How to Configure Safari Proxy Settings

August 22, 2025
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For full functionality in the Safari browser, a direct connection is not always suitable. Users may encounter geo-blocks and restrictions imposed by internet providers or corporate and educational network policies. In such cases, you need to change Safari proxy settings – but since there is no built-in proxy feature in the browser itself, this is done through the system settings of macOS or iOS, or by using third-party tools. How to use proxies for Safari with these methods is explained below.

Benefits of Managing Safari Proxy Settings

Connecting through an intermediary server allows you to:

  • Access websites blocked in your current region. This is useful for accessing video, services, news, or sites limited by location.

  • Make it harder for sites and ISPs to track user activity.

  • Work seamlessly within restricted networks – for example, when connecting to corporate internet with filtering.

In these situations, the browser will be able to bypass restrictions and work correctly within infrastructures where direct internet access is closed.

How to Set Up Proxy on macOS Through Safari

Safari proxy settings on macOS devices are performed through the system network settings, not directly within the browser. Here’s how to access these options:

  1. Open the main Safari menu and select “Settings” from the dropdown list.

  1. In the newly opened window, navigate to the “Advanced” tab and find the “Proxies” line. Click “Change Settings”.

This action will bring up the system network configuration menu. Follow the steps starting from point 3 in the main instructions to complete the setup. These steps also explain how to disable proxy settings in Safari if needed. For advanced use cases where you don’t want to proxy the entire system, consider using a dedicated tool like Proxifier.

Setting Up a Proxy on iOS

You cannot access the iOS network configuration section directly from the browser, so all necessary options must be changed via the Wi-Fi settings. Here you will find a detailed guide on how to enable and disable proxy settings in Safari on iPhone.

Alternative method – is the Shadowrocket app. This utility allows you to route traffic from individual apps, set up multiple IPs, group them, and switch between them manually or automatically if you need a quick IP change.

Troubleshooting Connection Issues on iOS

Let's look at the most common issues that occur when trying to route system traffic through an intermediary on iOS.

Issues with Website Access

You may see errors like: “ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED” or “Safari can’t connect to the server”.

Reason: The proxy server may not be working, or it’s been blacklisted, causing it to be blocked by websites. Another possible reason is that the browser is unable to connect to the proxy due to an incorrect address or unsupported connection type.

How to fix:

  • Make sure the proxy is up and responsive.

  • Double-check the protocol, port, and your login/password if authentication is required.

  • Try using a different IP address from the pool or switch the port.

  • In your provider’s dashboard, try a different datacenter IP or region.

Authentication Error

If you see: “407 Proxy Authentication Required”.

Reason: You may have entered the wrong username or password, or selected the wrong authentication method for the IP address. Sometimes, the system stores old or incorrect credentials in the iOS Keychain and keeps using them, even if you change the settings.

How to fix:

  • Double-check your username and password.

  • Clarify the correct authentication method in your provider’s dashboard.

  • Try deleting saved entries in Keychain Access.

Geo-blocking by Websites

When trying to access a website, you may see a message like “Access Denied”.

Reason: Low-quality or free anonymous proxies often utilize data center IP addresses, which are automatically blocked by major services (Google, YouTube, iCloud, banks, government sites, etc.).

Solution:

  • Choose residential or mobile proxies if you need to bypass blocks.

  • Choose an IP address from another country or region.

Unstable Connection

This is seen as being logged out of accounts, losing sessions, or frequent CAPTCHAs.

Reason: Automatic IP rotation is enabled, which disrupts the operation of resources that rely on cookies or require authorization, such as Google, YouTube, Gmail, or Cloudflare-protected sites.

Solution:

  • Use static proxies on sites that are sensitive to IP changes.

  • Choose solutions with a high trust score, such as ISP ones.

Conclusion

Safari proxy settings can be configured in several ways, both on PC and mobile devices. You can use system configuration (for Wi-Fi networks) and third-party applications like Shadowrocket or Proxifier. The browser itself does not provide options for isolated configuration – it uses parameters set at the system level. This may lead to certain errors, most of which are resolved by choosing the correct type of proxy and a reliable provider. For basic needs like bypassing geo-blocks or ISP restrictions, it’s recommended to utilize static ISP or IPv4/IPv6 data center proxies.

FAQ

Are Safari proxy settings preserved after rebooting the device?

Yes. The configuration is saved for each Wi-Fi network both on computers and smartphones and remains unchanged until manually edited.

Is it possible to configure an intermediary when connecting via mobile internet?

No, on iOS, proxy configuration is only available for Wi-Fi connections. However, using third-party tools like Shadowrocket, you can route browser traffic through a server even when using mobile data.

Does Safari browser proxy settings support username and password authentication?

Yes, the system settings in both macOS and iOS allow you to set up authentication directly – there’s no need to re-enter credentials in the browser window.

How can you make sure Safari is actually using the specified proxy server?

Open any online IP checking service. The displayed IP address should match the chosen location for your proxy when purchased. If your real IP is shown, the connection settings weren’t applied or the server is unavailable.