How to configure a proxy on Windows 10

A proxy is frequently confused with a virtual private network (VPN). This is not the case; a proxy is not the same as a VPN. Although a VPN may offer a proxy service in addition to the private network it establishes, the two are not the same.

Proxy services

Proxy services are frequently used in conjunction with VPN services, but they can also be used on their own to provide users with access to geographically limited data, such as access to a server or website that can only be viewed by users in a specific nation.

Proxy services are often classified as either free and public or paid and private.

A free proxy server is straightforward to set up on Windows 10, however a private proxy requires a username and password, which are not supported by the default proxy settings in Windows 10.

Configure proxy on Windows 10

You can utilize your proxy on Windows 10 regardless of whether it is public or private. Using a private proxy, that is, one with a username and password, differs from using a public proxy.

Proxy settings

To set up a proxy on Windows 10, you’ll need the following:

For a public proxy: an IP or server address and a port number.
For a private proxy: an IP or server address, a port number, a username, and a password.

Configure public proxy on Windows 10

Follow these steps to set up a public proxy on Windows 10.

Open the Settings app (Win+I keyboard shortcut).
Go to Network and Internet.
Select the Proxy tab.
Scroll down to the Manual Proxy setup section.
Turn the Use proxy server switch on.
Enter the server address and port number.
Click Save.
The proxy is now active.

Configure private proxy on Windows 10

A username and password are required for authentication on a private proxy server. On Windows 10, there is no option to submit the username and password, effectively preventing you from using it.

Using a third-party app is an alternative. Charles Proxy is a good option, but it isn’t free. It’ll cost you at least $50. There is a limited-use trial version available.

Configure proxy with Charles proxy

To set up your proxy in Charles Proxy, click here to download and install the app. To set up the proxy, follow the instructions below.

Open Charles Proxy.
Go to Proxy>External Proxy Settings.
Enable Web Proxy.
Enter the IP/Server address in the Web Proxy server field.
Enter the port number in the field next to it.
Enter the username and password in the respective fields.
Click Ok.
Repeat steps 2-7 but select Secure web proxy instead of Web Proxy (this may be optional depending on your proxy service).

To turn the proxy on, return to Charles proxy.
Go to Proxy>Windows Proxy.
The proxy is now enabled.

Install Charles proxy certificate in Chrome and Chromium-based browsers

Charles proxy is configured, however it will only work in Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge by default. Another step in the setting process is required for other browsers.

Open Charles Proxy.
Go to Help>SSL Proxying>Save Charles root certificate.
Save the certificate with the CER file extension.

Open the Settings for the Chrome/Chromium-based browser.
Go to Advanced settings>Privacy>Privacy and security>Manage Certificates.
In the window that opens, go to the Trusted Root Certificates tab.
Click Import.

Select the certificate that you saved in step 3.
Restart the browser.
Make sure the ‘Windows Proxy’ option is enabled in Charles proxy and the proxy will start working in the browser.

Install Charles proxy certificate in Firefox

It’s a lot easier to install the Charles proxy certificate in Firefox.

Open Charles Proxy.
Go to Proxy and enable Windows Proxy.
Open Firefox.
Visit this link.
Firefox will ask to save a file.

Go ahead and save it. Do not change the extension of this file.
The certificate will install on its own.
Enter your username and password when prompted.
The proxy is now active.

Conclusion

Alternatives to Charles proxy exist, such as Fiddler, although it does not appear to have an ability to configure an external proxy. Windows 10 does not permit using a private proxy, which is terrible. Some believe it does this for security concerns, but Microsoft has not provided an official rationale for the lack of support for a private proxy.