Windows 10 and 11 proxy settings keep resetting: causes and fixes
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If your proxy settings on Windows 10 or Windows 11 keep resetting, something is almost certainly overwriting them. The usual suspects are VPN apps, network boosters or HTTPS debugging tools that restore old settings when they exit, Group Policy on a work computer, automatic proxy detection, and occasionally adware or malware. The fix is to identify what is writing the settings, remove or reconfigure it, and where possible switch to a way of using the proxy that does not depend on the system setting at all. This guide walks through each step.
Where Windows stores proxy settings
When you turn on a proxy in Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy, Windows writes it to your user registry key at HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings, using values such as ProxyEnable, ProxyServer and ProxyOverride. Any program running under your account can edit that key, so a single app writing back its old values is enough to wipe your setup.
Windows also keeps a separate WinHTTP proxy setting used by some system services. Check it with netsh winhttp show proxy. The two are independent, so sometimes you set one while the software you care about reads the other.
The usual culprits
| Culprit | What you notice | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| VPN apps | The proxy turns off whenever the VPN connects or disconnects | Do not run a VPN alongside, or set the proxy inside the browser instead |
| HTTPS debugging tools (Fiddler, Charles) | Proxy points to 127.0.0.1 or disappears when the tool closes | Disable the tool's system-wide capture option |
| Network boosters, ad blockers, security suites | Proxy changes to an unfamiliar localhost address | Review the app's network settings, uninstall if not needed |
| Company Group Policy | Settings are locked with a managed-by-your-organisation note | Ask IT; do not work around it |
| Auto-detect (WPAD) or a PAC script | Proxy changes depending on the network you join | Turn off auto-detect if unused and remove unknown scripts |
| Adware or malware | An unknown proxy appears though you installed nothing | Run a security scan and remove unfamiliar programs |
Step 1: check whether settings are managed
Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. If you see a note that some settings are managed by your organisation, or the controls are greyed out, the machine is under Group Policy or device management software. On a work computer this is the IT team's decision, so ask them instead of trying to get around it.
If you see that note on a personal machine, run gpresult /r in Command Prompt to see which policies apply. Some software and some malware set policies to lock proxy settings, which is a sign you should run a security scan.
Step 2: find the program that overwrites them
- Open Task Manager, go to Startup apps and temporarily disable network, VPN and booster tools, then restart and check whether the proxy survives.
- Re-enable them one at a time. Whichever one changes the proxy when it starts is the culprit.
- In the VPN or debugging tool, look for options like system proxy, capture traffic or set as system proxy and switch them off.
- Check browser extensions too: some proxy or VPN extensions in Edge and Chrome change the proxy the browser uses.
- If the proxy changes to an address you cannot link to any program, scan the machine with a security tool and remove software you do not recognise.
Step 3: clean up and set it again
Once the culprit is handled, return everything to a clean state and set the proxy once:
- Turn off Automatically detect settings and Use setup script unless you rely on a PAC script.
- Run
netsh winhttp reset proxyto clear an old WinHTTP proxy if you do not need it. - Turn on Use a proxy server, enter the IP and port, and leave the bypass list empty unless needed.
- When the browser asks for credentials, enter the proxy username and password. The Windows proxy settings page has no password field.
- Confirm with what is my IP, then restart and check again.
A sturdier approach: avoid the system proxy
The system proxy applies to everything on the machine, which is exactly why other programs keep touching it. If you only need a proxy for one browser or a few accounts, setting it where you actually use it is far more stable:
| Need | Better way to set the proxy |
|---|---|
| One browser through a proxy, others direct | An extension such as SwitchyOmega or Firefox's own settings |
| Many accounts, one IP each | An antidetect browser with one proxy per profile |
| Desktop app with no proxy option | Proxifier with per-app rules |
| The whole machine through one proxy | The system proxy, after dealing with the culprits above |
When you are done, turn the proxy off properly
A common follow-up question is why the computer lost internet after someone stopped using a proxy. The system proxy is still on, pointing at a proxy that has expired or is no longer used. When you no longer need it, follow how to turn off a proxy on Windows. The full setup walkthrough is in the Windows proxy setup guide, and if the browser has no connection after setup, read proxy connected but no internet.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Windows proxy turn off after every restart?
Usually a program that starts with Windows, such as a VPN or network tool, writes the old settings back. Disable startup apps one by one to find it.
The proxy settings are greyed out and say they are managed. Why?
The machine is under Group Policy or management software. On a work computer ask IT; on a personal one check with gpresult and run a security scan.
Does Windows save the proxy password?
The system proxy page only takes an IP and port. Your browser asks for the username and password the first time it connects.
Why does my proxy keep changing to 127.0.0.1?
A local program, often a debugging tool, VPN or security suite, is setting itself as the proxy. Turn that feature off or uninstall the program if you do not need it.
Can I avoid the system proxy altogether?
Yes. Use a proxy extension for one browser, an antidetect browser for multiple accounts, or Proxifier for desktop apps. Other programs rarely overwrite those.
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