Updated for Firefox 118+ (August 2025)

This guide has been tested with the latest Firefox versions and includes current interface screenshots for maximum accuracy.

How to Set Up a Proxy on Firefox

Configure proxy settings in Mozilla Firefox with this detailed, screenshot-guided tutorial. Firefox offers more granular proxy control than most browsers.

5 min read

Quick Navigation

What You'll Need Before You Begin

Firefox has its own proxy settings separate from your operating system, giving you more control but requiring specific configuration steps. Here's what you need to gather first:

Required Proxy Information:

1

Working Proxy IP Address

Example: 185.199.229.156 or proxy-server.example.com

2

Corresponding Port Number

Common ports: 8080, 3128, 1080, 80, 8888

3

Proxy Type (Optional)

HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5 (Firefox supports all types)

🎯 Need a Free Proxy?

You can get a working proxy IP address from our constantly updated free proxy list.

Browse Free Proxies

Step-by-Step Configuration Guide (with Screenshots)

Firefox provides comprehensive proxy configuration options that work independently of your system settings. This gives you more control and flexibility compared to browsers that rely on system-wide proxy settings.

1

Open Firefox Settings

Click the hamburger menu (☰) in the top-right corner of Firefox, then click Settings.

Method 1: Menu Navigation

  1. 1. Click the ☰ (hamburger) menu
  2. 2. Select "Settings" from the dropdown

Method 2: Direct Access

Type about:preferences in the address bar

💡 Quick Tip:

The Firefox settings page should open in a new tab with various categories on the left side.

2

Find Network Settings

Scroll down in the General tab until you find the Network Settings section, then click the Settings... button.

What to Look For:

  • • You'll see a section labeled "Network Settings"
  • • There will be text about "Configure how Firefox connects to the Internet"
  • • Click the gray "Settings..." button next to this text

✅ Expected Result:

A new "Connection Settings" dialog window should appear.

3

Configure Manual Proxy

In the Connection Settings dialog, select "Manual proxy configuration" and enter your proxy details.

Configuration Steps:

  1. 1 Select the "Manual proxy configuration" radio button
  2. 2 In the HTTP Proxy field, enter your proxy IP address
  3. 3 In the Port field (next to HTTP Proxy), enter the port number
  4. 4 Check "Use this proxy server for all protocols" (recommended for beginners)

Example Configuration:

HTTP Proxy:

185.199.229.156

Port:

8080
4

Advanced Options (Optional)

Firefox offers advanced proxy options that most users can skip, but understanding them can be helpful for specific use cases.

SOCKS Proxy (Advanced)

  • • Use if your proxy specifically supports SOCKS
  • • SOCKS5 offers better performance and security
  • • Leave HTTP fields empty if using SOCKS

DNS Settings

  • • "Proxy DNS when using SOCKS v5" for more privacy
  • • Prevents DNS leaks with SOCKS5 proxies
  • • Usually checked by default
5

Save and Verify

Click OK to save your proxy settings, then test the connection to ensure everything works correctly.

Verification Process:

  1. 1 Click OK in the Connection Settings dialog
  2. 2 Open a new Firefox tab
  3. 3 Visit our IP address checker
  4. 4 Confirm your IP address has changed to the proxy's IP

How to Turn Off the Proxy

When you finish using the proxy, it's important to disable it to restore normal browsing speed and access. Firefox makes this simple:

Quick Disable Method:

  1. 1 Go back to Firefox Settings → General → Network Settings
  2. 2 Click the "Settings..." button again
  3. 3 Select "Use system proxy settings" or "No proxy"
  4. 4 Click OK to save changes

⚠️ Important:

Forgetting to disable the proxy can result in slow browsing or inability to access certain websites when the proxy goes offline.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Firefox's independent proxy settings can sometimes lead to unique issues. Here are solutions to the most common problems:

"I can't connect to the internet after setup."

This usually means the proxy server is not responding or your configuration has errors. Firefox-specific solutions:

Firefox-Specific Troubleshooting:

  • • Check proxy type mismatch: If you selected HTTP but need SOCKS, or vice versa
  • • Verify "Use this proxy for all protocols" is checked for simple setups
  • • Try clearing the "No proxy for" field if it contains entries
  • • Temporarily switch to "No proxy" to test if Firefox itself works

🛠️ Recommended Solution:

Use our proxy checker tool to verify the proxy is working before configuring Firefox. This saves troubleshooting time.

"Some websites still know my location."

Firefox has some unique privacy features that can affect proxy effectiveness. Here's how to maximize anonymity:

Firefox-Specific Privacy Issues:

  • •
    WebRTC IP Leak: Go to about:config → Search for "webrtc" → Set media.peerconnection.enabled to false
  • •
    DNS Over HTTPS (DoH): May bypass proxy DNS. Disable in Settings → General → Network Settings → DNS over HTTPS
  • •
    Proxy Type Issues: Transparent proxies don't hide your IP. Use elite proxies for better anonymity.

🔒 Firefox Privacy Enhancement:

Firefox's Enhanced Tracking Protection can help, but won't prevent IP detection. Use these tools:

Test Your Current IP Address
Understanding Proxy Anonymity Levels

Firefox vs. Chrome: Proxy Differences

Understanding why Firefox handles proxies differently can help prevent configuration issues:

Firefox Advantages:

  • • Independent proxy settings (doesn't affect other browsers)
  • • Built-in SOCKS proxy support
  • • Advanced DNS and authentication options
  • • Better privacy controls

Need Help with Other Browsers?

Related Resources

Browser Setup Guides

Proxy Lists & Testing