Practical Experience Guide

This troubleshooting guide has been developed from thousands of real-world proxy testing scenarios and user support cases.

How to Check if Your Proxy is Working

Frustrated with a proxy that seems broken? Follow this simple 3-step process to diagnose and fix common proxy issues quickly.

5 min read

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What Does "Working" Actually Mean? The 4 Key Checks

Before diving into testing methods, it's important to understand that "working" means different things depending on your needs. A proxy must pass all four of these checks to be considered fully functional:

1. Connectivity: Can you connect to it?

The most basic test: does your browser or application successfully establish a connection to the proxy server?

Signs of good connectivity:

  • • No connection timeout errors
  • • Websites load (even if slowly)
  • • No "proxy server refusing connections" messages

2. Anonymity: Is it hiding your real IP?

The proxy should mask your real IP address and show a different one to websites you visit.

Anonymity verification:

  • • Your IP address appears different
  • • Geographic location shows proxy's location
  • • ISP information reflects proxy provider

3. Location: Is it in the country it claims to be?

Many users need proxies from specific countries. Verify the proxy's actual geographic location matches what was advertised.

Location verification:

  • • IP geolocation shows correct country
  • • Time zone matches expected region
  • • Local websites accessible as expected

4. Speed: Is it fast enough for your task?

Connection speed can vary dramatically between proxies. Test whether performance meets your specific requirements.

Speed considerations:

  • • Web browsing: 1-5 Mbps acceptable
  • • Streaming: 10+ Mbps recommended
  • • File downloads: Test actual download speeds

Pro Tip

Free proxies often fail multiple checks. Don't get discouraged if the first proxy you try doesn't work perfectly—this is completely normal!

The Easiest Method: Use Our Free Online Tool

The fastest and most reliable way to check a proxy is using a dedicated tool. Our free proxy checker can perform all four checks above with just one click, saving you time and providing comprehensive results.

Free Proxy Checker Tool

Test any proxy in seconds with our automated checker. Get instant results for connectivity, anonymity, location, and speed.

Test Your Proxy Now
1

Enter Proxy Details

Simply input the IP address, port, and proxy type (HTTP, SOCKS4, SOCKS5)

2

Automatic Testing

Our tool runs all four checks simultaneously and provides detailed results

3

Get Results

Receive instant feedback on connectivity, anonymity, location, and speed

The Manual 3-Step Verification Process

If you prefer to test manually or want to understand the process better, follow these three steps. This method gives you more control and helps you learn how proxy testing works.

Step 1: Configure the Proxy in Your Browser

Before you can test a proxy, you need to configure it in your browser or application. The exact steps vary by browser, but the concept is the same.

What You'll Need:

  • • Proxy IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
  • • Port number (e.g., 8080, 3128, 1080)
  • • Proxy type (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5)
  • • Username and password (if required)
Chrome/Edge
  1. 1. Go to Settings → Advanced → System
  2. 2. Click "Open your computer's proxy settings"
  3. 3. Configure proxy server details
Firefox
  1. 1. Go to Settings → Network Settings
  2. 2. Select "Manual proxy configuration"
  3. 3. Enter proxy details and save

Need detailed setup instructions? Check our proxy configuration guide →

Step 2: Check Your IP Address

Once the proxy is configured, verify that it's actually working by checking if your IP address has changed.

Before Connecting to Proxy:

First, check your real IP address without the proxy:

Check My Real IP Address

After Connecting to Proxy:

Now check your IP again with the proxy active. It should be different:

  • • IP Address: Should match the proxy server's IP
  • • Location: Should show the proxy's location
  • • ISP: Should show the proxy provider's name

Important Check

If your IP address hasn't changed, the proxy isn't working properly. Double-check your configuration or try a different proxy.

Step 3: Test a Target Website

The final test is to actually use the proxy for your intended purpose. This reveals issues that might not show up in basic connectivity tests.

Common Test Scenarios:

  • • Visit geo-blocked streaming sites
  • • Access region-restricted content
  • • Browse normally blocked websites
  • • Test download speeds with files

Performance Indicators:

  • ✓ Pages load without errors
  • ✓ Acceptable loading speeds
  • ✓ No connection timeouts
  • ✓ Media content plays normally

Testing Tip

Try multiple websites, not just one. Some proxies work with certain sites but fail with others due to IP blocking or filtering.

Troubleshooting: What to Do if It's Still Not Working

Don't worry if your proxy isn't working on the first try. This is extremely common with free proxies. Here are the most effective troubleshooting steps, listed by success rate:

1

Double-Check the IP and Port for Typos

The most common cause of proxy failures is simple typos in the IP address or port number.

Common mistakes:

  • • Mixing up numbers (192.168.1.100 vs 192.168.1.101)
  • • Wrong port (8080 vs 8088)
  • • Extra spaces or characters
  • • Wrong proxy type selected (HTTP vs SOCKS5)
2

The Proxy Server is Offline or Overloaded

This is very common with free proxies. Free proxy servers frequently go offline due to high usage, maintenance issues, or being shut down.

Signs of server issues:

  • • "Connection refused" errors
  • • Long timeouts before failure
  • • Intermittent connectivity
  • • Very slow response times
3

The Website Has Blocked This Proxy's IP

Popular websites actively block known proxy IPs to prevent unauthorized access or circumvention of geo-restrictions.

Blocking indicators:

  • • Access denied messages
  • • Unusual CAPTCHA challenges
  • • Redirects to error pages
  • • Content not loading properly
4

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

  • • Try different browsers
  • • Disable antivirus/firewall temporarily
  • • Check your internet connection
  • • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • • Test with different websites
  • • Try HTTP instead of HTTPS
  • • Restart your router/modem
  • • Wait and try again later

The Solution: Try Another Proxy

The fastest solution is usually the simplest: try another proxy. With free proxies, it's normal to test several before finding one that works well for your needs.

Get a New Proxy from Our Live List

Related Resources

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