How to configure proxy settings in Windows

Proxy settings control whether Windows connects to the internet directly or routes traffic through an intermediary server for access control, inspection, or authentication. Correct proxy configuration is often required on managed networks to reach external resources reliably and to comply with organizational network policies.

Windows 11 configures proxy behavior from the Settings app using three common models: automatic discovery (WPAD), a proxy auto-configuration script (PAC), or a fixed manual proxy address and port. These settings can also define bypass rules so intranet sites or specific domains connect directly instead of through the proxy.

Proxy configuration may be enforced or restricted by Group Policy or device management, preventing changes or reverting settings automatically. Incorrect proxy values can break browsing until the proxy is disabled or corrected, and some applications use a different proxy subsystem (such as WinHTTP) or ignore system proxy settings entirely.

1. Open Settings from the Start menu.

   Press Win + I to open Settings directly.

2. Select Network & internet.
3. Select Proxy.
4. Decide whether the network uses automatic detection, a setup script, or a manual proxy server.

   Automatically detect settings uses WPAD, Use setup script uses a PAC URL, and Use a proxy server uses a fixed address and port.

5. Turn on Automatically detect settings under Automatic proxy setup when proxy details are published via WPAD.
6. Select Set up next to Use setup script under Automatic proxy setup when a PAC URL is provided.
7. Turn on Use setup script in the Edit setup script dialog box.
8. Enter the Script address for the setup script.

   http://proxy.example.com/proxy.pac

9. Select Save to apply the setup script.

   An incorrect PAC URL can break browsing or route traffic through an unintended proxy until the setting is turned off.

10. Select Set up next to Use a proxy server under Manual proxy setup when a fixed proxy host and port are required.
11. Turn on Use a proxy server in the Edit proxy server dialog box.
12. Enter the Proxy IP address and Port values.

    Example: Proxy IP address proxy.example.com and Port 8080.

13. Configure proxy bypass rules for intranet sites and exceptions that should not use the proxy.

    Enable Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses as needed, and enter exception patterns separated by semicolons such as *.contoso.com; *.adatum.com.

14. Select Save to apply the manual proxy.

    An incorrect proxy address or port can prevent web access until the proxy is disabled or corrected.

15. Open a website in a web browser to confirm normal browsing works.
16. Check the public IP address from the same browser session to confirm traffic is using the expected egress.

    https://www.whatismyip.com/

    Some organizational proxies keep the same public IP, so the expected result is alignment with the network’s known egress rather than a guaranteed IP change.