How to Connect to a Proxy Server

Four Methods:Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Google Chrome Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Mozilla Firefox Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Safari Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Internet Explorer

Proxy servers are computers or applications in the network that act as gateway to a larger network structure such as the Internet and larger servers for increased efficiency and reliability. Connecting to a proxy server is done by getting the protocol address and setting it on the web browser you’re using.

Method 1
Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Google Chrome

1
Launch your Google Chrome web browser. Do this by clicking on its shortcut icon from your desktop.
2
Go to Settings. Click its menu button at the top-right corner of the browser window to open a pop up menu. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu to open Google Chrome’s browser settings.
3
Go to Advanced. Click on “Show advanced settings” to reveal additional browser settings.
4
Open the “Internet Properties” window. Scroll down the Settings tab to the “Network” section and click the “Change proxy settings” button to open a small “Internet Properties” window.
5
View the current LAN settings. Click “LAN Settings” inside the small window to view the current settings of your local area network.
6
Enable the proxy settings. Do this by putting a check mark on the box beside “Use a proxy server for your LAN.”
7
Enter the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to. Do this on the respective text fields.
- Contact your firm’s IT personnel if you don’t know the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to.
8
Save. Click “OK” to save the changes made on Chrome’s proxy server setting.
9
Test the connection. Enter the web address of the server you want to connect to on the address bar of Google Chrome to test the connection.

Method 2
Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Mozilla Firefox

1
Launch your Mozilla Firefox web browser. Do this by clicking on its shortcut icon from your desktop.
2
Open the menu. Click its menu button at the top-right corner of the browser window to open a pop up menu.
3
Access the Options menu. Select “Options” from the drop-down menu to open Mozilla Firefox’s browser settings.
4
Go to Connection Settings. Click the “Settings” button listed along the “Connections” section on the “Network” tab of the Options window to open your browser’s connection settings.
5
Enable “Manual proxy configuration.” Click the radio button beside “Manual proxy configuration” to enable the option.
6
Enter the IP/HTTP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to. Do this on the respective text fields.
- Contact your firm’s IT personnel if you don’t know the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to.
7
Save. Click “OK” to save the changes made on Firefox’s proxy server setting.
8
Test the connection. Enter the web address of the server you want to connect to on the address bar of Mozilla Firefox to test the connection.

Method 3
Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Safari

1
Launch your Safari web browser. Do this by clicking on its shortcut icon from your desktop or the app dock (if you’re using a Mac).
2
Go to Preferences. Click on “Safari” at the top-left corner of the menu bar and select “Preferences” from the drop-down list to open Safari’s Preferences window.
3
Go to Advanced Settings. Click the gear icon on the right side of the Preference window to view the advanced settings of Safari.
4
Click the “Change Settings” button. Now you can begin adding or editing any current proxies used within the browser.
5
Select a proxy. Select the kind of proxy you’re about to use from the list of options available under the “Select a protocol to configure” list.
- Ask your firm’s IT personnel if you’re unsure what kind of protocol the proxy server you’re about to connect to is. If you’re just using a basic proxy server to connect to the internet, you can just select “Web Proxy (HTTP)” from the list.
6
Enter the IP/HTTP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to. Do this on the respective text fields.
- Contact your firm’s IT personnel if you don’t know the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to.
7
Save. Click “OK” to save the changes made on Safari’s proxy server setting.
8
Test the connection. Enter the web address of the server you want to connect to on the address bar of Safari to test the connection.

Method 4
Connecting to a Proxy Server Using Internet Explorer

1
Launch your Internet Explorer web browser. Do this by clicking on its shortcut icon from your desktop.
2
Open the Internet Options menu. Click “Tools” from the menu bar at the top left section of the window and select “Internet Options” from the drop-down list.
3
Go to your LAN settings. Go to the “Connections” tab inside the Internet Options window, and click the “LAN Settings” button at the bottom. This will open a smaller window for your local area network settings.
4
Enable the proxy settings. Do this by putting a check mark on the box beside “Use a proxy server for your LAN.”
5
Enter the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to. Do this on the respective text fields.
- Contact your firm’s IT personnel if you don’t know the IP address and port number of the proxy server you want to connect to.
6
Save. Click “OK” to save the changes made on Internet Explorer’s proxy server setting.
7
Test the connection. Enter the web address of the server you want to connect to on the address bar of Internet Explorer to test the connection.