How can I set up your proxy service on Windows (Mac)?

Before you start

The steps below use 45.132.20.117 and port 8080 as an example. Replace them with the IP address and port shown for your proxy in your dashboard.

Have your proxy IP address and port ready.
Windows has no username and password boxes in its proxy screen. If your proxy uses username and password authentication, whitelist your computer's public IP address in your dashboard first, and then the proxy will work without credentials.
macOS does have a credentials option — Proxy server requires password — if you prefer to authenticate that way.
On macOS the proxy is stored per network service, so it applies to the Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection you edit, not to the whole computer.
Most apps follow the system proxy, but a few ignore it and connect directly.

Method 1 — Windows 11

Settings → Network & internet → Proxy → Manual proxy setup → Set up

Step 1 — Open Network & internet

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Select Network & internet in the left sidebar.

Windows Settings, Network & internet in the sidebar

Step 2 — Open Proxy

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Proxy.

Network & internet, the Proxy row

Step 3 — Open the manual proxy setup

Under Manual proxy setup, next to Use a proxy server, click Set up.
Leave Automatically detect settings as it is — it does not conflict with a manual proxy.

Manual proxy setup, the Set up button

Step 4 — Enter your proxy and save

Turn Use a proxy server on.
Enter your proxy address in Proxy IP address and your port in Port.
Optionally add addresses that should skip the proxy, separated by semicolons, for example: localhost;127.0.0.1;*.local
Leave Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses ticked.
Click Save.

Edit proxy server, IP address and port filled in, Save

Check that it worked

The Proxy page now shows Use a proxy server: On with your address and port.
Open a browser and search for "what is my IP". It should show your proxy's IP address instead of your own.

Proxy page showing Use a proxy server: On

Method 2 — macOS

System Settings → Network → Wi-Fi → Details → Proxies

Step 1 — Open Network

Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
Click Network in the sidebar.

System Settings, Network in the sidebar

Step 2 — Open the details of your connection

Click Details… next to the connection you are using, usually Wi-Fi.
If you use a cable, click Details… next to Ethernet instead. The proxy is saved separately for each connection.

Network, the Details button next to Wi-Fi

Step 3 — Open Proxies

In the list on the left of the panel, click Proxies.

The Proxies tab in the connection panel

Step 4 — Turn on Web proxy (HTTP)

Switch Web proxy (HTTP) on.
Enter your proxy address in Server and your port in Port.

Web proxy (HTTP) on, with server and port

Step 5 — Turn on Secure web proxy (HTTPS)

Switch Secure web proxy (HTTPS) on and enter the same server and port.
This one covers HTTPS websites, which is almost all of them, so do not skip it.
If your proxy needs a username and password, switch on Proxy server requires password and enter them.

Secure web proxy (HTTPS) on, with the same values

Step 6 — Add exceptions and confirm

In Bypass proxy settings for these Hosts & Domains, add any addresses that should skip the proxy, for example: localhost, 127.0.0.1, *.local
Click OK.

Bypass list filled in, then OK

Check that it worked

Reopen Proxies. Both Web proxy (HTTP) and Secure web proxy (HTTPS) should be on and show your address and port.
Open a browser and search for "what is my IP". It should show your proxy's IP address instead of your own.

Both proxies on, showing the address and port

Turning the proxy off

Windows: Settings → Network & internet → Proxy → next to Use a proxy server click Edit, switch Use a proxy server off, then click Save.
macOS: System Settings → Network → Details → Proxies, switch off Web proxy (HTTP) and Secure web proxy (HTTPS), then click OK.

If the proxy is not working

Pages do not load at all: check the IP address and port for typos, and make sure the port belongs to that exact IP.
You are asked for a username and password: your proxy uses authentication. Either enter the credentials (macOS) or whitelist your computer's public IP address in your dashboard (Windows).
Your real IP still shows: restart the browser. On macOS, confirm you edited the connection you are actually using — Wi-Fi and Ethernet are configured separately.
One app ignores the proxy: some apps do not use the system proxy. Set the proxy inside that app's own settings, or use a routing tool such as Proxifier.
It works on one device only: the same proxy can be used on several devices at the same time, but each device has to be configured separately.

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