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How to set up a proxy on Windows

Open Settings → Network & internet → Proxy, select Set up next to Use a proxy server, turn it on, enter your CleanProxies host in Proxy IP address and the port in Port, then select Save. Windows has no username or password fields here, so apps ask for the proxy login, or you whitelist your IP on an ISP proxy.

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What you need

The Windows proxy setting is one switch for Edge, Chrome and every other app that follows the system configuration. Pointing it at a dedicated CleanProxies static ISP IP gives the whole PC a fixed US address on a real carrier ASN, which is the simplest way to test sites, ads and search results from the US without touching each app.

Your credential line

From the dashboard's proxy manager: host (or IP), port, username and password. Convert lists with the proxy list formatter.

Windows ready

  • Windows 11 or Windows 10 and a user account that can change network settings (netsh winhttp needs an administrator terminal).
  • For apps and services that can't show a login prompt: an ISP proxy with your PC's public IP whitelisted in the dashboard.

Which proxy fits Windows?

Both products use the same setup in Windows. What changes is how long an IP stays with you.

Static ISP Proxies

Best fit

One dedicated US ISP IP for the whole PC, the same address all month with unlimited bandwidth. Whitelist your PC's public IP and every app that follows the system proxy works without a login prompt.

starting from$0.75/IP

Dedicated static IPs registered to US and Canadian ISPs. The address stays the same for as long as you hold it, with unlimited bandwidth and HTTP(S) or SOCKS5 access.

Buy NowSee Static ISP Proxies features

Rotating Residential Proxies

Also works

Use a sticky residential line (5 to 60 minutes or 24 hours) so the IP doesn't change while a page or login is open. Residential works over HTTP(S) with your username and password, so expect a login prompt in each browser.

starting from$0.63/GB

Residential IPs in 190+ countries with country, state and city targeting. Rotate on every request or hold a sticky session for up to 90 minutes; GB never expire.

Buy NowSee Rotating Residential Proxies features
credentials

Your CleanProxies credentials

Every product connects over HTTP(S); static ISP and ISP subnet proxies also run SOCKS5 and IP whitelisting. This is what the dashboard gives you to paste into Windows.

Static ISP and ISP subnetHTTP(S)SOCKS5IP whitelist
IP:PORT:USER:PASS

One line per dedicated IP. With IP whitelisting on, the line is just IP:PORT and no password is sent.

Rotating residential and mobileHTTP(S)User:pass
HOST:PORT:USER:PASS

Generated in the proxy manager. The username carries the location and session you pick, so generate a new list to change them.

As a URL, for code and most toolshttp://USERNAME:PASSWORD@HOST:PORTsocks5://USERNAME:PASSWORD@HOST:PORT

Use http:// even for HTTPS websites; the TLS session still runs end to end. The socks5:// form is for static ISP and ISP subnet proxies.

How to set up CleanProxies in Windows

Four steps, then check the exit IP with the free proxy checker.

  1. 1

    Open the proxy settings

    Open Settings → Network & internet → Proxy. Under Manual proxy setup, select Set up next to Use a proxy server. On older Windows 10 builds the Use a proxy server switch and the address boxes sit directly on the page.

  2. 2

    Enter the host and port

    In the Edit proxy server dialog, turn on Use a proxy server, type your CleanProxies host or IP in Proxy IP address and the port in Port.

  3. 3

    Set exceptions and save

    Keep Don't use the proxy server for local (intranet) addresses ticked, add any sites that should go direct to the exceptions box (separated by semicolons, wildcards like *.example.com work), then select Save.

  4. 4

    Sign in to the proxy

    Open Edge or Chrome. With a username and password proxy, the browser asks for the proxy login: enter your CleanProxies username and password. With an ISP proxy on IP whitelisting there is no prompt at all.

settings

Windows proxy settings

Replace the highlighted placeholders with the values from your dashboard. Pick an example to see its code.

Windows + CleanProxies

PowerShell proxy settings

PowerShell doesn't need the system setting: pass the proxy per command, or set it for the current session only with environment variables that curl.exe, Git and most CLI tools read.

Invoke-RestMethod with a proxyPowerShell
# Works in Windows PowerShell 5.1 and PowerShell 7
$cred = Get-Credential -UserName "USERNAME" -Message "CleanProxies proxy password"
Invoke-RestMethod -Uri "https://api.ipify.org" -Proxy "http://HOST:PORT" -ProxyCredential $cred
  • Call curl.exe, not curl: in Windows PowerShell 5.1, curl is an alias for Invoke-WebRequest. For more PowerShell patterns see the PowerShell guide.

Apps that ignore the Windows proxy

The system setting is a request, not a rule: each app decides whether to follow it. Edge and Chrome do. Firefox does while its connection setting is on Use system proxy settings. Many games, desktop clients, Java apps and CLI tools don't.

  • For an app with its own proxy option, set CleanProxies there instead.
  • For an app with no proxy option, force it through the proxy with Proxifier, which also handles SOCKS5 with a username and password.
  • The Windows setting is an HTTP proxy only. To use SOCKS5 (switched on per ISP proxy list in the dashboard), use the app's own SOCKS5 setting or Proxifier.
  • Calls, games and anything else that needs UDP won't go through the proxy; CleanProxies carries TCP only.
fix it fast

Troubleshooting Windows proxy errors

Verify your exit IP

Open What is my IP? in Edge or Chrome: it should show your CleanProxies IP, not your home connection. In PowerShell, curl.exe https://api.ipify.org shows the IP the command line uses, and netsh winhttp show proxy shows what services use.

Open What is my IP? through the proxy to see the address and headers a website receives, or paste up to ten lines into the free proxy checker to test connectivity, latency and exit IP.

Still stuck? Our 24/7 support team answers fast: contact us with the error and the line you used (leave the password out).

Windows error fixes
  • Login prompt every time the browser opensWhy: Username and password proxies are authenticated per app, and the system setting can't store credentials.Tick the browser's option to remember the login, or whitelist your public IP on an ISP proxy and enter IP:PORT with no credentials.
  • Some apps still show your real IPWhy: The app doesn't follow the Windows proxy setting.Set the proxy in the app itself, or route it with Proxifier.
  • Windows Update or a service can't connect after you set WinHTTPWhy: The WinHTTP proxy needs whitelisting, and your current public IP isn't on the list.Add the IP in the dashboard, or run netsh winhttp reset proxy to go back to direct.
  • Proxy works on Wi-Fi but not over the VPNWhy: Windows keeps a separate proxy setting for each VPN connection.Open Network & internet → VPN, select the connection → Advanced options and set its proxy there, or disconnect the VPN.

Windows proxy guides

Setup guides and best practices from the CleanProxies blog.

Get the latest insightsAll Blogs

More integrations

Setup guides for tools people run next to Windows.

Proxies for sites people reach with Windows
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All integrations

Windows proxy FAQs

Straight answers about running CleanProxies in Windows.

Nowhere in Settings: the Windows proxy dialog only has the address, port and exceptions. Browsers such as Edge and Chrome ask for the proxy username and password when they first connect. To avoid prompts, use a CleanProxies ISP proxy with your public IP whitelisted.

Got more questions?All FAQs