Turning on a proxy in Windows 11, the easy way

In plain English: when you set a proxy in Windows 11 itself, most of your apps start sending their traffic through it: browsers, many desktop apps, even some background services. A proxy is a go-between server, so websites then see the proxy's IP address instead of your own. It's the natural choice when you want one setting for the whole PC rather than setting up each app separately. You don't need extra software; everything happens in the Settings app.

Quick start in 3 steps

1. Press Windows + I, then go to Network & internet → Proxy.
2. Click Set up next to Use a proxy server, switch it on, enter the host and port, and save.
3. Open your browser, enter the proxy username and password when asked, and check the result with our IP checker.

Have these to hand

• Your proxy host and port, shown in your dashboard as host:port. The host is the proxy's address; the port is the number after the colon.
• Your proxy username and password. The Windows proxy page has no boxes for them, so keep them handy for the sign-in prompt.
• A Windows 11 PC where you're allowed to change settings. On a work laptop, your IT team may have locked this page.

Set the proxy in Settings

1. Click Start and open Settings (or press Windows + I).
2. Choose Network & internet in the left-hand column.
3. Scroll down and click Proxy.
4. In the Manual proxy setup section, click Set up beside Use a proxy server.
5. Turn the switch on.
6. Type the host into Proxy IP address and the number into Port.
7. If you like, tick Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses, so devices on your home network, such as a printer, are reached directly.
8. Press Save.

The username and password step

Windows saves the address but never asks for a login on this page. Instead, the first app that sends traffic through the proxy asks you. Open your browser and load any site, and a sign-in box appears. Type the username and password exactly as the dashboard shows them, including any extra parts for country or session, and tick the option to remember them if one is offered.

Some apps can't show a sign-in box; they simply fail to connect. For those, look for a proxy setting inside the app itself, or switch to IP whitelisting in your dashboard, where the proxy recognises your home IP address and no password is needed.

Optional: do it with PowerShell

PowerShell is the command window built into Windows. If you change proxies often, these commands save a few clicks. To switch a proxy on (swap HOST:PORT for your own details):

$reg = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $reg -Name ProxyEnable -Value 1
Set-ItemProperty -Path $reg -Name ProxyServer -Value "HOST:PORT"

To switch it off again:

$reg = "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings"
Set-ItemProperty -Path $reg -Name ProxyEnable -Value 0

These lines change the same per-user settings the Settings app uses, so you'll see the result there too. The login still isn't stored, so the sign-in prompt appears as before.

Check it worked

Load our IP checker in your browser. You should see the proxy's address and location rather than yours. If yours still shows, the setting may not have saved, the login may have been rejected, or that app may ignore the Windows setting.

Then try the DNS leak test. Before any page loads, your PC asks a DNS server to swap the site's name for a number. Windows can send pages through the proxy but still make those requests over your home connection, which lets your internet provider see the names of the sites you visit. If your provider's name appears, change the DNS setting in the app you use (several browsers offer their own secure DNS option) or choose a setup that sends DNS through the proxy.

Which type should I pick?

• General browsing, downloads and light use: datacenter proxies are the lower-cost option and a sensible first try.
• Sites that block server addresses: residential proxies use IP addresses from home internet plans.
• Testing what mobile users get: mobile proxies go through phone networks.
• A stubborn site that turns down residential: residential premium, which costs more, so test a little first.

Read about all four on the proxies overview and compare prices on the pricing page.

Common mistakes

• Squeezing the password into the address box. The Windows proxy page has no login fields, so people sometimes add the password to the address. Leave the address as host only and wait for the prompt.
• Assuming every app follows Windows. Some apps have their own network settings and skip the system proxy. Check inside those apps.
• Nothing connects at all. A wrong host or port is the usual cause. Test the details in our proxy checker before changing anything else.
• The proxy seems stuck on. If you used PowerShell, set ProxyEnable back to 0 with the second command, or turn the switch off in Settings.

Is this allowed?

Setting a proxy on your own PC is legal in most countries. It doesn't change the rules of the services you use, though. Streaming services, for example, usually limit you to the content offered in your own country, and a proxy doesn't override their terms. Keep to each service's rules and to the law where you live, and on a company computer, ask before changing network settings.

Beginner questions

Will this slow my whole PC down?

Web traffic takes one extra stop, so pages may load a touch slower. Files and programs already on your computer aren't affected.

Does this cover games and Microsoft Store apps?

Some apps follow the Windows proxy and some don't, and online games often use connection types an ordinary web proxy doesn't carry. Test each app you care about with the proxy on.

How do I switch it off?

Go back to Settings → Network & internet → Proxy, open the manual setup again and turn Use a proxy server off.