How to Configure Internet Explorer to Use a Proxy Server

ID: Q135982

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

You can configure Microsoft Internet Explorer to use a proxy server to connect to the Internet. A proxy server acts as a security barrier between your internal network and the Internet, keeping others on the Internet from accessing information on your internal network. This article describes how to configure Internet Explorer to use a proxy server over a Local Area Network (LAN) connection and lists the proxies that Internet Explorer supports.

MORE INFORMATION

Configuring Internet Explorer to Use a Proxy

To configure Internet Explorer to use a proxy over a LAN connection, follow the steps in the appropriate section.

Internet Explorer 5

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- 

   click Internet.
2. Click the Connections tab, click LAN Settings, and then click the 
   Use Proxy Server check box to select it.
3. In the Address box, type the appropriate proxy server information, 
   using the following format:

      http://<address>
4. Click Advanced, and then type the appropriate proxy settings in the 
   Servers area. Use the following syntax for the proxy settings:

      http://<address>:<port>

   where <address> is the Web address of the proxy server, and <port> is
   the port number assigned to the proxy server. For example, if the proxy
   server's address is "proxy.example.microsoft.com" and the port number
   is 80, the setting in the Proxy Server box should read:

      http://proxy.example.microsoft.com:80

   NOTE: If you use a backslash (\) instead of a slash (/) in the proxy
   server's address, the settings disappear from the Proxy Server box
   and Internet Explorer does not find the proxy server.

   If you are using the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your proxy
   server, make sure not to type leading zeros. For example, use
   130.25.0.1 instead of 130.025.000.001.

   If you do not know the Web address or port number of the proxy server,
   See your network administrator. Also, if there are any Web servers on
   the local network for which you want to bypass the proxy, type the
   appropriate host names in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.
   For example, if you do not want to use the proxy server to access the
   "example.com" Web server on your LAN, type "example.com" (without
   quotation marks) in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.

Internet Explorer 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95 and Windows NT

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- 

   click Internet.
2. Click the Connection tab, and then click the "Access the Internet using 
   a proxy server" check box to select it.
3. Click the Advanced button, and then type the appropriate proxy settings 
   in the Servers area. Use the following syntax for the proxy settings:

      http://<address>:<port>

   where <address> is the Web address of the proxy server, and <port> is
   the port number assigned to the proxy server. For example, if the proxy
   server's address is "proxy.example.microsoft.com" and the port number
   is 80, the setting in the Proxy Server box should read:

      http://proxy.example.microsoft.com:80

   NOTE: If you use a backslash (\) instead of a slash (/) in the proxy
   server's address, the settings disappear from the Proxy Server box
   and Internet Explorer does not find the proxy server.

   If you are using the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your proxy
   server, make sure not to type leading zeros. For example, use
   130.25.0.1 instead of 130.025.000.001.

   If you do not know the Web address or port number of the proxy server,
   See your network administrator. Also, if there are any Web servers on
   the local network for which you want to bypass the proxy, type the
   appropriate host names in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.
   For example, if you do not want to use the proxy server to access the
   "example.com" Web server on your LAN, type "example.com" (without
   quotation marks) in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 3.1

1. In Internet Explorer, click Internet Options on the View menu.

2. Click the Connection tab.

3. Click the Advanced button, and then type the appropriate proxy settings 

   in the Servers area. Use the following syntax for the proxy settings:

      http://<address>:<port>

   where <address> is the Web address of the proxy server, and <port> is
   the port number assigned to the proxy server. For example, if the proxy
   server's address is "proxy.example.microsoft.com" and the port number
   is 80, the setting in the Proxy Server box should read:

      http://proxy.example.microsoft.com:80

   NOTE: If you use a backslash (\) instead of a slash (/) in the proxy
   server's address, the settings disappear from the Proxy Server box
   and Internet Explorer does not find the proxy server.

   If you are using the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your proxy
   server, make sure not to type leading zeros. For example, use
   130.25.0.1 instead of 130.025.000.001.

   If you do not know the Web address or port number of the proxy server,
   See your network administrator. Also, if there are any Web servers on
   the local network for which you want to bypass the proxy, type the
   appropriate host names in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.
   For example, if you do not want to use the proxy server to access the
   "example.com" Web server on your LAN, type "example.com" (without
   quotation marks) in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.

Internet Explorer 3.0

1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point 

   to Internet Tools, and then click Get On The Internet to start the
   Internet Connection Wizard.
2. Click Next, click Manual, and then click Next to start the Internet 
   Setup Wizard.
3. Click Next, click Connect Using My Local Area Network, click Next, and 
   then follow the instructions in the remainder of the Internet Setup
   Wizard. Make sure to click the Use Proxy Server check box to select it
   when it appears and type the appropriate proxy settings in the Proxy
   Server box. Use the following syntax for the proxy settings:

      http://<address>:<port>

   where <address> is the Web address of the proxy server, and <port> is
   the port number assigned to the proxy server. For example, if the proxy
   server's address is "proxy.example.microsoft.com" and the port number
   is 80, the setting in the Proxy Server box should read:

      http://proxy.example.microsoft.com:80

   NOTE: If you use a backslash (\) instead of a slash (/) in the proxy
   server's address, the settings disappear from the Proxy Server box
   and Internet Explorer does not find the proxy server.

   If you are using the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your proxy
   server, make sure not to type leading zeros. For example, use
   130.25.0.1 instead of 130.025.000.001.

   If you do not know the Web address or port number of the proxy server,
   See your network administrator. Also, if there are any Web servers on
   the local network for which you want to bypass the proxy, type the
   appropriate host names in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.
   For example, if you do not want to use the proxy server to access the
   "example.com" Web server on your LAN, type "example.com" (without
   quotation marks) in the Don't Use Proxy For These Addresses box.

Internet Explorer 2.0

1. If you have not run the Internet Setup Wizard, click Start, point to 

   Programs, point to Accessories, point to Internet Tools, and then click
   Internet Setup Wizard. Follow the instructions in the Internet Setup
   Wizard, selecting the Direct LAN Connection option when you are
   prompted.
2. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double- 
   click Internet.
3. Click the Advanced tab, and then click the Use Proxy Server check box 
   to select it.
4. In the Proxy Server box, type the appropriate proxy settings. Use the 
   following syntax:

      http://<address>:<port>

   where <address> is the Web address of the proxy server and <port>
   is the port number assigned to the proxy server. For example, if the
   proxy server's address is "proxy.example.microsoft.com" and the port
   number is 80, the setting in the Proxy Server box should be:

      http://proxy.example.microsoft.com:80

   NOTE: If you use a backslash (\) instead of a slash (/) in the proxy
   server's address, the settings disappear from the Proxy Server box
   and Internet Explorer does not find the proxy server.

   If you do not know the Web address or port number of the proxy server,
   see your network administrator.

   If you are using the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the proxy
   server, make sure not to type leading zeros. For example, use
   130.25.0.1 instead of 130.025.000.001.
5. If there are any Web servers on the local network for which you want to 
   bypass the proxy, type the appropriate host names in the Bypass Proxy
   On box. For example, if you do not want to use the proxy server to
   access the "example.com" Web server on your LAN, type "example.com"
   (without quotation marks) in the Bypass Proxy On box.
6. Click OK.

Note that Internet Explorer 2.0 does not support different proxies for different Web types. For example, you cannot configure a different proxy for File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Web sites and Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) Web sites. However, Internet Explorer 3.0 does support different proxies for different Web types.

Proxies Supported by Internet Explorer 3.0

Internet Explorer 3.0 supports the following proxy servers:

Additional query words: 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 
Keywords          : kbenv msiew95 msiew31 msiew98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 20, 1999