How to Find Proxy Server Address On Any Device

What is a proxy server?

A proxy server acts as a gateway between your device and the web. Instead of a direct connection to a target site, your request passes through the proxy first, which can modify, filter, or anonymize the traffic before it reaches the destination.

For example, many popular platforms have shared and dedicated proxy servers, offering unmatched speed (<0.3s), HTTP(S) & SOCKS5 support, and reliability, like 99.99% uptime.

Different proxy types serve different purposes, and the right choice depends on your use case:

• Datacenter proxies are fast, cost-effective, and built for high-volume tasks like web scraping and anonymous browsing.
• Residential proxies are IPs sourced from real household devices, ideal for data collection from advanced websites, market research, and any workflow that demands high trust and authenticity.
• Mobile proxies give you connections that travel through real 3G/4G/5G carriers. They're the go-to choice for ad verification, app testing, and bypassing mobile-first anti-bot systems.
• Static residential (ISP) proxies combine datacenter speed with residential-grade credibility, useful for session-heavy tasks like account management and advanced site access.

Where are proxy settings stored on your device?

Proxies are flexible enough to slot into nearly any layer of your stack:

• Web browsers. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all support proxy configurations – some natively, others by deferral to OS-level settings.
• Software and applications. VPN clients, torrent apps, remote desktop tools, and email clients like Thunderbird and Outlook all accept manual proxy entries.
• Mobile devices. Both iOS and Android let you set per-network proxy configurations under Wi-Fi settings, which gives you control over how mobile connections are routed.
• Routers and gateways. For network-wide proxy coverage, many routers support proxy or DNS-level configuration – a practical choice when you want all traffic from every connected device to pass through a single gateway.

Why use a proxy server?

Proxy servers aren't just about hiding your IP. In most cases, proxy servers solve real operational problems, from threat mitigation to data access at scale. Here's what they actually do in practice for both regular users and businesses:

• Security and privacy. A proxy acts as a buffer between your internal network and the open web. It can filter malicious payloads, block known phishing domains, and strip identifying headers before requests leave your infrastructure. Your real IP never gets exposed to the target server, which reduces the attack surface for DDoS attempts and targeted exploits. Most commercial proxy services layer on encrypted tunnels (HTTPS and SOCKS5) and automatic IP rotation, so even if one address gets flagged, traffic continues through a fresh exit node. For teams that handle sensitive data, think price intelligence, brand protection, or competitive analysis, this separation between your real infrastructure and public-facing requests is non-negotiable.
• Access control and geo-reach. The internet isn't the same everywhere. Content libraries, product catalogs, search results, and ad placements all shift based on the viewer's location. Proxies let you route requests through specific countries, states, or cities to see exactly what a local user would see, without a VPN or physical presence in that market. This is essential for eCommerce teams that monitor competitor prices across regions, ad verification firms that need to confirm creative placements in specific geos, and SEO teams that track local SERP rankings. Decodo's residential proxies, for example, support country, state, city, ZIP code, and ASN-level geo-targeting across 195+ locations, which means you can test a product page from São Paulo and then re-run the same check from Munich in seconds.
• Performance and reliability. A well-placed proxy can cut latency and reduce redundant traffic. Cache-enabled proxies store responses locally, so repeated requests to the same endpoint don't hit the target server again – they're served from the proxy's cache instead. This matters at volume. If your scraper hits the same product page 10,000 times a day, a cache layer saves bandwidth, reduces response times, and puts less pressure on the target. On the infrastructure side, high-speed proxy networks ensure your pipelines don't stall because of slow or unreliable exit nodes. When you're on a deadline to deliver a dataset, the proxy layer shouldn't be the bottleneck.
• Anonymity at scale. A single IP address that sends thousands of requests per hour is an obvious target for rate limits, CAPTCHAs, and outright bans. Proxies solve this by distributing your traffic across large IP pools, residential, mobile, or datacenter, so each request appears to come from a different user. The math is simple: for example, a pool of 115M+ IPs with automatic rotation means your request pattern never looks like a bot's. This is a must for users who run concurrent sessions in the thousands, ad-tech platforms that verify millions of impressions daily, and anyone whose workflow depends on uninterrupted access to public web data.
• Content filtering and compliance. Proxies also work in the other direction – they can control what users on your network can access. Enterprises and educational institutions use forward proxies to block categories of sites (social media, adult content, known malware hosts) at the network level, without per-device software. This same mechanism supports compliance workflows – you can log outbound requests, enforce acceptable-use policies, and audit traffic patterns without third-party endpoint agents. It's a lighter-touch approach than full DLP (data loss prevention) suites, and for many teams, it covers 80% of the need.

When do you need to find your proxy server address?

Knowing your proxy server address might not seem to be of the utmost importance, but it is. Here are some examples where knowing your proxy server address is really helpful:

• Application configuration. Certain software (such as VPNs or network-based utilities) necessitates manual proxy entry.
• Troubleshooting. If you have network issues or connection loss, verifying your proxy configuration can assist in resolving issues.
• Security checks. Having a correctly configured proxy can safeguard sensitive information.
• Switching networks. Travelling from home to office or public Wi-Fi might involve varying settings.
• System performance. Inaccurate proxy settings can slow down your internet speed or block websites.

How to find your proxy server address

Here's an easy guide on finding your proxy server address on the most popular desktop and mobile devices.

Windows (10 & 11)

To find out what's your proxy server address is in Windows 10 & 11:

Method #1: using Settings

1. Go to the Start menu and click on Settings
2. Go to Network & Internet
3. On the left, click on Proxy, where you’ll find:

• Automatically detect settings where Windows OS will automatically detect settings
• Use the setup script to enable this option and enter an address
• Manual proxy setup, which contains the proxy IP and port

Method #2: using Command Prompt

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter
2. Type the command netsh winhttp show proxy
3. The output will show your current system-level proxy settings (or confirm that no proxy is configured)

Windows 7 (end of life)

Just a heads up – Windows 7 reached end of life in January 2020 and no longer receives security updates. If you still use it, strongly consider an upgrade to a supported OS. These steps are included for reference only.

1. Open Control Panel
2. Click Internet Options and select the Connections tab
3. Click LAN Settings

You'll then see these options:

• Automatic configuration – Windows detects proxy settings via WPAD or a setup script
• Proxy server – shows the manually entered proxy address and port

macOS

To find the proxy server address if you're a Mac user:

1. Click the Apple logo in the top menu bar and select System Settings
2. Click Network, then select your active connection from the sidebar, for example, your Wi-Fi network
3. Click the Details button
4. Open the Proxies tab. There, you'll find:

• Auto proxy discovery – uses the WPAD protocol to locate a PAC file on the network automatically.
• Manual proxy configuration – lets you enter the proxy address and port for HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, or SOCKS protocols.

The proxy server address and port will be shown on the right.

iPhone (iOS)

To find the proxy server address on your iOS device:

1. Open Settings on your iOS device
2. Click on Wi-Fi and select your connected Wi-Fi network
3. Scroll to the HTTP Proxy section, where you’ll see the proxy server if it's configured. If not, you can click Configure Proxy to set up one manually or use an automatic configuration

Android

If you need to find a proxy server address on Android:

1. Open Settings on your device
2. Click on Network & Internet or Connections, depending on your Android version
3. Click on Wi-Fi and select your connected Wi-Fi
4. Go to the Advanced or Modify network
5. Scroll to the Proxy section – the proxy server address will be displayed here

Sometimes the DHCP line sometimes can appear in your Android proxy settings. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) auto-assigns your device an IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server when you join a network. Some Android versions surface DHCP details alongside proxy settings because both of these share the same network configuration screen. If you see DHCP fields, those aren't your proxy. Look specifically for the Proxy dropdown set to Manual to find the proxy address and port.

Linux / Ubuntu

Linux doesn't have a single unified proxy settings panel. Where your proxy lives depends on how it was set up. You can follow one of these steps, depending on your setup.

Check environment variables (most common)

1. Open a terminal and run:

env | grep -i proxy

env | grep -i proxy

This will display any proxy-related environment variables such as http_proxy, https_proxy, and no_proxy.

Check system-wide configuration

Proxy settings are often stored in /etc/environment:

cat /etc/environment

cat /etc/environment

If you've got a proxy plugged in, you'll get one of these:

http_proxy="http://proxy-address:port/"
https_proxy="http://proxy-address:port/"

http_proxy="http://proxy-address:port/"
https_proxy="http://proxy-address:port/"

Check user-level shell config

If proxies are set per-user, they may be in your shell profile:

cat ~/.bashrc | grep -i proxy

cat ~/.bashrc | grep -i proxy

or, for Zsh users:

cat ~/.zshrc | grep -i proxy

cat ~/.zshrc | grep -i proxy

GNOME desktop (Ubuntu with GUI)

1. Open Settings
2. Navigate to Network
3. Click the gear icon next to Network Proxy
4. Choose Manual to view or enter the proxy address and port

Chrome browser

Chrome doesn't have a built-in proxy setting but uses your operating system’s native proxy setting. The steps to find the proxy address are:

1. Open Chrome and click on the three dots at the top right corner
2. Click on Settings
3. Choose the System tab from the left navigation panel
4. Next, click on Open your computer’s proxy settings

In the system settings, you can find the proxy server address.

Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is unique in that it allows its own proxy configuration, enabling manual proxy setup independent of system settings. The proxy path:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox and click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner
2. Select Settings (or Preferences on macOS)
3. Click on Settings under the Network Settings section. There, you can find the configured proxy server address, if there's an active one

Microsoft Edge

Edge is Chromium-based, so like Chrome, it relies on your operating system's proxy settings:

1. Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner
2. Select Settings
3. Click System and performance in the left sidebar
4. Under System, click Open your computer's proxy settings

The OS-level proxy settings window will open and display your current proxy address if one is configured.

Safari

Safari uses macOS network settings for proxy configuration:

1. Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar
2. Select Settings
3. Go to the Advanced tab and click Change Settings next to Proxies

This opens the macOS Network preferences panel, where you'll find the proxy settings for your active connection.

Router

To check or configure proxy settings at the network level:

1. Open a browser and navigate to your router's admin page – typically 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. Check your router's documentation for the exact address
2. Log in with your admin credentials
3. Look for proxy-related settings under sections like Advanced Settings, WAN Settings, or Internet Setup. Again, the exact path varies by router brand and firmware and can be found in your router's documentation.
4. If a proxy is configured, the address and port will be listed here.

Keep in mind that router-level proxies send all traffic from every device on the network through the same proxy – useful for blanket coverage, but not ideal when individual devices need separate configurations.

Common issues and troubleshooting

Hit an error? Here are the most common proxy-related status codes and what to do about them. For a deeper dive, see Decodo's full guide to proxy error codes.

Quick recap on how to find your proxy server address

Every platform stores proxy settings somewhere – the trick is to know where to look. Here's the short version:

• Windows 10/11. Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy, or run netsh winhttp show proxy in the command prompt
• macOS. System Settings → Network → [your connection] → Details → Proxies
• iPhone. Settings → Wi-Fi → [your network] → HTTP Proxy
• Android. Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi → [your network] → Advanced → Proxy
• Linux. Run env | grep -i proxy in the terminal, or check /etc/environment
• Chrome / Edge. Settings → System → Open your computer's proxy settings (defers to OS)
• Firefox. Settings → Network Settings → Settings (Firefox manages its own proxy config)
• Safari. Settings → Advanced → Change Settings (defers to macOS)
• Router. Access the admin panel at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 and look under WAN or Advanced settings.

Once you know where to look, finding your proxy settings becomes a quick check rather than a technical challenge. Whether you're troubleshooting a connection issue, setting up a secure network, or just trying to understand how your internet traffic is routed, knowing how to locate your proxy details gives you more control and confidence over your setup.