Setting up a proxy server in Windows 10 / Windows 11

Windows lets you set a proxy once for the whole system: Chrome, Edge, and most apps that follow the system network settings pick it up automatically. The main exception is Firefox, which uses its own proxy settings by default. The steps below work the same way in Windows 10 and Windows 11 — the setup takes about two minutes.

Before you start: proxy details and ports

You'll need your proxy IP address and port. Both are listed in your Dashboard — open your active subscription to see the full connection details. The port depends on how you want to authenticate:

Authentication	HTTP port	Good for
Username / password credentials from your Dashboard	`8080`	Dynamic IP — a standard home internet connection
IP whitelisting no login required	`8085`	Static IP — a server or a connection with a fixed address

With IP whitelisting, you first add your current IP address to the whitelist in the Dashboard. If your address later changes, update the whitelist entry — the proxy stops responding to the old IP.

The Windows system proxy works with HTTP proxies only — the settings dialog has no SOCKS5 option. If you need SOCKS5, set it up inside a specific app instead: the Firefox network settings, the FoxyProxy extension for Chrome or Edge, or the proxy settings of apps like Telegram.

Setting up the proxy

Open the proxy settings
Start→Settings→Network & internet→Proxy

The fastest route: press Win + I to open Settings, or type “proxy” into the Start menu search and pick Proxy settings.
Enable the manual proxy and enter the details
Under Manual proxy setup: in Windows 11, click Set up (or Edit) next to “Use a proxy server” — a dialog opens; in Windows 10, the same fields sit right on the page. Turn the toggle on, enter your proxy IP and port, and click Save.

Edit proxy server

Use a proxy server

Proxy IP address
123.45.67.89

Port
8080

Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses

Example: an HTTP proxy with username/password authentication (port 8080). With IP whitelisting, use port 8085 instead. Leaving the local-addresses checkbox on keeps your home network devices reachable directly.
Log in on the first request
If you use port 8080, Windows shows a login prompt the first time a browser goes online — enter the username and password from your Dashboard and check “Remember” so it doesn't ask again. On port 8085 with IP whitelisting, there's no prompt at all.

Check that the proxy works

Open any “what is my IP” service in a browser that follows the system settings — Chrome or Edge. It should show your proxy's IP address, not your own. If it still shows your real address, re-check the port against the table and make sure the toggle is on and the settings are saved.

How to disable the proxy

Open the same Proxy page, turn the “Use a proxy server” toggle off, and save. All traffic goes back to a direct connection. Don't skip this step when your plan expires — with the toggle on and the proxy unreachable, Windows can't load any pages.

If something doesn't work

The most common causes: the port doesn't match the authentication method (see the table); your IP isn't whitelisted when using port 8085; or a SOCKS5 port (1080/1085) was entered into the system dialog — it only accepts HTTP proxies. If the login prompt keeps reappearing, re-check the username and password against your Dashboard — a typo is the usual culprit. If none of these is it, message us in live chat right on this page — we'll help you get connected.