Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
VPN and proxy settings are separate in Windows 10. To disconnect a built-in VPN, open Settings > Network & Internet > VPN and select Disconnect. To disable a Windows proxy, open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and turn off the active proxy options. A third-party VPN app, browser extension, or WinHTTP proxy may require separate steps.
Identify what is routing your traffic
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A VPN name under Windows VPN settings | Built-in Windows VPN profile | Disconnect or remove the profile |
| A VPN provider icon near the clock | Third-party VPN application | Disconnect it and disable auto-connect |
| Use a proxy server is enabled | Manual Windows proxy | Turn off the manual proxy |
| Use setup script is enabled | PAC or proxy setup script | Disable it only if it is not required by work or school |
| Only one browser is affected | Browser extension or browser-specific setting | Disable the extension and check that browser’s proxy settings |
| Windows Update or desktop apps still fail | WinHTTP proxy | Check WinHTTP from an administrator Command Prompt |
If this is an employer- or school-managed computer, ask IT before changing a VPN, proxy script, or automatic proxy-detection setting. These may be required for authentication, filtering, internal websites, or private network access.
Disconnect a built-in Windows VPN
Disconnecting is temporary. It ends the current VPN session but normally leaves the saved profile and credentials on the computer.
From the taskbar
- Select the Network icon in the taskbar.
- Select the connected VPN.
- Select Disconnect.
From Settings
- Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet > VPN.
- Select the VPN profile.
- Select Disconnect.
Microsoft documents this Windows VPN location in its Windows VPN instructions.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Remove a built-in VPN profile
If you no longer want the saved Windows VPN connection:
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > VPN.
- Select the VPN profile.
- Choose Remove and confirm if prompted.
Removing a Windows profile does not uninstall a separate VPN provider application. Provider software may still have virtual adapters, DNS filtering, startup services, or a kill switch installed.
Disable a third-party VPN application
- Open the VPN app from the notification area or Start menu.
- Select Disconnect, Stop, or the equivalent option.
- Turn off Auto-connect, Launch at startup, Always-on VPN, or similar settings if you want it to remain disconnected.
- Exit the app if it continues managing traffic after disconnecting.
- If it starts again after reboot, check the provider’s startup settings and Task Manager > Startup.
A kill switch can intentionally block internet access when the VPN is disconnected. Disable the kill switch only if you understand that traffic may then use the ordinary network connection. Do not uninstall a VPN that your employer, school, security product, or private network requires.
Recommended Free Tools
Turn off the Windows 10 proxy
- Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
- Under Automatic proxy setup, review Automatically detect settings.
- Turn off Use setup script if the script is not required.
- Under Manual proxy setup, turn off Use a proxy server.
- Close Settings and test the connection.
Windows supports automatic detection, setup scripts, and manual proxy configuration in this area. See Microsoft’s proxy instructions for the relevant settings.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
Do not automatically disable Automatically detect settings on a managed network. On a personal home PC, turning it off temporarily can help diagnose unwanted proxy detection. If internal sites or sign-in services stop working, restore the setting and contact the network administrator.
Check proxy settings assigned to a VPN
Windows can store proxy settings specifically for an individual VPN connection. These are separate from the general proxy settings:
Settings > Network & Internet > VPN > select the VPN > Advanced options
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsReview and disable the VPN-specific proxy configuration only when it is not required by the network. Turning off the general manual proxy does not necessarily remove a proxy assigned to a VPN profile.
Rank #3
- New-Gen WiFi Standard – WiFi 6(802.11ax) standard supporting MU-MIMO and OFDMA technology for better efficiency and throughput.Antenna : External antenna x 4. Processor : Dual-core (4 VPE). Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 12 V with max. 1.5A current.
- Ultra-fast WiFi Speed – RT-AX1800S supports 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency – Supporting not only MU-MIMO but also OFDMA technique to efficiently allocate channels, communicate with multiple devices simultaneously
- 5 Gigabit ports – One Gigabit WAN port and four Gigabit LAN ports, 10X faster than 100–Base T Ethernet.
- Commercial-grade Security Anywhere – Protect your home network with AiProtection Classic, powered by Trend Micro. And when away from home, ASUS Instant Guard gives you a one-click secure VPN.
Check legacy Internet Options
Some older Windows applications still consult Internet Options. Use this as an advanced check after reviewing the main Proxy page:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Enter
inetcpl.cpland press Enter. - Open the Connections tab and select LAN settings.
- Review Automatically detect settings and Use automatic configuration script.
- Clear Use a proxy server for your LAN if it is not required.
- Select OK, then Apply.
Reset the WinHTTP proxy
Windows services and some desktop applications use WinHTTP rather than the ordinary user-facing proxy settings. Open Command Prompt as administrator and check the current configuration:
netsh winhttp show proxyIf an unwanted WinHTTP proxy is configured and your organization does not require it, reset it:
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
netsh winhttp reset proxyA successful reset should report direct access or no configured proxy. Microsoft documents these commands in the netsh winhttp reference. This affects WinHTTP only; it does not disconnect a VPN app, disable a browser extension, or change every Windows proxy setting.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Check browser-only VPNs and proxies
If only one browser is affected, inspect its extensions and settings. Disable VPN, proxy, privacy, filtering, or traffic-routing extensions, then test another browser. Private browsing does not automatically disable extensions or a browser’s proxy configuration.
A browser extension can continue routing browser traffic even after you disconnect a Windows VPN. Conversely, a Windows-level proxy or VPN can affect multiple browsers and desktop applications.
Verify that the VPN or proxy is disabled
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > VPN and confirm the profile is not connected.
- Check the taskbar for a VPN connection indicator.
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy and confirm the relevant options are off.
- Run
netsh winhttp show proxyif Windows services or desktop applications remain affected. - Test several websites and the application that originally failed.
- If useful, compare your public IP address before and after disconnecting.
A changed public IP does not prove that every VPN or proxy is disabled. Split tunneling, browser extensions, DNS filtering, IPv6 routing, and application-specific rules can produce different results.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchIf the proxy keeps turning itself on
Persistent changes do not automatically mean malware. Common causes include VPN software, antivirus web shields, parental-control tools, filtering applications, browser extensions, PAC files, startup items, scheduled tasks, and work or school policies.
Best Value
- Next-Gen Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 Speeds: 2402 Mbps on 5 GHz and 574 Mbps on 2.4 GHz bands ensure smoother streaming and faster downloads; support VPN server and VPN client¹
- A More Responsive Experience: Enjoy smooth gaming, video streaming, and live feeds simultaneously. OFDMA makes your Wi-Fi stronger by allowing multiple clients to share one band at the same time, cutting latency and jitter.²
- Expanded Wi-Fi Coverage: 4 high-gain external antennas and Beamforming technology combine to extend strong, reliable, Wi-Fi throughout your home.
- Improved Battery Life: Target Wake Time helps your devices to communicate efficiently while consuming less power.
- Improved Cooling Design: No heat ups, no throttles. A larger heat sink and redefined case design cools the WiFi 6 system and enables your network to stay at top speeds in more versatile environments.
- Record the proxy address and port before clearing the setting.
- Check recently installed VPN, antivirus, filtering, and parental-control software.
- Temporarily disable legitimate networking software’s auto-start features for diagnosis.
- Check Settings > Accounts > Access work or school for device management.
- Run a scan with Windows Security and any organization-approved security tools.
- Contact IT if a policy restores the setting.
Avoid registry edits until you know which program or policy is responsible. Changing the registry can hide the cause or damage managed networking settings.
If disabling the VPN removes internet access
First reconnect the VPN temporarily if that restores access. Then check the VPN’s kill switch, auto-connect, DNS protection, and adapter settings. A corporate VPN or proxy may also be the only permitted route to the internet or internal resources.
Next, restart the PC and reconnect Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Use Windows’ built-in network troubleshooting tools before considering a reset.
Use Network reset only as a last resort
Open Start > Settings > Network & Internet > Status > Network reset. This restores Windows networking defaults, but it can remove installed network adapters and require VPN software or virtual switches to be configured again. It may also disrupt Hyper-V, Docker, VMware, VirtualBox, and similar virtual networking tools. Microsoft explains these consequences in its Windows network troubleshooting guidance.
VPN security after disconnecting
Disabling a VPN is not automatically a security improvement or a security failure. A VPN may help protect a connection on an untrusted public network or provide access to a work network, while disconnecting may return traffic to your ordinary local network and ISP. The result depends on the VPN provider, protocol, encryption, DNS handling, and configuration. Microsoft describes VPNs as a way to help secure connections and access private networks in its VPN guidance.
Windows 10 support notice
Windows 10 reached the end of regular Microsoft support on October 14, 2025. Eligible devices enrolled in Microsoft’s consumer Extended Security Updates program may receive security updates through October 13, 2026. If your hardware supports it, plan to upgrade to Windows 11 rather than relying indefinitely on an unsupported Windows 10 installation. See Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support information.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
