---
title: "What Is a Proxy Error? Fix Proxy Server Not Responding"
description: "A proxy server not responding error means a proxy setting left on in your device points to a server that cannot be reached. How to turn it off or fix it."
url: https://proxynet.io/blog/proxy-server-not-responding
date: 2026-09-19
author: "Enver Kaya"
category: "Tutorial"
lang: en
---

# What Is a Proxy Error? Fix Proxy Server Not Responding

You turn the computer on, Wi-Fi looks connected, yet no website opens. Chrome says "There is something wrong with the proxy server, or the address is incorrect." and shows `ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED` underneath. The Windows troubleshooter reports "The configured proxy server is not responding". But you have never set up a proxy in your life, and this may be the first time you have seen the word. Or it is the exact opposite: you bought a proxy yesterday, entered it a minute ago and hit this screen on the first try.

These two readers see the same message, but their fixes are opposite: one will turn the setting off, the other will correct it. We start with a single table of how the error is worded in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Windows. Then we explain why this setting is left on in the computer of someone who never uses a proxy, how to turn it off, and what to do if it keeps coming back. The last sections are for people who set up a proxy on purpose.

> **Note: Short answer**
>
> A "proxy server not responding" error says that a proxy setting is switched on in your device, but no server answers at that address. Your internet line and the site you want to visit are not broken; the browser gets stuck at the intermediary before it ever reaches the site. If you do not use a proxy, open **Settings > Network & internet > Proxy** in Windows and turn off the **Use a proxy server** switch; most of the time the problem ends there. If you do use a proxy, compare the address, the port, the proxy type and the expiry date of your plan with your provider's dashboard.

## What is a proxy error?

A proxy is an intermediary server that sits between your device and the internet. While a proxy setting is on, your browser does not go to websites directly; it hands every request to this intermediary first and receives the answer from it. We covered the whole concept in [What Is a Proxy Server and How Does It Work?](/blog/what-is-a-proxy-server).

What we call a "proxy error" is this handover failing. The browser has been told "go to this address for every site", but either nobody is at that address or the door does not open for you. The browser will not skip the intermediary and go to the site on its own, because the setting forbids it. That is why not one site but every site stops opening at the same moment.

The error has three telltale signs:

- **Every site fails at once**, and the error text is the same on each of them.
- **Wi-Fi or the cable looks connected.** The modem lights are normal and a phone in the same home gets online.
- **Programs that ignore the system setting may keep working.** That is why it is not surprising when a game or a messaging app connects while the browser does not.

The wording also changes slightly between programs. Chrome and Windows say "proxy server", Firefox mostly says just "proxy", and older Windows guides send you to a dialog called "LAN settings". They all point to the same setting.

## How does the error look on each screen?

The text of the message depends on the program that shows it. The Chrome and Firefox texts below are taken from the browsers' current English strings. The Windows row is written the way the message is reported from Windows network diagnostics.

| Where you see it | Text on screen | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | "No internet" heading, then "There is something wrong with the proxy server, or the address is incorrect." and `ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED` | No connection could be made to the proxy address |
| Edge, Opera, Brave | Same code, the text may differ slightly | They share Chrome's engine, so the code means the same thing |
| Chrome and its relatives | `ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED` | The proxy was reached, but it did not set up the secure tunnel to the site |
| Firefox | "The proxy server is refusing connections" | The address was found, but no server accepts connections on that port |
| Firefox | "Unable to find the proxy server" | The proxy name you typed has no match on the internet; usually a typo |
| Windows network diagnostics (troubleshooter) | "The configured proxy server is not responding" | The Windows proxy setting is on and that address does not answer |
| Older browsers and some programs | "Proxy server is not responding", "Unable to connect to the proxy server" | Older wordings of the same situation |

Chrome's codes are not random. The Chromium project's [error list](https://github.com/chromium/chromium/blob/main/net/base/net_error_list.h) separates the two clearly: `PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED` appears when the proxy's name cannot be resolved or a connection to it cannot be opened; if the proxy is reached and the tunnel then fails, the code becomes `TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED`. This distinction will be useful below: the first code means "I never got to the server", the second means "I got there but was not let in".

## How does this error happen?

From the moment you type a site into the address bar until the error screen, this is what happens:

1. The browser first looks up the answer to "how do I get out to the internet?". Chrome and Edge take that answer from the Windows proxy setting; Firefox can take it from its own setting.
2. If the setting holds a proxy address and port, the browser tries to connect to that address, not to the site.
3. If the address is a name (like `pr.proxynet.io`), the IP address behind that name is looked up first. If nothing is found, the error appears at this step.
4. If the name is found, the browser tries to open a connection to the relevant port of that IP address. If no server listens on the port, or a firewall in between cuts the connection, the error appears at this step.
5. If the connection opens, the browser asks the proxy for a tunnel to your site. If the proxy does not recognise you (wrong password, an IP that is not on the allowed list) or the port belongs to a different proxy type, the tunnel is not set up.

In the first four steps not a single request has gone to the site you wanted to visit. This is why the "clear your history" and "change your DNS" tips that old guides repeat do not help; the place to look is the proxy setting itself.

## Why is this setting on if you never use a proxy?

If you did not switch the setting on, a program did. These are the five most common sources:

**VPNs and "site opener" programs.** Some of these programs write their own address into the Windows proxy setting in order to catch your traffic. That address usually starts with `127.0.0.1`, a special address that means "this computer itself". In other words the program runs a small intermediary inside your computer and tells Windows "send everyone to me". When the program closes properly, it takes the setting back as well. If it crashes, is ended from Task Manager or is uninstalled without restoring the setting, the setting stays on and now points to a door nobody listens behind. You can find the difference between a VPN and a proxy in [Proxy vs. VPN](/blog/proxy-vs-vpn).

**Browser extensions.** Free VPN, proxy and "change country" extensions take over the browser's proxy setting. When the server behind the extension shuts down or your free quota runs out, the same error appears. Chrome shows this situation on the **Settings > System** page with the note "Chrome is using proxy settings from an extension".

**Security and filtering programs.** Some antivirus products, ad blockers and parental control tools route traffic through themselves in order to scan pages. If the program was left half-updated or shut itself down when its licence expired, the setting can be left behind.

**Malware.** Some malware routes your traffic through its own servers in order to watch the pages you visit or to inject ads. When that server is taken down, your internet stops and you see the error. If the setting shows an address you do not recognise at all and that does not start with `127.0.0.1`, take this possibility seriously. Addresses taken from a "free proxy list", tried once and forgotten, give the same picture; we explained why those addresses cannot be trusted in [Are Free Proxies and Web Proxy Sites Safe?](/blog/are-free-proxies-safe).

**A work or school computer.** On managed computers the proxy setting is written centrally and often points to an address that can only be reached from inside the organisation's network. When you bring the same laptop home, that address cannot be reached and the error appears. In that case do not change the setting yourself; you need to connect to the organisation's VPN or ask the IT team.

### What does the address in the setting tell you?

| What the address box says | Most likely source | First step |
|---|---|---|
| `127.0.0.1` or `localhost` | A program on your computer (VPN, filter, ad blocker) | Turn the setting off, then find the program and fix or uninstall it |
| An address carrying your organisation's name, or a script address ending in `.pac` | Work or school configuration | Leave it alone and ask the IT team |
| Your proxy provider's address | A proxy you set up yourself | Go to the "If you use a proxy" section below |
| An IP address you do not recognise at all | An old experiment or malware | Turn the setting off and run a security scan |

## How do you turn the setting off if you do not use a proxy?

### Windows 11 and Windows 10

We are going to the screen described on Microsoft's [Use a proxy server in Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/experience/connectivity-networking/use-a-proxy-server-in-windows) page, this time to turn the setting off:

1. Open **Settings** with the `Windows + I` keys.
2. Go to **Network & internet**, then to **Proxy**.
3. Under the **Manual proxy setup** heading, press the **Set up** or **Edit** button next to **Use a proxy server**.
4. In the window that opens, move the switch to **Off** and press **Save**. Before you turn it off, write down the address in the box; it helps when you look for what switched the setting on.
5. If **Use setup script** is on in the same page and you are not tied to an organisation, turn that off too. **Automatically detect settings** can stay on; it does no harm on home networks.

Close the browser, open it again and try a site. The **Internet Options > Connections > LAN settings** dialog described in older guides shows the same setting; what you turn off in one is off in the other, so you do not need to fix the two places separately.

### Chrome and Edge

Chrome has no proxy setting of its own. The **Open your computer's proxy settings** link on the **Settings > System** page takes you to the Windows screen above. If the same place says the proxy setting comes from an extension, open **Extensions > Manage Extensions** from the **More** menu at the top right and turn that extension off (Google's [install and manage extensions](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2664769?hl=en) page shows the steps). We explained the order in which Chrome makes its proxy decision in [How to Set Up Proxy Settings in Windows and Chrome](/blog/windows-chrome-proxy-settings).

### Firefox

Because Firefox can keep its own setting, it may show the error even when the proxy is off in Windows. The path on Mozilla's [Connection settings in Firefox](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/connection-settings-firefox) page is as follows:

1. Click the menu button and choose **Settings**.
2. At the bottom of the **General** panel, find the **Proxy settings** section and press **Configure proxy**. In older versions the section is called **Network Settings** and the button is **Settings…**.
3. In the **Connection Settings** window that opens, select **No proxy** and press **OK**.

If an extension is managing the connection, the same window shows that as well and lets you disable the extension from there. The setup side is in [How to Set Proxy Settings in Firefox Browser?](/blog/firefox).

### Phones and Mac

On phones the proxy setting lives in the details of the Wi-Fi network and applies only to that network. If the error appears at home but not outside, look at the setting of your home Wi-Fi. The paths are in [How to Set Up Proxy Settings on an Android Phone](/blog/android-proxy-settings) and [How to Set iPhone Proxy Settings?](/blog/iphone-proxy), and for Mac in [How to Set Up Proxy Settings on Mac and Safari](/blog/mac-safari-proxy-settings). The way to turn it off on every device is gathered in one table in [What Is a Proxy Server Address and How to Find It](/blog/find-proxy-server-address).

## What should you do if the setting keeps coming back?

You turned the switch off, the internet came back, and the next day or after a restart the error returned. This shows that something that rewrites the setting is still running. Check these in order:

1. **Review your browser extensions.** Turn off VPN, proxy and "unblocked access" type extensions. If there is an extension you do not recognise or one that reinstalls itself, follow the steps on Google's [remove unwanted ads, pop-ups and malware](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2765944?hl=en) page.
2. **Check the installed programs.** In the **Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps** list, uninstall VPNs, accelerators, ad blockers and "site opener" programs you do not use. If you do use a VPN, look in its own settings for an option along the lines of "set system proxy".
3. **Run a security scan.** On the **Windows Security > Virus & threat protection** page run a **Quick scan**; if the result is clean but the problem continues, try the full scan or the offline scan under **Scan options**. Microsoft's [virus and threat protection](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security/threat-malware-protection/virus-and-threat-protection-in-the-windows-security-app) page explains the options.
4. **See whether the device is managed.** If the bottom of the Chrome menu says "Managed by your organization", the proxy may be defined by a policy and will be written back even if you turn the switch off. On a work computer this is normal and the fix is with the IT team. If you see this text on your own home computer and do not know why, do not skip steps 2 and 3.

If the address you wrote down starts with `127.0.0.1`, step 2 takes priority; if it is a foreign address, step 3 does. None of these steps requires you to edit the registry by hand or to download a tool that "resets the system".

## If you use a proxy: is the problem in the details or in the server?

If you set the proxy up on purpose, turning the setting off is not the fix; you need to find out which detail is wrong. The error text is a good clue here.

**`ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED`, "The proxy server is refusing connections", "not responding".** The browser never got to the server. Copy the address and the port from the dashboard again; one mistyped letter or a trailing space is enough. The result is the same if your plan has expired, so confirm in the dashboard that the service shows as active. Work, dormitory and guest networks may block proxy ports; trying the same setting over your phone's mobile hotspot shows this within a minute.

**"Unable to find the proxy server".** The problem is almost always in the address box: a missing letter, an address typed with `http://` in the box, or the address and the port entered into the same box.

**`ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED`.** You got to the server but were not let in. There are two common causes. The first is identity: if you cancelled the password prompt, if the password is wrong, or if you use IP whitelisting and your home IP address has changed, the proxy does not open the tunnel. We explained why the address changes on home connections in [Static IP vs Dynamic IP](/blog/static-ip-vs-dynamic-ip), and the two identity methods in [Proxy Authentication: User:Pass vs IP Whitelist](/blog/proxy-authentication-methods). The second cause is a type mismatch: the Windows proxy box expects an HTTP proxy. If you type a SOCKS5 port there, the server does not understand you and closes the connection.

[HTTPS Proxy](https://proxynet.io/https-proxy) is the type that browsers and the Windows setting understand directly. [SOCKS5 Proxy](https://proxynet.io/socks5-proxy) is preferred for games, messaging apps and non-web traffic, and is usually served from a different port. The details of the difference are in [SOCKS vs. HTTP Proxy](/blog/socks-vs-http-proxy).

If the details are right and the error continues, apply the checks in [Is My Proxy Working? How to Test a Proxy](/blog/how-to-test-a-proxy) to test the proxy outside the browser. The "If the proxy isn't working" section there goes through six possible causes one by one.

## If the error appears inside an app

Some programs do not look at the Windows setting and use their own proxy box. If everything is off in Windows and you see a "proxy error" only in that program, the setting is inside the program:

- **Telegram.** The app has its own proxy list; when a dead proxy stays selected, messages do not go out. Where the setting is and how to turn it off is in [Telegram Proxy Settings](/blog/telegram-proxy).
- **Game clients and game helpers.** The proxy details are mostly entered in the launcher's settings window or in a separate routing program. An example setup is in [Why Do Knight Online Players Use a Proxy?](/blog/knight-online-proxy).
- **Routing programs such as Proxifier.** These programs send the traffic of the apps you choose to the proxy. When the proxy dies, only the apps tied to that rule drop. We showed the setup in [our Proxifier guide](/blog/proxifier).
- **Extensions that manage proxies in the browser.** With extensions that pick a proxy per site, the error may appear only on certain sites, because the other sites go direct.

## Advanced: see which stage fails with one command

This section is for people who are comfortable with the command line; you can skip it. `curl`, which ships with Windows 10 and 11, tries the proxy independently of the browser and tells you in one line which step has the problem:

```bash
curl -x http://user:pass@pr.proxynet.io:8000 https://ipinfo.io/ip
```

If an IP address is printed, the proxy works and the problem is in the browser or the Windows setting. If an error is printed, its text matches the five steps above:

- `Could not resolve proxy`: the address is mistyped (step 3).
- `Failed to connect` or `Could not connect to server`: the address is right, but nobody answers on that port or your network blocks the port (step 4).
- `CONNECT tunnel failed, response 407`: the server is up, the username or password was not accepted (step 5).
- `Proxy CONNECT aborted`: the connection opened, but the port on the other side is not an HTTP proxy; most likely you typed the SOCKS5 port (step 5).

## Common mistakes

- **Resetting the modem or calling the internet provider.** If a phone on the same network gets online, the problem is not the line but the computer's proxy setting.
- **Deleting browser history and cookies.** This error appears before the site is reached; the deleted data does not change the outcome, it only signs you out of your sessions.
- **Looking only at Windows and forgetting Firefox.** If Firefox was left on **Manual proxy configuration**, the error continues even with the Windows setting off.
- **Turning the setting off without uninstalling the program.** If the program that writes the setting is still there, it writes it again on the next start.
- **Typing SOCKS5 details into the Windows proxy box.** That box expects an HTTP proxy.
- **Forcing the setting on a work computer.** The setting comes back through policy, and in the meantime your access to internal systems may break as well.

## Decision guide

| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You never set up a proxy and no site opens | Turn off the **Use a proxy server** switch in Windows |
| You turned it off and it came back the next day | Review extensions and installed programs, run a security scan |
| The address starts with `127.0.0.1` | Find the program that writes the setting: a VPN, a filter or an ad blocker |
| It shows an outside address you do not recognise | Turn the setting off, run a full scan, review your passwords |
| The error is only in Firefox | Select **No proxy** in the **Connection Settings** window |
| The error is only in Telegram or in a game | Look at that program's own proxy setting |
| You bought a proxy and get `ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED` | Compare the address, port and plan expiry with the dashboard; try from another network |
| You bought a proxy and get `ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED` | Check the password or the IP whitelist, and the port that matches the proxy type |
| Work or school computer | Write to the IT team without touching the setting |

## Frequently asked questions

### Does a proxy error mean my internet is broken?

No. Your internet line works, but the browser has been told to take every request to an intermediary and that intermediary does not answer. Another device on the same network getting online is the easiest proof.

### I have never used a proxy, so who switched this setting on?

Most of the time a VPN, a "site opener" program, a browser extension or filtering software switches it on and fails to restore it when it closes. Less often malware does. If the address in the setting starts with `127.0.0.1`, the source is a program on your computer.

### What is the difference between ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED and ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED?

The first says the browser could not connect to the proxy server at all; the second says it connected, but the proxy did not set up the tunnel to the site. With the first you check the address, the port and whether the server is up; with the second you check the credentials and the proxy type.

### Does turning the proxy setting off break anything?

On a home computer it does not; your connection goes straight to the internet. On a work computer, ask the IT team before you turn it off.

### Where should I look if the error appears on my phone?

At the proxy line in the details of the Wi-Fi network you are connected to. On phones the proxy is kept separately for each Wi-Fi network and is not used on mobile data; that is why the error may appear at home and not outside.

### My proxy worked yesterday and gives this error today. Why?

The three most common causes: the plan has expired, you use IP whitelisting and the IP address of your home internet has changed, or the provider has a temporary outage. You can see the first two in the dashboard; for the third, send the address, the port and the error text to your provider's support team.

## Summary

"Proxy server is not responding", "There is something wrong with the proxy server, or the address is incorrect" and Firefox's "The proxy server is refusing connections" describe the same situation: a proxy setting is on in the device and that address does not answer. If you do not use a proxy, turn off the switch on the Windows **Proxy** page; if the setting comes back, find the program or extension that writes it and run a security scan. If you do use a proxy, the error code shows the way: `ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED` points to the address, the port and the expiry date, `ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED` to the credentials and the proxy type. If the error appears in a single program, the setting is inside that program. You can find the proxy types and which one is used for which job on [our proxy page](/proxy).