How to Change Chrome Proxy Settings: The Ultimate Guide

What is a Proxy Server?

A proxy server is any device that’s configured to accept connection requests from other machines and then is used as a relay station. The proxy server in question performs no other actions and the user that connects to it can also perform no other functions.

As such, proxy servers are quite similar to VPNs in that regard. They are used, however, for other use cases. Most proxy providers have millions of IP addresses that users can rotate between however they want.

Additionally, some proxy servers come from regular household devices, making it much more difficult for websites to detect that someone is using a third-party to send connection requests.

When combining all of the benefits into one, a proxy server pool is more useful to a business that may be engaging in practices such as web scraping. In such a use case, they need thousands of IP addresses from various locations and also need to stay undetected.

While it would be possible to do the same with a VPN, the delays would be much greater and the amount of servers that a provider has is significantly fewer. As such, VPNs are more useful to individuals while proxy servers are highly useful to businesses.

There’s no reason, however, why an individual can’t use a proxy server. Many advanced users do and usually use them in place of VPNs (or for similar applications as a business would).

Can You Configure Proxy Settings Directly in Google Chrome?

Chrome is an interesting browser in that it doesn’t have inbuilt proxy settings. Most modern browsers have proxy settings that can be run within the application, but Google Chrome seems to have removed that feature as it had existed a while back.

While the reasons for such a change are mysterious, there’s another option to configure proxy settings – within the operating system itself. All operating systems have their own system proxy settings.

There’s one slight drawback when using Google Chrome for proxy settings, however. Since you’ll be integrating through system proxy settings, all applications that run on your machine will be using the proxy server.

As such, it’ll be a lot like using a VPN. Unfortunately, since Google Chrome has no inbuilt settings, you can only use the system proxy settings or use another browser that has inbuilt features.

How to Change Proxy Settings in Google Chrome

To start your proxy configuration from within the Chrome browser, click on the three dots at the top right of the screen and click on “Settings” or access “Settings” through another method.

Once in the menu, find the “System” button near the bottom of the menu that’s on the left-hand side of the screen.

There’ll be a few options there – click on “Open your computer’s proxy settings”.

Further steps will depend on your operating system. Each of them has slightly different approaches to proxy configuration.

Windows

There’s two options available in the menu. You can set up a proxy server through a script, however, you’ll usually have to use the other option since most providers just give you a list of IP addresses or a single endpoint.

Your other option is “manual proxy setup”. Once you open the menu, it’s quite straightforward – simply enable “use a proxy server”, enter the IP address and port, then click “Save”.

To revert and change proxy settings, simply disable “use a proxy server”.

MacOS

Once you click on “Open your computer’s proxy settings”, the “Network” tab will open. Select your active network and click on “Advanced”.

Go to the “Proxies” tab and choose either one of the manual or automatic set up options. Most of the time, using one of the manual settings (usually HTTP or HTTPS).

After that, it’s quite straightforward – all you have to do is enter the IP address and port of the proxy. If authentication is required, check the box “Proxy server requires password” and enter your details.

To stop using a proxy, uncheck all boxes.

Linux

Once the Chrome browser opens your network settings, select your interface. You’ll be faced with the options for automatic configuration or manual. If you’ve already installed a proxy server, use the automatic option.

Otherwise, use the manual option, select your proxy server protocol (HTTP/HTTPS/SOCKS etc) and enter the IP address and port. Save your proxy configuration and you’re done.

To disable your proxy server, set the proxy mode to “None”.

Why Using a Proxy is Recommended

There’s a few reasons why anyone would want to toggle proxy settings to “on”. Since Chrome has no native proxy server support, it becomes a lot like using a VPN.

First, a proxy provides you a huge degree of anonymity and privacy. If you’re using residential proxies, your true IP address will be virtually undetectable. Additionally, you can get a lot of different IP addresses and change them at will.

Second, a proxy provides you with the ability to bypass geo-restrictions. As long as you get servers from the location you need, all websites will see you as connecting from that particular country or city.

Finally, proxies from a reliable source have little impact on your speed and bandwidth, so you can freely browse or stream any content.