How to Configure Proxy Settings in Charles

Charles is software with modern proxy server support with a convenient control panel. The application can analyze network traffic, control the information sent, identify errors, and allow you to crack internet games. Charles's primary purpose is to scan network data.

Due to many tools, this tool can be used by webmasters, program developers, and server administrators. Below we will discuss in detail how to configure Charles proxy.

What Is the Proxy Setting for Charles?

The main function of the application is to serve as a proxy server. It supports ports for HTTP and SOCKS.

• Port Selection: The selection of ports is made in auto mode.
• Manual Override: If the ports are busy, the user can switch to manual mode.
• Dynamic Ports: When working in a system of several people, a dynamic port comes to the rescue. The next time the application starts, it automatically identifies a suitable port.

The program has the function of SSL decrypting. It is turned on by default. However, if users want to receive the encrypted information, they can disable this function.

The application automatically configures the browsers in its list. But users are allowed to reconfigure the proxy connection. It is also possible to disable (at startup) auto-tuning through the Proxy menu.

If you want the web proxy for Charles to ignore some servers, you can add them to the list stored in the browser and OS. As soon as the address is added to the list, the proxy is disabled for it.

Benefits of Configuring Proxy Settings in Charles Proxy

Configuring proxy settings in Charles Proxy lets you intercept and analyze all your web traffic easily. You get full control to inspect HTTP headers, cookies, SSL certificates, and both request and response bodies. This means you can see exactly what is sent and received, helping you debug APIs or test how different parts of your application interact.

Simulation and On-the-Fly Modification

You can simulate network conditions by adjusting bandwidth, latency, or even packet loss. Charles Proxy’s integrated tools like Throttling, Breakpoints, Map Local, and Rewrite rules make it straightforward to test how your app behaves under various scenarios. These tools help you modify requests and responses on the fly, revealing hidden issues and enabling deep testing without changing backend code.

Mobile Debugging and Clear Data Views

You’ll also appreciate Charles Proxy’s support for mobile device debugging, including for iOS and Android, making it easy to capture traffic from apps running on real devices. JSON and XML formatting combined with syntax highlighting give you clear, easy-to-read views of structured data. This clarity speeds up problem identification.

External Tool Integration for Comparison

For detailed comparisons, you can integrate Charles Proxy with external diff tools like Beyond Compare or Kaleidoscope. This lets you quickly spot differences between requests or responses and track changes over time. Overall, configuring proxy settings in Charles Proxy empowers you with powerful insights and testing capabilities, making it an essential tool for developers and testers alike.

Step-by-Step Guide to Configure Proxy Settings

Start by launching Charles and check that the proxy is active. Look for the green indicator in the status bar or confirm via the Proxy menu. If your system or browser doesn’t automatically use Charles Proxy, set your proxy manually to 127.0.0.1 with port 8888.

Browser and Mobile Configuration

Here’s how to configure proxy in common browsers:

• Chrome: Uses your system proxy settings. Adjust these in your OS network preferences or with Chrome’s network extensions.
• Firefox: Configure proxy manually in Preferences > Network Settings. Firefox can use independent proxy settings, so set the host to 127.0.0.1 and port to 8888.
• Safari: Proxy settings follow macOS network preferences under System Preferences > Network.

Mobile device proxy setup is just as simple:

• iOS: Connect your device and PC to the same WiFi. In the device's WiFi settings, enable manual HTTP proxy. Enter your PC’s IP and port 8888.
• Android: In your WiFi network’s settings, manually add the proxy using your PC’s IP and port 8888.

For mobile testing, use Charles Proxy’s DNS Proxying feature. This resolves hostnames correctly, avoiding common issues when debugging mobile apps.

Charles' Internal Preferences

Within Charles' preferences, configure proxy settings to suit your needs:

• Proxies tab: Add or edit proxy rules, enable SOCKS proxy if required.
• SSL Proxying: Turn on for specific hosts or all traffic. You can specify ports and domain patterns here.
• Upstream proxies: If your network needs authentication or uses another proxy, set those details here.
• You can export and import proxy configurations as presets, making sharing settings with your team quick and error-free.

Integrating Upstream Proxies

To boost your testing, integrate Proxy-Seller with Charles Proxy. Proxy-Seller offers fast, private SOCKS5 and HTTP(S) proxies that you can route Charles traffic through. This enhances anonymity and allows geolocation testing. Proxy-Seller provides diverse proxy types like residential, ISP, datacenter IPv4/IPv6, and mobile 4G/5G proxies, fitting diverse debugging needs.

To configure Proxy-Seller proxies, either set them as your system’s upstream proxy or add them in Charles’s upstream proxy settings. Proxy-Seller ensures unlimited bandwidth up to 1 Gbps for smooth traffic handling. Use this service to simulate network conditions from different countries or ISPs easily.

Proxy-Seller’s dashboards and APIs enable advanced proxy management, perfect for teams scaling their use of Charles Proxy. For mobile device testing, tap into their mobile proxies to replicate real network environments precisely. Teams benefit from preset sharing and consistent proxy setups, improving collaboration when using the Charles HTTP proxy on Android, iOS, or desktop.

Installing and Configuring Charles Root SSL Certificate

To decrypt HTTPS traffic in Charles Proxy, you must install the Charles Root SSL certificate on your devices. This enables Charles to act as a trusted proxy and inspect secure traffic safely.

• Begin on your computer by going to Help > SSL Proxying > Install the Charles Root Certificate.
• macOS: Open Keychain Access after installation. Find the certificate and set its trust setting to “Always Trust” for SSL.
• Windows: Install the certificate via Certificate Manager, placing it in Trusted Root Certification Authorities. Admin rights might be needed to complete this.
• For mobile devices, the process differs by platform:
• iOS: Open Safari on your device and visit chls.pro/ssl. Tap the option to install the profile. After installation, go to Settings > General > About > Certificate Trust Settings and enable full trust for the Charles certificate.
• Android: Export the Charles Root Certificate from Charles (Help > SSL Proxying > Save Charles Root Certificate). Transfer this file to your Android device. Then, install it through Security settings. Installation steps vary across Android versions and manufacturer skins (such as Samsung One UI). Recent Android versions require explicit user consent for user certificates – follow the on-screen prompts carefully.

Once the certificate is installed, enable SSL proxying in Charles for your target domains. You can add wildcard patterns (like *.example.com) to catch all subdomains. This setup allows Charles to decrypt HTTPS traffic for specific hosts cleanly.

If you face security warnings or “untrusted certificate” messages in your browser or apps:

1. double-check certificate installation steps and trust settings;
2. make sure that your device’s date/time settings are correct.

Proper setup here is crucial for smooth debugging with Charles Proxy.

By completing these steps, you unlock full HTTPS traffic inspection on desktop and mobile, essential when learning how to use Charles Proxy effectively.

Switching Charles Proxy to SOCKS Protocol

Starting with version 3.1, the utility has support for SOCKS proxies. True, the browser automatically uses HTTP. To change this default status, you must:

1. On the panel, go to the Proxies section.
2. Open its settings.
3. Go to the SOCKS settings.
4. Click on the SOCKS proxy.

After these operations, the browser will start using SOCKS by default.

In Conclusion

We will say that when using Charles HTTP proxies, there will be different restrictions, which will reduce the speed of working with sites. This can be avoided by replacing HTTP with SOCKS. The proxy will not be taken into account, so the performance will not change. Therefore, Charles supports both protocols.