If Google Chrome is your default browser, you may want to use it with proxies to make your browsing more anonymous and secure. With a good proxy server, your browsing experience will change for the better, whether you’re a casual internet user or a business looking to scale.
However, the browser doesn’t support proxy configuration or have its own proxy settings. So the question is, how to set up a proxy in Chrome and why would you want to use a Chrome proxy in the first place?
Sure, proxy settings can sound complicated at first, but we promise you, they aren’t. We’ve got all the answers to get started with a Google Chrome proxy and level up your browsing experience no matter your tech experience.
Benefits of Using a Proxy Server With Chrome
To understand the benefits of a Chrome proxy server, you need to know how it actually works. It doesn’t let your web destinations see your IP address and therefore your geolocation as well. That’s because your web requests travel through the Chrome proxy to connect you to the desired web source.
By keeping this valuable information hidden, the proxy server opens a new door to the online world, offering opportunities instead of bans, restrictions, and limitations.
Enhanced Privacy and Security
Surfing the internet without a Chrome proxy means all the websites and services you visit can see your IP address. As a result, they can learn valuable information about you, such as your geolocation, ISP, operating system, web browser, etc.
What the proxy server does is keep your IP address and all of this information to yourself. This way, it prevents malicious actors from using your original IP address to intercept the data you transfer over the internet.
Residential proxies are the best type of proxies for this job, showcasing IP addresses of other real users and ISPs instead of yours.
Access to Geo-restricted Content
Not being able to access a specific shopping or news site, streaming platform, or any other web content just because it’s unavailable in your location can be really annoying. However, using a Chrome proxy from a supported country will solve your problem.
It’ll make it look like you’re reaching from the selected location, so the web source will grant you access. This is one of the main use cases of proxies in general.
Improved Performance
While a Chrome proxy can’t improve your internet speed, it can reduce lag in apps and video games. How’s that possible? Well, in order for your request to reach a remote server, it first goes through a number of nodes, each adding a delay.
When you use a proxy in the same location as the server you’re trying to reach, the number of nodes is reduced, and so is the delay. Datacenter proxies are known for their high speeds, so you may want to use them when looking for improved performance and minimal lags.
How to Change Proxy Settings in Chrome
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to configure Google Chrome proxy settings. Whether you want to change proxy settings or just check your proxy server settings in Chrome, follow the steps below.
Open your Chrome Browser, click on the three dots (1), and select Settings (2).
Choose System (3) from the menu on the left and then select Open your computer’s proxy settings (4).
Since Google Chrome doesn’t have built-in proxy settings, you’ll be redirected to your OS’s native proxy settings. The next steps for your Chrome proxy settings depend on your OS.
For Windows
You’ll see two options: Automatic proxy setup and Manual proxy setup.
Enabling the first one allows Windows to automatically detect authorized proxy settings using the WPAD protocol. Choose this option if you want to use the proxy your school or work has installed on your device.
But if you want to use another proxy, turn this option off and proceed with Manual proxy setup.
The manual proxy configuration requires turning the Use a proxy server option on and specifying the proxy IP address and port.
Once you save your proxy settings, you can start using your proxy. You can set up whitelisting for your IP address (if your proxy provider offers that feature) and just start surfing. Alternatively, you’ll need to provide a proxy username and password when you try to visit a website.
For MacOS
You’ll see the proxy settings window with several more options compared to Windows. Pick the type of proxy you want to set up. We’ll use Web Proxy (HTTP) in this case. Enter your proxy IP/hostname, port, username, and password in the appropriate fields and click OK to save your settings.
Remember, your device’s proxy settings apply not only to your Chrome browser but also system-wide. This means all internet traffic on your device will go through the proxy server, not just the traffic from Chrome.
How to Disable Chrome Proxy Settings
After explaining the benefits of using a proxy for Chrome browsing and how to change proxy settings in this browser, you might wonder why anyone would want to disable them.
Keeping your proxy settings enabled brings the risk of interference with other applications. Therefore, disabling your proxy server settings in Chrome is generally recommended after finishing the tasks that require using them.
So if you no longer want to use a proxy in Chrome, just undo the changes you made when configuring your proxy settings. This means removing all the previously set-up proxy settings in Chrome.
For Windows users, this means disabling all three proxy server options. For MacOC users, it means unchecking all protocols in the list and clicking OK to confirm.
How to Reset Proxy Settings in Chrome
To reset your proxy settings, remove any proxy configurations you have previously set up in Chrome. You can also delete your browsing data to remove any cookies or other site data that might have been set up during the proxy server configuration.
Another thing you can do is reset Chrome by going into the Reset settings under your Settings. Resetting your proxy settings can be very useful if you’re encountering application or connectivity issues.
How to Use Proxy Management Extensions in Chrome
Proxy management extensions are great tools that help you customize proxy settings on your device. They make the whole process easier, letting you set rules, use specific proxies for specific sites or protocols, and much more.
There are many extensions out there, but we’ll use Proxy SwitchyOmega as an example to explain the setup process.
A Step-by-step Guide on How to Set Up Proxy SwitchyOmega
Just follow the steps below, and you’ll use your proxy management extension in no time.
Download SwitchyOmega for Google Chrome and install it on your device. Click on the extension’s icon (1) in the top right corner and choose Options (2).
Click the New profile (3) button in the Profiles section.
Type in a Profile name (4) and select the type of the profile. Proxy Profile and Switch Profile (5) are the most commonly selected options. The first one lets your traffic go through a proxy server, and the latter allows you to switch between proxies depending on your pre-defined conditions. Finally, click the Create (6) button.
Choose the proxy protocol (7) and add your proxy server IP/hostname (8) and port (9) in the appropriate fields. Once you’re done, click the padlock icon (10) to the right.
Insert your proxy username and password (11) and click the Save changes (12) button.
Finally, click the Apply changes (13) button to save your proxy configuration.
Close the Proxy SwitchyOmega configuration tab. Click on the extension icon (14) again and select your proxy configuration profile (15) to start using it.
Troubleshooting Common Proxy Issues in Chrome
You can follow each step of our Chrome proxy setup guide and still encounter problems getting the proxy servers to work. Here are some of the most common factors that can affect whether your proxies will work correctly or not:
- Proxy system settings can be modified by other apps or software
- Profiles, because each Chrome profile has its own proxy settings
- Plugins such as Java applets can ignore your proxy settings
- Proxy extensions for Chrome can change your proxy settings
- Other proxy components can get around proxy settings and send requests to web sources directly
To reduce the chances of dealing with proxy errors or issues, make sure you have a stable internet connection. You can also try resetting or disabling your proxy settings or restarting your device.
Final Words
If you thought configuring your proxy settings in Google Chrome required expert knowledge or long years of experience, you’ve seen it’s quite the opposite. With our simple guide, you’ll use Chrome browser proxy settings in no time and take your browsing experience to a whole new level.
Top comments (0)