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ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED means your browser could not connect through the proxy it was configured to use. The proxy may be unreachable, or your device may have an incorrect or outdated proxy setting. It does not, by itself, prove that your internet connection is down.
What ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED means
A proxy sits between your browser and the websites it contacts. When the browser is configured to use one but cannot reach it, requests routed through that proxy can fail. The Chromium project documents an unreachable proxy as a direct trigger for ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED: Chromium proxy documentation.
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The message identifies a failed route through a proxy, not the precise reason for the failure. The proxy could be offline, its address or port could be wrong, or the device could be using a proxy configuration that is no longer appropriate. Chrome’s troubleshooting experience can also vary by operating system and management policy.
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Which proxy setup might be involved?
On Windows 10 and Windows 11, proxy settings can come from automatic detection, a setup script, or manually entered server details, according to Microsoft’s Windows proxy guidance.
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- Automatic detection: Windows attempts to detect proxy settings for the network.
- Setup script: Windows uses a configured script to obtain proxy settings. A stale or incorrect script address can send traffic to a proxy the device cannot reach.
- Manual proxy: The device uses a specified server and port. An incorrect or outdated address can prevent the browser from connecting.
On a company or school device, the proxy may be required. If you do not know the correct script address or manual server details, Microsoft advises contacting your organization’s IT department rather than guessing or disabling the setting.
How to troubleshoot the error safely
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Check whether the problem is limited to one browser
Try another browser or an internet-connected app. If other apps can get online while one browser shows the error, investigate that browser’s proxy route first. This is a useful clue, not proof of a particular cause.
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Review Windows proxy settings
On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Review the automatic detection, setup script, and manual proxy sections. Compare any configured details with the settings expected for your current network.
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Confirm whether the proxy is required
If this is a work or school device, or you recognize an organization proxy, ask IT to confirm the intended configuration before changing or turning it off. A required proxy may be necessary for the device to access the network.
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Correct an unexpected setting only when you understand it
If you are sure the device should not use a proxy, look for an unexpected manual server or setup script. Change only settings you understand, then restart the browser and try again. Avoid registry edits or disabling organizational controls based on generic advice.
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Check software and Chrome policy if the settings look right
A VPN, security application, browser extension, or managed policy can be worth checking, but the error alone does not establish that any of them caused it. Error-specific guidance in the Chrome Community suggests checking VPN or security software, extensions, and
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Give an administrator useful details if the error persists
Report the device operating system, browser, network, whether other apps can get online, whether the device is organization-managed, and which proxy mode is configured. An administrator can confirm the intended settings and investigate the managed network.
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How to tell this apart from a proxy certificate error
A workplace proxy that intercepts HTTPS traffic can cause Chrome to show NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID if its certificate is missing or not installed, according to Google’s guidance on Chrome and proxy certificates. That is a certificate error, distinct from ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED, which indicates that the browser could not connect through its configured proxy.
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What the error does—and does not—tell you
- It points to a failure connecting through a configured proxy; Chromium identifies an unreachable proxy as one direct trigger.
- It does not establish whether the proxy is down, its settings are incorrect, or software or policy is affecting the route.
- It does not prove that your entire internet connection is unavailable.
- The Windows steps above are documented for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The sources cited here do not establish equivalent platform-specific steps for macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or mobile devices.
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