How to Add Proxy in Windows 10: Complete Configuration Guide [2026]

Question

Accepted Answer

To add a proxy in Windows 10, navigate to **Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy**. For a manual setup, enable the 'Use a proxy server' toggle under the 'Manual setup' section. Enter your proxy IP address or hostname in the 'Address' field and the port number in the 'Port' field. If your proxy requires authentication, Windows will prompt you for credentials when you first attempt to connect. Alternatively, if you are configuring a specific environment like a workplace or school network (e.g., NYCDOE), use the 'Automatic setup' or 'Use setup script' section by entering the URL for the Proxy Auto-Config (PAC) file provided by your network administrator. Always ensure you obtain these details from a legitimate source, as misconfigured proxies can sever your internet connection.

## Introduction
In the modern networking landscape of 2025, understanding how to configure a proxy server in Windows 10 is a vital skill for both privacy enthusiasts and enterprise users. Whether you are troubleshooting connection issues, scraping data, or adhering to corporate security policies, Windows 10 offers robust native tools to route traffic through an intermediary server.

This guide provides a technical deep-dive into manual and automatic proxy configurations, PAC file implementation, and Command Line Interface (CLI) scripting for advanced users.

---

## Method 1: The Standard Graphical Interface (GUI)
This is the most common method used by the majority of Windows 10 users. It allows for a visual configuration of both HTTP/SOCKS proxies and automatic detection scripts.

### Step-by-Step Manual Configuration
Follow these precise steps to configure a forward proxy:

1.  **Access Settings**: Press `Windows Key + I` to open the Settings app.
2.  **Network Menu**: Navigate to **Network & Internet**.
3.  **Proxy Tab**: Click on the **Proxy** tab in the left-hand sidebar.
4.  **Manual Setup**: Scroll down to the **Manual proxy setup** section.
5.  **Activation**: Toggle the switch labeled **Use a proxy server** to 'On'.
6.  **Input Parameters**:
    *   **Address/Script**: Enter the IP address (e.g., `192.168.1.50`) or the domain name (e.g., `proxy.corp.com`) of your proxy server.
    *   **Port**: Enter the specific port number. Common ports include `80`, `8080`, or `3128`. (Note: Do not include colons or prefixes).

### Critical Settings within GUI
*   **Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses**: Ensure this checkbox is **checked**. If unchecked, you may experience connectivity issues with local printers, file shares, or intranet sites because traffic will be routed to the external proxy server instead of staying local.
*   **Saving**: Click **Save**. Windows will immediately attempt to test the connection. If the proxy is unreachable, Windows will warn you, but it will save the settings regardless.

---

## Method 2: Automatic Configuration (PAC & WPAD)
For users in complex environments (like the NYCDOE mentioned in search queries) or enterprises, manual IP entry is inefficient. Instead, Windows utilizes Proxy Auto-Config (PAC) files or Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Protocol (WPAD).

### Using a Setup Script
1.  Navigate to **Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy**.
2.  Locate the **Automatic proxy setup** section.
3.  Toggle **Use setup script** to 'On'.
4.  **Script Address**: Enter the URL provided by your administrator (e.g., `http://proxy-config.corp.com/proxy.pac`).

**Technical Note**: The PAC file is a JavaScript file (`FindProxyForURL(url, host)`) that defines how web browsers and other user agents choose the appropriate proxy server to fetch a given URL.

---

## Method 3: Command Line & Registry (Advanced)
As a scraping expert, I often prefer the Command Line or Registry edits for speed and automation. This method is essential when deploying proxies via Python scripts or batch files.

### Via Command Prompt (CMD)
You can add a proxy server directly using the `netsh` command. This is particularly useful for persistent settings.

**Syntax**:
```bash
netsh winhttp set proxy proxy-server="http=proxyIp:proxyPort" bypass-list="<local>"
```

**Real-world Example**:
To set a proxy at `192.168.1.10` on port `8080`:
```bash
netsh winhttp set proxy proxy-server="192.168.1.10:8080" bypass-list="*.local;192.168.*"
```

*Note: The `winhttp` command sets the proxy for the Windows HTTP service (used by many APIs and update services), which is distinct from the IE/Settings proxy used by browsers, though Windows 10 generally syncs them.*

### Via Windows Registry
For granular control, you can modify the Registry keys directly. **Warning**: Editing the registry carries risk; backup first.

**Path**: `HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings`

**Key Values to Modify**:
1.  `ProxyEnable` (REG_DWORD): Set to `1` to enable, `0` to disable.
2.  `ProxyServer` (REG_SZ): Set to the format `server:port` (e.g., `10.0.0.5:8888`).

---

## Method 4: Configuration via Python
If you are automating web scraping tasks, you rarely want to set a global system proxy. Instead, you configure the proxy within the application context. Here is how to "add" a proxy effectively for a Python session without altering system-wide settings.

### Using the `requests` Library
This is the standard for HTTP-based interactions. The proxy dictionary maps the protocol to the proxy address.

```python
import requests

proxies = {
    'http': 'http://10.10.1.10:3128',
    'https': 'http://10.10.1.10:1080',
}

# Sending a request through the proxy
try:
    response = requests.get('http://httpbin.org/ip', proxies=proxies)
    print(response.text)
except requests.exceptions.ProxyError as e:
    print(f"Proxy configuration failed: {e}")
```

### Using `selenium` for Browser Automation
When controlling a browser, you pass the proxy arguments to the WebDriver.

```python
from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.chrome.options import Options

chrome_options = Options()
chrome_options.add_argument('--proxy-server=http://proxy-ip:port')

driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=chrome_options)
driver.get("http://httpbin.org/ip")
print(driver.page_source)
driver.quit()
```

---

## Troubleshooting & Edge Cases

### Why is my internet not working after adding a proxy?
1.  **Dead Proxy**: The proxy server specified in the Address field might be offline.
2.  **Port Mismatch**: Ensure you are not confusing the HTTP port with the SOCKS port. HTTP proxies usually use `8080` or `3128`, while SOCKS proxies often use `1080`.
3.  **HTTPS vs HTTP**: Windows 10 handles these distinctly. If you are using an HTTP proxy, it cannot tunnel HTTPS traffic unless it supports the `CONNECT` method. For high-security scraping, use a SOCKS5 proxy if supported by your client.

### Specific Case: NYCDOE Proxy
Many users searching for "add nycdoe proxy" are attempting to connect to the New York City Department of Education network. These networks utilize strict whitelist-based proxies. You generally cannot "add" a random proxy here; rather, you must set the browser/system to **Automatically detect settings** or use the specific PAC script URL provided by the DOE's IT department (often auto-detected via WPAD on the school network's Wi-Fi). If you are off-site, this will not work without a VPN tunnel into the school network.

---

## Comparison: System Proxy vs. Application Proxy

## Conclusion
Adding a proxy in Windows 10 can range from a simple toggle in the Settings menu for casual browsing to complex Registry edits and Python scripting for advanced scraping workflows. For 99% of users, the **Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy** path is sufficient. However, understanding the underlying `netsh` commands and PAC files empowers you to handle automated deployments and enterprise restrictions effectively.

How to Add Proxy in Windows 10: Complete Configuration Guide [2026]

Introduction

Method 1: The Standard Graphical Interface (GUI)

Step-by-Step Manual Configuration

Critical Settings within GUI

Method 2: Automatic Configuration (PAC & WPAD)

Using a Setup Script

Method 3: Command Line & Registry (Advanced)

Via Command Prompt (CMD)

Via Windows Registry

Method 4: Configuration via Python

Using the requests Library

Sending a request through the proxy

Using selenium for Browser Automation

Troubleshooting & Edge Cases

Why is my internet not working after adding a proxy?

Specific Case: NYCDOE Proxy

Comparison: System Proxy vs. Application Proxy

Conclusion

ProxyFAQs Assistant

Using the `requests` Library

Using `selenium` for Browser Automation