A Proxy Server is an access point between the user and the internet, often called an intermediary server. A proxy has its own IP address that only the computer knows. Now, you must be curious about how it works.
Well, take an IP address as your computer's street address. It is the same as the post office knowing which street address to deliver your mail; similarly, the internet knows how to transfer the data to the correct computer using the IP address.
A proxy server is used for multiple benefits, such as helping stop cyber attackers from entering the networks, protecting your computer against malware and viruses, ignoring unwanted network requests, and blocking access to specific websites that can be harmful.
Now, with all the uses and benefits mentioned above, you must be waiting to know how to set-up a Proxy for a PC. Well, this guide is here to the rescue. Could you give a full read of the guide to learn about setting up a proxy for a PC?
1. Click on Start and then select Settings from the start menu.

2. Click on Network & Internet.

3. Select Proxy from the left panel.

Here, you can find the details about automatic and manual proxy settings.
How to Setup a Proxy for a PC in Windows
There are two types of proxy settings for Windows PCs. Automatic and Manual. Manual proxy settings ask you to enter specific proxy details, whereas automatic Proxy fetches proxy settings automatically from your device.
2 Methods to Setup a Proxy for a PC in Windows (Windows 8 and Windows 10)
1-Manual Method
2- Automatic Method
1- Manual Method
The following steps show how to set-up a Proxy for a PC manually. Have a look at it:
1. Go to the Windows Settings or Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously and select Network & Internet

2. Click on Proxy (For Windows)
OR
Click on Settings, then select Network Proxy. (For Windows)
3. Scroll down, in the Manual proxy setup, turn on the "Use a Proxy Server" switch. In the required field, enter the proxy server name or IP address. In the Port field, type the proxy port number. (In case you forget, you can get these from your IT support tech)

4. Click on Save.
This way, you can set up a Proxy for a PC in windows manually.
2- Automatic Method
The following steps show how you can set-up a Proxy for a PC in Windows automatically. Have a look at it:
1. Press the Windows + I keys simultaneously to get the shortcut to the Windows Settings menu. Click on Network & Internet

2. Now click on Proxy (For Windows)
OR
Click on Settings, then select Network Proxy. (For Windows 8)

3. Turn on the "Use a Proxy Server" under the manual setup section. Make sure the "Automatically detect settings" is also turned on.

5. Windows automatically checks if your local network has an automatic proxy server setup that is ready by default. If it does, Windows will tell you its username and ask you to follow the instructions.
6. When the windows find a PAC file in the Automatic Proxy Setup, turn on the Use Setup Script button.
This way, you can automatically set up a proxy for a PC in Windows.
Access Proxy Settings through the Control Panel in Windows PC
The following steps help you access the proxy settings through the control panel. Have a look at it to set-up a Proxy for a PC in Windows:
1. Go to the Control Panel and click on Open

2. Select Network and Internet

3. Click on Internet Options

4. Click on LAN settings in the connections tab

5. Check mark the "Use a proxy server for your LAN" box and click on Advanced

6. Enter the proxy details. Check mark the "Use the same proxy server for all protocols" box and click on OK

Device Compatibility with Proxy Servers
You can setup a Proxy on different devices, including:
iOS
Android
Firefox
Internet Explorer
Safari
Edge
Mac
Common Proxy Server Errors in Windows
When you attempt to view a webpage via a proxy server and the server is unable to process your request or response erroneously, this is known as a proxy server error.
That may result from unsupported functionality, server problems, network problems, or setup mistakes. There may be particular solutions needed for the error code.
Following are some of the proxy server errors:
- Internal Server (occurs when a server cannot respond to the request due to some conditions)
- Not Implemented (occurs when a server is not able to accept the request due to some unsupported methods)
Bad Gateway (occurs when a server receives a response from another server that is not valid)
Services Unavailable (occurs when a server is filled with too many requests)
- Gateway Timeout (occurs when a server does not receive a response from the other server)
HTTP Version Not Supported (occurs when a server is not able to support the HTTP protocol version)
Insufficient Space (occurs when a server doesn't have enough space for the new requests)
The Solution to Fix Server Errors
Following are the solutions to fix your server errors:
Residential proxies are a better option when it comes to securing your data. These proxies offer a good amount of IP addresses, which helps to avoid being blocked.
Try waiting a few seconds between requests to avoid Internet proxy server errors.
FAQs - Set-up a Proxy for a PC
How do we protect our system while setting up a Proxy server?
To protect your system while setting up a proxy in Windows, you can turn off the utilities that give access to the server's internal processes to the remote users.
Can I block proxies?
There is no way to completely restrict VPNs, proxies, and other services because they are constantly rotating.
What is the difference between a Proxy and a VPN?
In Proxies, network data is checked against security policies, traffic distribution is supported, and traffic source anonymization is provided. On the other hand, a VPN uses encryption to obscure the data and IP address so that unapproved users cannot access it.
Conclusion
Proxy servers are an effective tool for controlling internet usage, hiding IP addresses, and bypassing limitations. This guide helps you to gain the best knowledge about setting up a proxy in Windows.
By reading it thoroughly and following the guide's instructions, you can set up a proxy for a PC in no time. So, get your hands on the top-notch proxies by Bright Data and Oxylabs and ease your life!