Let’s start with something simple and practical: when you’re “connected to a proxy,” your device is not talking to the internet directly. Instead, it’s sending traffic through a middleman the proxy server. That middleman can change your apparent IP address, filter traffic, or apply rules set by whoever configured it. Sometimes this is useful, like for security policies at work or for testing different locations. But sometimes you don’t want it anymore. Maybe certain websites start acting weird. Maybe streaming stops working. Maybe pages load slowly. Or maybe you’re just done using it and you want your normal direct connection back.
Disconnecting from a proxy server means removing that middle layer so your device goes back to using your direct internet connection from your internet service provider (ISP). The good news: On your side you are in complete control, and turning off a proxy on Windows, macOS, iPhone, Android, and even inside a browser like Chrome and Firefox is something you can do yourself. No agenda, just natural; no special tool-smithing required.
Step-by-step guides to turning off the proxy on all the popular systems are given further down. I’ll discuss each one in plain English and review what to do if the setting changes back on its own (yes, it does). Please keep reading even if you are not a “technical” person. You won’t need to be.
How to turn off a proxy on Windows
On Windows, a proxy can be set manually, or it can come from something called “automatic configuration,” usually via a script URL. You’ll see both in the same menu. Follow these steps to disable either:
- Click Start → Settings.
- Go to Network & Internet.
- Select Proxy on the left side.
- Look at two sections.
- Automatic proxy setup (Automatically detect settings / Use setup script)
- Manual proxy setup (Use a proxy server)
If you see a switch called “Use a proxy server,” and it’s turned on, this means Windows is forcing connections through a specific IP address and port. Turn that switch Off. After that, click Save if the button appears.
If you see “Use setup script” enabled under Automatic proxy setup, switch that off too. That script is basically a file that tells Windows: “Send traffic to this server first.” Disabling it breaks that instruction and routes traffic normally again.
At this point, try opening your browser and loading a few different websites. Are they working faster? Are location-dependent pages now reacting differently? That’s a good sign that you’re no longer passing through the proxy.
Here’s one more tip: if the settings immediately flip themselves back on after you disable them, it might mean you’re on a managed computer (for example, a work laptop joined to a corporate domain). In that case, group policy may reapply proxy rules. You can tell this is happening if options are greyed out or locked. On a personal PC, you shouldn’t see that. On a work device, you might have to talk to IT because those rules are often enforced for security or compliance reasons.
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How to turn off a proxy on macOS
On a Mac, each network connection (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.) can have its own proxy configuration. That means you can disable it per network. Do this:
- Click the Apple menu → System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
- Go to Network.
- Choose the connection you’re actually using right now (for most people, that’s Wi-Fi).
- Scroll or click Details… / Advanced… depending on your macOS version.
- Find the Proxies tab.
You’ll see chec kboxes like:
- Web Proxy (HTTP)
- Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS)
- SOCKS Proxy
- FTP Proxy
If any of those are checked, that means traffic for that protocol is being routed through a specific proxy server and port number. To disconnect, uncheck everything you don’t want active.
Press OK, then Apply to save changes.
After that, open a browser and test. Visit a few different pages, including something that was giving you trouble earlier. If things start behaving normally, you’re no longer using those proxy settings.
One more thing that’s worth mentioning: sometimes only one specific proxy type is enabled – for example, just “SOCKS Proxy.” That means only certain applications using SOCKS will go through the proxy, not necessarily everything. If you’re unsure which ones you actually use, it’s safe to uncheck them all to fully return to direct access.
If you reconnect to a corporate Wi-Fi and the proxy boxes become checked again automatically, that network might be pushing configuration to you. That’s expected in managed networks. On your own home Wi-Fi, this typically will not happen unless you (or some software) set it up manually.
How to turn off a proxy on iPhone (iOS)
On iPhone and iPad, proxy settings live inside each Wi-Fi network profile. So if you’re connected to “Home_WiFi,” only that network’s settings matter. Here’s how to disconnect:
- Open Settings.
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Tap the small (i) icon next to the Wi-Fi network you’re currently using.
- Scroll down to HTTP Proxy.
You’ll see three options:
- Off
- Manual
- Auto
If it’s set to Manual, it means someone typed in a proxy server and port. Change it to Off.
If it’s set to Auto, that usually means there’s an automatic configuration script (similar to Windows “Use setup script”). Change it to Off as well to stop using that script.
That’s all. There is no “Save” button; iOS applies it instantly.
Now, test any app that was slow, blocking you, or giving connection errors. The moment you switch it to Off, if it starts to work, you are no longer behind the proxy server.
Notice that usually, cellular data connections (4G/5G) do not make use of these Wi-Fi proxy settings. So if it works fine on mobile data and breaks on Wi-Fi, big hint: the Wi-Fi network might have had an active proxy in the first place.
How to turn off a proxy on Android
- On any Wi-Fi setup, there are ways in which proxy rules can be implemented on Androids. Proxy URL names can differ slightly across brands; there is Samsung and other brands with such variations-for example, the Pixel, Xiaomi, etc.-but the logic remains.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Network & Internet (or “Connections” on some phones).
- Tap Wi-Fi.
- Long press or tap the gear / info icon next to the Wi-Fi network you’re connected to.
- Look for Proxy under advanced options.
You’ll usually see:
- None
- Manual
- Proxy Auto-Config (or PAC)
If it’s set to Manual, change it to None to disable the proxy. If it’s set to Proxy Auto-Config, change it to None as well. Then save or tap to apply.
What follows is a very important quick test: test those apps which have given you recurring problems. And, thus, real-time-data-driven apps-music streaming, banking, maps, to name a few-are very shy in the presence of slow or unstable proxy servers. If they have behaved normally just now, the device has now resumed talking directly to the internet.
A small but very important detail: some Android apps bypass system proxy settings and use some embedded method of connection of their own. So if there is only one app that is acting differently from all other apps, that might be the internal network setting of that particular app, rather than the global device proxy. Usually though, when one fixes the global Wi-Fi proxy, that is normally enough.
How to stop using a proxy in your browser only
Sometimes the operating system is fine, but the browser itself is configured to use a proxy. This is common for desktop browsers that were previously set up for testing geo-based content or doing local debugging. So let’s just go through Chrome and Firefox since those are the usual suspects.
Google Chrome (Windows/macOS)
Chrome normally uses the system proxy settings. If Windows or macOS is still configured to use a proxy, Chrome will also use the set proxy. So usually one needs to fix the system settings first (as explained above).
This usually happens if Chrome is launched from command line or as a shortcut with special flags forcing the use of a proxy. So if somebody has created a shortcut that runs Chrome in this way.
chrome.exe –proxy-server=”http://123.45.67.89:8080″
that case, remove –proxy-server=… from the shortcut or launch Chrome normally from the Start menu / Applications folder instead of that custom shortcut.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox is different. It can use its own internal proxy rules that ignore the system completely.
To disable:
- Open Firefox.
- Click the menu (≡) in the top right.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll down to Network Settings.
- Click Settings… next to it.
- In the “Configure Proxy Access to the Internet” window, choose No proxy.
- Click OK.
After that, Firefox will connect directly instead of routing traffic through the proxy you previously set.
Why some people disconnect from a proxy (and when you actually should not)
It’s natural to think, “Proxy is causing problems, I’ll just turn it off.” And in a lot of home or personal scenarios, that’s correct. Slow browsing? Strange location content? Captchas every 5 minutes? Disconnecting often fixes it.
But it’s not always the right move. There are scenarios where keeping the proxy is intentional and important:
- You’re on a corporate device and the proxy is part of the security or monitoring policy.
- You’re doing controlled testing and you need to appear as if you’re connecting from a specific region.
- You’re running automated tasks (for example, analytics or QA checks) that depend on stable, known exit IPs.
Here’s a quick way to think about it:
If it’s your personal phone or laptop and you’re just trying to browse normally, then yes, you can safely turn off the proxy. If it’s your employer’s laptop and you’re on company Wi-Fi, that proxy may be a rule, not a suggestion.
Let’s make this more visual with a simple table. This shows when it’s reasonable to disconnect and when it might cause problems:
| Situation | Is it safe to disconnect from the proxy right now? | Why / Why not |
| You set up the proxy yourself for testing and forgot to remove it | Yes | You’re in control, and removing it should just restore normal browsing. |
| Your home Wi-Fi suddenly started redirecting traffic through a proxy | Usually yes | Could be misconfiguration. Turning it off gets you back to direct access. |
| Work laptop managed by IT, proxy settings are locked | Usually no | The proxy may be required for compliance, logging, or access to resources. |
| Public Wi-Fi (café/hotel) that forces a proxy to access the network | Sometimes no | Some captive networks require that proxy to reach the internet at all. |
| A single app is slow but everything else works fine | Maybe not necessary | The issue could be app-specific, not system-wide proxy settings. |
This table is only guidance, but it helps you avoid breaking something that was intentionally configured.
Quick checklist: how to confirm you’re fully disconnected
To make sure you’re truly off the proxy and back to a direct line, use this short list:
- You’ve turned off “Use a proxy server” in Windows settings, or unchecked proxy boxes on macOS.
- You’ve changed the Wi-Fi proxy on iOS/Android from Manual / Auto / PAC to Off or None.
- You’ve told Firefox to use “No proxy.”
- You’ve removed any –proxy-server= launch arguments from Chrome shortcuts.
- Websites no longer complain about “unusual traffic” as often.
- Location-based services (maps, weather, shopping) react like you’re in your real region again.
- Streaming and banking apps behave normally again.
If all of that lines up, you’re disconnected.
One more smart move: know your proxy source
Sometimes people ask, “Why was I even using a proxy in the first place?” That’s a fair question. There are a few common answers:
- You manually configured a proxy from a provider you were testing.
- Someone helped you troubleshoot an issue and temporarily routed you through their proxy.
- You imported a work profile on your device.
- You clicked a “configuration script” or PAC URL without really knowing what it did.
- A browser extension was intercepting traffic.
That last one matters. Extensions in browsers like Chrome and Firefox can act like lightweight proxy layers. If you disabled everything at the system level and you’re still seeing unusual routing, check extensions. Disable anything related to traffic routing, geo-testing, scraping, “privacy browsing,” anonymization, etc., and test again.
If you eventually do need a reliable provider for controlled, intentional proxy routing – for analytics, QA, or region-based testing where stability and IP diversity actually matter – look at experienced proxy networks such as Proxys.io, where you can choose what you connect through rather than getting stuck with unexpected default behavior. The key difference between “clean setup” and “problem setup” is control. You want to be the one deciding when you connect and when you disconnect, not the other way around.
Final thoughts: disconnecting from a proxy is about taking back control
Think of a proxy like a borrowed voice. Sometimes you want to speak through it. Sometimes you don’t. The whole point of knowing how to disconnect from a proxy server is being able to flip that switch yourself whenever you choose. You shouldn’t feel locked into a configuration that you don’t understand and can’t change.
On desktop, the process usually lives in Network & Internet (Windows) or System Settings → Network (macOS). On mobile, it’s inside the active Wi-Fi network’s advanced options. In browsers, it’s either following the system setting or using its own internal rule. Turning these off returns your device to a direct connection, thus immediately solving many speed, access, and reliability issues.
Next time a site refuses to load or a service asks you to prove you’re human over and over again, or an application just seems peculiar, don’t panic. Check if you’re still going through a proxy; if yes, turn it off. It usually takes less than a minute on most devices, and this way, you’re back to deciding how traffic moves.