To disable a proxy server in Windows 10, open Settings, go to Network & Internet > Proxy, and under Manual proxy setup turn off Use a proxy server. If a script was set up instead, turn off Use setup script on the same page.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 7, 2026.
Before you turn the proxy off
A proxy server is a go-between: your PC sends its internet traffic to the proxy, and the proxy passes it on, instead of your PC connecting directly. Microsoft notes that a proxy can be required by an organization, which is why the first question is whose PC and whose network you are on.
- Work or school PC or network: ask your IT department first. If the network requires a proxy, turning it off can cut you off from the internet or from internal sites, and the setting may simply be put back.
- Your own PC at home: home internet connections rarely need a proxy. If you did not set one up on purpose, it is reasonable to turn it off.
- Write down the current values first. If the page shows a proxy address, a port number or a script address, copy them into a note. That is your undo button if something stops working.
The Proxy page has three separate controls, and they do different jobs:
| Section | Setting | What it does | Usual choice at home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic proxy setup | Automatically detect settings | Lets Windows look for proxy details that the network announces. | Leave it on unless you are troubleshooting |
| Automatic proxy setup | Use setup script | Loads proxy rules from a script address. | Off, unless your organization gave you the address |
| Manual proxy setup | Use a proxy server | Sends traffic to one proxy address and port that someone typed in. | Off |
Turn off the proxy server in Settings
This is the main method, and it covers Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections.
- Press the Windows key + I to open Settings. You can also open the Start menu and select Settings there.
- Select Network & Internet. The network pages open.
- Select Proxy. You see two groups of settings: Automatic proxy setup and Manual proxy setup.
- Under Manual proxy setup, find Use a proxy server and turn it off. If your screen shows a Set up button next to it instead of a switch, select the button and turn Use a proxy server off in the box that opens.
- Under Automatic proxy setup, check Use setup script. If it is on and you did not get a script address from an organization, turn it off the same way.
- If a Save button is shown, select Save. Without it, the change may not be kept.
- Close Settings, then close and reopen your web browser and load a website to test the connection.
Microsoft’s own instructions for this page are in Use a proxy server in Windows. If you want to enter a different proxy rather than remove one, see our guide on how to change proxy settings in Windows 10.
Should you turn off Automatically detect settings?
Usually not. Automatically detect settings does not point your PC at a particular proxy. It only allows Windows to pick up proxy details when a network offers them, and on a typical home network nothing is offered, so the connection stays direct.
Turn it off only as a test, for example when an app tells you a proxy is still in use after the other two switches are off. If that does not change anything, turn it back on, because some work, school and public networks depend on it.
Turn off the proxy in Internet Options
Windows 10 still includes the older Internet Options window, and it controls the same proxy setting. Use it when the Settings app will not open, or when a support technician asks you to check “LAN settings”.
- Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
- Type inetcpl.cpl and press Enter. Internet Options opens.
- Select the Connections tab.
- Select LAN Settings. The Local Area Network Settings box opens.
- Clear the Use a proxy server for your LAN check box.
- If Use automatic configuration script is checked and you do not have a script from an organization, clear that box too. Leave Automatically detect settings checked unless you are testing.
- Select OK to close the box, then OK again to close Internet Options.
You do not need to do both methods. A change made here shows up on the Proxy page in Settings, and the other way around.
Check the system-wide proxy with a command
Windows keeps a second proxy setting, called the WinHTTP proxy, that some background services and apps use. Microsoft describes it as independent of the proxy setting used by your browser, so it can still hold a proxy address after the switches in Settings are off. Most home PCs never have one set, but it is worth a look if an app keeps reporting a proxy.
- Select the search box on the taskbar and type command prompt.
- Select Run as administrator, then Yes.
- Type netsh winhttp show proxy and press Enter. The command displays the current WinHTTP proxy setting, including any proxy server in use.
- If a proxy server is listed and you do not need it, type netsh winhttp reset proxy and press Enter. This resets the WinHTTP proxy to a direct connection.
- Run netsh winhttp show proxy again to confirm that no proxy server is listed, then close the window.
Do not run the reset command on a work or school PC without asking IT. Organizations sometimes set this proxy on purpose so that security and update services can reach the internet. Microsoft documents both commands in its netsh winhttp reference.
Check your VPN and your browser
A few other places can hold proxy settings of their own.
- A VPN connection. A VPN connection that was added in Windows can carry its own proxy settings. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > VPN, select the connection, select Advanced options, and look at the proxy settings for that connection. Turning off the Windows proxy does not disconnect a VPN, and disconnecting a VPN does not turn off the Windows proxy. They are separate features. Our guide on setting up a VPN on Windows 10 shows where to connect, disconnect and edit a VPN.
- Microsoft Edge. Edge uses the Windows network settings by default, proxy included, so there is nothing extra to turn off in Edge.
- Firefox. Firefox has its own proxy choice. In Firefox, open the menu and select Settings, select Privacy and security, and in the Connection and software security section open Advanced settings. Under Proxy settings, select Configure proxy. In the Connection Settings box, choose No proxy to connect directly, or Use system proxy settings to follow whatever Windows is set to.
- Browser extensions. A VPN or proxy extension can route one browser through a proxy even when Windows is set to connect directly. Turn the extension off, or remove it, if only one browser is affected.
How to confirm the proxy is off
- Go back to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. Use a proxy server and Use setup script should both be off.
- Close every browser window, open the browser again and load two or three different websites.
- Restart the PC and check the Proxy page one more time. If the switch is still off after a restart, nothing on the PC is turning it back on.
To undo the change, return to the same page, turn Use a proxy server or Use setup script back on, re-enter the address and port or the script address you wrote down if the boxes are empty, and select Save.
Troubleshooting
The proxy turns itself back on
Something is rewriting the setting. Work through these in order:
- Managed PC: on a work or school computer, the organization’s policy can reapply the proxy at sign-in or on a schedule. Only your IT department can change that.
- VPN, security or filtering apps: some VPN clients, antivirus suites, parental-control tools and ad blockers set a proxy while they run. Check the app’s own settings, or close the app and see whether the switch stays off.
- Unwanted software: a proxy that you never set up, on a personal PC, can be a sign of unwanted software redirecting your traffic. Search the Start menu for Windows Security, open it, and select Virus & threat protection > Quick scan. Then uninstall any program you do not recognize or did not mean to install.
The switches are greyed out or locked
When the controls cannot be changed, or a message on the page tells you that your organization manages some settings, a policy is in charge. On a work or school PC that is expected, so contact IT. On a personal PC, sign in with an administrator account and try again, and run the Windows Security scan described above.
Websites stop loading after you turn the proxy off
The network probably requires the proxy. Turn the setting back on with the values you wrote down, and ask the network’s administrator whether a direct connection is allowed. Guest and office networks often block direct connections on purpose.
The proxy is off but the internet still does not work
Then the proxy was not the cause, or it was not the only cause. Restart your modem and router, and test another device on the same network to see whether the problem is the PC or the connection. If only this PC is affected, the next step is to reset network settings in Windows 10. Microsoft’s Network reset is under Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Be aware that it removes and reinstalls your network adapters, and you may have to reinstall VPN software afterward.
You cannot find the Proxy page
Type proxy in the search box on the taskbar and open the proxy settings result. If Settings will not open at all, use the Internet Options method above.
An app still says a proxy is in use
Check the three places in this guide in order: the Proxy page in Settings, the WinHTTP proxy with the netsh winhttp show proxy command, and the app’s or browser’s own network settings. Some apps keep their own proxy setting and ignore Windows.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to disable the proxy server?
On your own PC and home network, yes. Your PC connects to websites directly, which is how most home connections are meant to work. On a work or school network the proxy may be part of the organization’s security setup, so ask before you turn it off.
Do I need to restart Windows 10 after turning off the proxy?
Not usually. Close and reopen your browser so it picks up the change. A restart is still useful as a test, because it shows whether something turns the proxy back on.
Can I turn the proxy back on later?
Yes. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy, turn Use a proxy server on again, check the address and port, and select Save.
Why does my PC have a proxy server I never set up?
The common causes are an organization’s policy on a managed PC, a VPN or security program that sets a proxy for its own filtering, a setup left behind by a previous owner or network, and unwanted software. If you cannot tie it to something you installed on purpose, scan the PC with Windows Security.
Is a proxy the same as a VPN?
No. A proxy setting in Windows tells apps where to send their web traffic. A VPN is a separate, encrypted connection that Windows lists under Network & Internet > VPN. Each one is turned off in its own place.
Does turning off the proxy change my Wi-Fi or Ethernet settings?
No. Your saved Wi-Fi networks, passwords and adapter settings stay as they are. The only thing that changes is whether traffic goes through the proxy or directly to the internet.
Is Windows 10 still supported?
Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 Home and Pro on October 14, 2025. The proxy settings in this guide still work the same way, but a PC that no longer receives security updates is more exposed to the kind of unwanted software that changes proxy settings, so keep its security scans current.
Once the proxy stays off after a restart, you are done. If it keeps returning on a personal PC, treat that as the real problem and track down the app or policy that is setting it.
Related: turn off a VPN in Windows 11.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.