Ultimate Guide to Edge Proxy Settings

October 6, 2025
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Microsoft Edge remains one of the most popular browsers among users. However, like any other software, it may encounter network restrictions that complicate access to essential web resources and services. Correct Microsoft Edge proxy settings configuration helps bypass these restrictions, enhances anonymity, ensures a stable internet connection, and provides a reliable way to circumvent different security systems.

The Advantages of Properly Configured Edge Proxy Settings

What do Microsoft Edge proxy settings provide?

  • Masking the real IP address and increasing anonymity online.

  • Bypassing regional blocks and restrictions imposed by governments, ISPs, or web services.

  • Secure work with multiple accounts on the same website without the risk of being blocked.

  • Managing geo-targeted advertising accounts by assigning IP addresses corresponding to the region, without triggering antifraud systems.

  • Testing websites and applications from different countries — essential for web developers and SEO specialists.

  • Analyzing prices, offers, and ads that are only available in specific regions.

  • Traffic logging, for example, for auditing or troubleshooting connections.

These benefits are only available if the proxy server parameters are set up correctly. If the configuration is incorrect, the browser will fail to establish a network connection.

How to Change Proxy Settings in Edge on Different OS

Microsoft Edge does not have standalone intermediary controls; it uses the operating system’s settings. Configure them as follows.

Windows

One way to change proxy settings in Edge is through the built-in Settings app:

  1. Open the browser, go to Menu → Settings.

  2. Use the search field to find a proxy and open the highlighted section.

  3. In the system window, select manual IP and port input.

  4. If your intermediary requires authentication, a small prompt will appear when Edge starts – enter your username and password.

Because Edge relies on internal settings, other apps on the PC will also use the intermediary.

macOS

Proxy settings in Edge on macOS configures this way:

  1. Open the browser and repeat the first two steps from the Windows instructions.

  2. The internal intermediary settings window opens. Select the protocol, then enter the IP address, port, username, and password.

Linux

Unlike the Edge version for Windows and macOS, where the Proxy section allows direct access to internal network settings, Linux may display a blank page when attempting to do so. This happens because the operating system does not provide a unified intermediary management tool across all environments, and the browser cannot automatically redirect the user. Therefore, configuration must be performed directly in the system — in this case, using Linux Ubuntu as an example.

  1. Open the main application menu and select Settings.

  2. In the first section, Network, click the option that opens the intermediary configuration.

  3. Enable the intermediary and choose Manual configuration.

  4. Enter the IP and port for the protocol you use (HTTPS is recommended for browser traffic). Click Save.

  5. Open the browser and enter a search query – a window will appear prompting you to enter your authentication details: username and password. Once the fields are filled, click Sign in.

The configuration is now complete – all browser traffic, as well as traffic from other applications installed on the system, will be routed through the proxy server.

Mobile OS setup

The mobile version of Microsoft’s browser uses the internal intermediary configuration, which can be enabled as follows.

Android

  1. Select the active Wi-Fi network and tap the Advanced button.

  2. Choose the Proxy option, then select Manual to open the input form. Enter the IP address and port, then confirm by tapping the checkmark to save the configuration.

  3. If you use a private proxy, Edge will prompt for username and password on first launch.

iOS

Edge browser proxy settings on iOS are configured through the additional Wi-Fi parameters:

  1. Select Manual mode. Fill in the Server and Port fields with the appropriate data.

  2. If you enable the Authentication option by toggling the switch to On, additional fields for entering a username and password will appear – this is required when connecting to private proxy servers.

Tap Save (top-right).

Microsoft Edge Proxy Settings via Command Line for Windows, macOS, and Linux Systems

Advanced PC users can run Edge with proxy after pre-configuring it through the command line or terminal.

Windows

Open the command line as an administrator and enter: netsh winhttp set proxy proxy_address:port – where proxy_address:port must be replaced with the actual server address and port.

It is important to note that this command does not allow entering a username and password, but users can still apply IP-based authentication. This command sets system intermediary parameters only for services using the HTTP protocol, such as the Windows Update Center.

Command for macOS

If you are using HTTP, the command to connect will be as follows:

networksetup -setwebproxy "Wi-Fi" my.proxy port

Replace Wi-Fi with the name of your network interface (for example, Wi-Fi for all wireless networks or Ethernet for wired connections). Replace my.proxy port with the host address and port.

For example, the command would look like this: networksetup -setwebproxy "Wi-Fi" 82.211.9.161 51523.

To configure HTTPS, use the following command:

networksetup -setsecurewebproxy "Wi-Fi" my.proxy port

If authentication is required, enter the following commands sequentially with your credentials:

For HTTP:

networksetup -setwebproxyusername "Wi-Fi" username

networksetup -setwebproxypassword "Wi-Fi" password

For HTTPS:

networksetup -setsecurewebproxyusername "Wi-Fi" your_username

networksetup -setsecurewebproxypassword "Wi-Fi" your_password

Commands for Linux Systems

Configuring Edge proxy settings via the Terminal is possible only in graphical shells that rely on system environment settings (for example, GNOME), since the browser retrieves configuration data from there.

For HTTP:

gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy.http host 'my.proxy'

gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy.http port 51523

gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy mode 'manual'

The last command switches the system to manual proxy mode, which means the specified IP address and port will be used.

For HTTPS:

gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy.https host 'my.proxy'

gsettings set org.gnome.system.proxy.https port 51523

It is important to note that these parameters apply only to the current user profile. To configure them for another user, commands must be executed under that user’s account.

Important: The gsettings tool does not support storing or transmitting credentials for authentication. Therefore, if you attempt to connect to a private proxy requiring mandatory authentication, the connection will fail. To avoid this issue, it is recommended to:

  • Use IP-based authentication, if supported by the provider;

  • Employ third-party tools (for example, Redsocks or similar utilities) that allow specifying a username and password.

How to Add Proxy Exceptions?

Exceptions are domains that the browser will connect to directly, bypassing the proxy. Adding them is relevant for internal websites, corporate portals, local addresses, or trusted resources that do not require anonymization. Exceptions help avoid unnecessary delays, reduce intermediary server load, and prevent errors when loading local web applications.

Windows Setup

In Windows proxy server settings, which we reviewed earlier, there is a field for adding exceptions. The format should be as follows: domain name or IP range (for specific cases, such as testing with a local server). To allow access to all subdomains of a certain domain, add an asterisk (*) to the address. If multiple exceptions need to be specified, the list is separated by a semicolon (;).

You can also configure this via the command line with the following command: netsh winhttp set proxy proxy-server="http=ipv4.com:51523" bypass-list="localhost;*.company.local". The data is specified in the same format both in the graphical interface and in console settings.

Configuring Exceptions on macOS

In macOS network settings, there is a field labeled “Bypass proxy settings for these Hosts & Domains”. Website addresses or IPs are entered separated by commas.

If you want to allow direct access to an entire domain, add an asterisk (*) before the address. For example: *.proxy-ipv4.com.

You can also configure exceptions through the Terminal using the following command, where you need to insert your own values: networksetup -setproxybypassdomains "Wi-Fi" localhost 127.0.0.1 *.company.local 10.* 82.211.*

Creating Proxy Bypass Rules on Linux

In the Linux network settings window, there is a dedicated field for adding exceptions — Ignored Hosts. All website addresses or IPs should be entered separated by commas. If you need to create a rule for an entire domain, prepend the address with an asterisk and a dot (for example, *.ipv4.com).

To configure a list of exceptions via the Terminal, open one of the following files (depending on the user shell):

~/.bashrc

~/.bash_profile

~/.zshrc

In the earlier example we used Ubuntu – this distribution defaults to the Bash shell, so for applying system variables you need to edit the ~/.bashrc file.

Use the following command to edit:

nano ~/.bashrc

At the end of the file, add these lines. In the no_proxy variable, specify the domains and addresses that should bypass the intermediary connection:

export http_proxy="http://proxy.example.com:51523"

export https_proxy="http://proxy.example.com:51523"

export no_proxy="localhost,127.0.0.1,::1,*.company.local,10.0.0.0/8,192.168.0.0/16"

After editing, apply the changes with the command:

source ~/.bashrc

Can Different Proxies Be Used for Different Tabs or Sites in Edge?

By default, MS Edge proxy settings is applied to the entire browser and is used across all tabs and windows, so it cannot be done with standard tools. However, a solution exists — using additional user profiles, browser extensions, or third-party software. For example, extensions like FoxyProxy Standard or Proxy SwitchyOmega allow you to set rules by URL templates, create lists of exceptions, and quickly switch between multiple proxies directly in the browser.

For more advanced traffic routing at the operating system level, you can use software like Proxifier, which allows redirecting traffic from different applications or domains through different proxy servers. However, this client is only available for Windows and macOS.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Below are the most frequent issues that arise when configuring a proxy server in this program, along with solutions:

  1. The browser does not open pages. Cause: Incorrect proxy port or host, blocked at the OS or network level. Solution: Check configuration accuracy, try another proxy server, and ensure the antivirus or firewall isn’t blocking the connection.

  2. Constant login and password prompts. Cause: The browser does not save authorization data. Solution: Enable the built-in “Save passwords” feature in the settings and activate the “Automatic login” option.

  3. Some websites fail to load. Cause: The proxy blocks certain domains or sites. Solution: Add problematic resources to the exception list or configure direct access to them. If that fails, replace the IP address with a new one from another geolocation.

  4. Local websites won’t open. Cause: The browser tries to load local addresses through an external proxy, which results in errors or long load times. Solution: Add the IP range of local networks (for example, 192.168.*.*, 10.*.*.*) to the exception list.

  5. Edge ignores the configured proxy server. Cause: Some installed extensions or system applications override proxy settings. Solution: Temporarily disable suspicious add-ons, especially those that manage traffic, VPNs, or antivirus features that intercept connections (firewalls, filtering services).

Such problems often occur when using free or unreliable proxy services with a low level of support, outdated infrastructure, or blocked IP ranges. To avoid issues, it is recommended to choose stable paid IPv4 or ISP proxies with flexible settings and reliable support. With proper configuration, Edge will connect to the network through a proxy, and any questions can always be resolved with the help of your provider’s support service.

Conclusion

Configuring a proxy in Microsoft Edge allows users to control internet traffic routing, providing additional security, bypassing regional restrictions, and enhancing privacy. Edge proxy settings are configured through the system parameters of the operating system, while for more flexible scenarios it is possible to use various extensions and third-party programs such as Proxifier.

Most proxy-related issues – such as connection failures or errors when loading websites – can usually be resolved by checking configuration accuracy and adding exceptions for internal resources.

FAQ

Can I use a proxy only in one browser and not system-wide?

By default, Edge uses system proxy settings, which affect all software. To configure a proxy only for Edge, use extensions like FoxyProxy or Proxy SwitchyOmega, which allow you to assign a specific proxy to the browser without impacting other applications.

How does a proxy affect browser connection speed?

A proxy introduces an additional link between you and the website. As a result, poor-quality proxies can cause delays and reduce speed. It's best to use private solutions with low latency and high bandwidth capacity for optimal performance.

How can I automatically switch proxies based on the website?

This can only be done through extensions like FoxyProxy, which let you create rules that assign a specific IP address depending on the website being visited. This feature is especially useful for marketers, affiliates, and researchers.