working with proxies, called proxifiers, have built-in special proxycheckers. With their help, it will be possible to run a proxy health check with an almost instant response.
How to determine the speed of a proxy?
To do this, you can use special online services such as SPYS.ONE. You only need to specify the site on which you will need to test, and the IP address of the proxy server.
You can also get information about the speed of a specific proxy server on the website of the proxy provider.
How many streams/connections can I use?
When solving any professional and ordinary user tasks on the Internet: parsing, SMM-boosting pages in social networks, searching for surebets in bookmakers, etc. - it is recommended to use 1 proxy server for each connection / account. This will help avoid increased scrutiny from the security services of the web resources.
Can I use a proxy on my computer?
Yes, of course. Proxy servers can be connected through computer system parameters, browser settings, or special programs called proxifiers. How to set up a proxy server on Windows 7, 8, 10, as well as MAC OS and Linux is described in detail above.
How do I enable proxy in my browser?
This is done in the browser settings in the section responsible for network parameters. Detailed instructions on connecting a proxy in Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Explorer, Safari and other popular browsers can be found above in our article.
Can I use a proxy on my phone?
Yes. To manage proxy servers, you can download a special mobile application. You can also set up a proxy through the network settings on your smartphone.
Above, we have prepared detailed instructions for gadgets on iOS and Android.
Can I change my home IP?
You can hide it from websites and other users by using proxy servers. When visiting any web resources, the IP of the connected proxy will be displayed, not yours.
What to do if a specific site/application is blocked at work?
Proxy will help bypass blocking. It will only be necessary to change the network parameters.
Before installing a proxy on a computer or other device, be sure to read our detailed instructions. This way you can complete all the steps quickly and correctly.
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