Proxies can be used for various purposes beyond privacy. The best part is that there are different proxies for different needs, making it a flexible and reliable solution. However, these advantages also bring in a few disadvantages.
This is because proxies are switched between the tasks, and manually entering proxy details and configuring settings can be difficult. Plus, you also have to keep track of the credentials, as they can vary if you select proxies from different providers.
A proxy management tool is the best solution to address these issues. Our data suggests that FoxyProxy is one of the best solutions for managing multiple proxies without the hassle.
Keeping these in mind, we have built a guide for beginners looking to set up proxy management for the first time with FoxyProxy. You can use this to configure FoxyProxy for Chrome & Firefox and manage your proxies efficiently.
What is FoxyProxy?
Before you choose FoxyProxy as your proxy management tool, it is important to understand what it is capable of. To begin with, it is an open-source tool, meaning you can use your proxies without needing a paid account.
FoxyProxy, as the proxy management tool, plays a key role in simplifying the proxy connections on the browser. Unlike built-in proxy settings, it is more flexible, allowing auto-switching between proxies without manual configuration.
The below core features come in handy with proxy management:
- Easy Proxy Switching: You can instantly change between multiple proxies using the color-coded icons, making it effortless to manage connections.
- Proxy Rules by URL: Automatically assign specific proxies for certain websites using URL patterns, this way, you can reduce the need for manual switching.
- Per-Tab Proxy Configuration: The best part of this feature is that you can assign different proxies to different browser tabs. While the limit is four proxies on four tabs, it is still beneficial to run them simultaneously for multitasking.
- Import & Export Settings: You can save and transfer proxy configurations across different devices or share them with others for a consistent browsing setup.
- Custom Labels & Colors: Organize your proxies easily by assigning country flags or colors. Using this capability, you can easily identify which one is active.
- Incognito Mode Support: Select a specific proxy to use only in private browsing, giving you control over which sessions go through a proxy.
- Pattern Matching & Wildcards: Set up rules using wildcards or regular expressions to automate proxy use based on website addresses. You get an inbuilt pattern tester to ease the process.
- WebRTC Control: With FoxyProxy, you can enable or disable WebRTC directly within the extension to prevent websites from detecting your real IP address.
- Built-in Help & Predefined Configurations: FoxyProxy includes quick setup options for Tor, Privoxy, and Psiphon. These make it easier for quick setup without getting into the hassle.
With a quick heads-up of what FoxyProxy is and its capabilities, let's proceed further with its installation.
Installing the FoxyProxy Extension
Proxy Management tools come in different forms, and FoxyProxy is available as an extension. It is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and a few Chromium-based browsers. As it is often used with Chrome and Firefox, we will present the installation for both.
Downloading and Installing FoxyProxy for Chrome
1. Install Chrome if you haven’t already. Once done, set up your profile and visit the Chrome Web Store.
2. In the search bar provided, look for FoxyProxy and click on the first result. If you’re having trouble finding it, here is the link - FoxyProxy Chrome Extension.
3. After the FoxyProxy extension page is loaded, click the “Add to Chrome” button to download and install the extension successfully.
Downloading and Installing FoxyProxy for Firefox
1. If you haven’t already, install Firefox. After successful installation, navigate to the Firefox Browser Add-ons page.
2. Now, navigate to the search and look for FoxyProxy. From the results, choose FoxyProxy Standard. If you’re having trouble finding it, here is the link to the FoxyProxy Firefox extension.
3. Similar to Chrome, Firefox has an “Add to Firefox” button, which downloads and installs FoxyProxy on Firefox.
Important: What is the difference between FoxyProxy Standard and FoxyProxy Basic? Confused between both? Based on our implemented research, the only difference noticed is the Pattern Tester feature is not included in the Basic version.
Configuring FoxyProxy on Chrome and Firefox
Our data suggests that the FoxyProxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox were different before. However, the current version of FoxyProxy is the same on both. Hence, we will demonstrate the FoxyProxy configuration on Chrome with Ping Proxies, which is the same on Firefox.
Step 1: Access FoxyProxy Options
Before we start, navigate to the Extensions icon at the top of the browser and click on it. Now, pin the FoxyProxy extension, as you have to access it multiple times. Doing this lets you access FoxyProxy without the additional step.
After the FoxyProxy extension is added, you will notice that it is displayed next to the extension icon. Next, click on it to open the FoxyProxy extension and then select Options.
Step 2: Manage FoxyProxy Options
1. With the FoxyProxy options loaded, navigate to the Proxies tab and click on it.
2. Once the proxy tab is open, find the Add button and click on it to add the proxy.
3. By doing so, you will find different fields, and adding info for each lets you add the proxy to FoxyProxy.
Step 3: Add Proxies to Foxy Proxy
Adding a proxy varies based on its type in FoxyProxy. While this isn’t significant, those new might find it confusing. To make it easier, we will include steps for residential (sticky/rotating), data center, and static residential proxies with Ping Proxies.
Add Residential Proxies to FoxyProxy
1. Log in with your Ping Proxies credentials, and you’ll be greeted with the dashboard. Navigate to the My Proxies section in the left quick access tab and click on Residential.
2. Doing so opens the Residential Proxies tab with the configurator loaded. Start by selecting the residential proxy type, followed by country, city, ISP/ASN, and quantity. Importantly, you should only select city and ASN if you need very specific targeting, as it can lead to fewer available proxies and worse performance. Once done, click on the Generate button to generate a new proxy.
3. Now, you will have the proxy list updated, and the new proxy generated is displayed on the right.
4. Here’s the breakdown of the proxy generated. Understanding this is crucial to enter the details in FoxyProxy.
Example: residential.pingproxies.com:8523:123_xyz_c_us_s_NOTKR0UOC65RI6H5:abc123
All proxies generated follow the structure - (hostname:port_number:username_location:password)
Find it confusing? Here’s the breakdown of the example relating to the structure.
- Hostname: residential.pingproxies.com
- Port number: 8523
- Username & Location: 123_xyz_c_us_s_NOTKR0UOC65RI6H5
- Password: abc123
Note: In the case of sticky proxies, make sure to include the location within the username to route you to the correct location and keep it static.
5. Now that you have everything needed, fill in this information in the Add Proxy fields of the Foxy Proxy, as shown below. After the details are entered, click on Save.
Note: The residential proxies of Ping Proxies are HTTP and SOCKS5 compatible. The sticky proxies last 24 hours before they expire, and the rotating proxies automatically rotate IP address on every request.
6. After the proxy details are saved, click on the Ping Proxies icon next to the extension icon. You will find the proxy that you added is updated in the list, and clicking on it connects you to the proxy.
Add Static Proxies to FoxyProxy
Adding Ping Proxies static proxies is comparatively easier than residential proxies. Here are the steps for it.
1. Sign in with your Ping Proxies credentials to access the dashboard. In the My Proxies section on the left, click on the Static Proxies option associated with it.
2. If you have purchased data center and static residential proxies with us, you will find them added to the Static Proxy List, as shown below.
3. Unlike residential proxies, you don’t have to analyze the generated proxy. All details that need to be entered in FoxyProxy, like hostname, port, etc, are mentioned. Simply, copy and paste in respective fields in the Add Proxy of FoxyProxy.
Note: Unlike residential proxies, static proxies don’t come with a hostname. Instead, you need to enter the IP address provided in the hostname field.
4. After entering the details, click the Save button. Now, navigate to the Ping Proxies icon and click on it. The static proxy you added will be updated in the list, and clicking on it will connect you to the proxy.
Validate your Proxy Connection
Once you have successfully established a connection to the proxy you added, your IP address changes. The easiest way to validate your proxy connection is to visit websites like whatismyip and verify the IP and location.
If you do it right, your public IP and location are replaced with those of the proxy you connected.
Advanced Features of FoxyProxy
Most proxy management tools have unique offerings up their sleeve. Based on our implemented research, FoxyProxy does include a few. Here are the most reliable ones out of all.
Global Exclude
You might not want to proxy with all your hosts, and enabling and disabling the proxy every time could be a hassle. That’s where FoxyProxy’s Global Exclude comes in, which lets you create a list of websites. These websites always load using your regular internet connection instead, even when a proxy is active, successfully bypassing it.
Pattern Tester
FoxyProxy’s Pattern Tester lets you create rules which gives you the flexibility to control when a proxy should be used. Instead of manually switching proxies for different websites, you can use this feature to set up whitelists (sites that should go through a proxy) and blacklists (sites that should bypass it).
The best part is that the patterns can be applied using wildcards or regular expressions, making proxy management more flexible and automated.
Bulk Proxy Import
While adding a proxy to FoxyProxy is straightforward, it could turn inefficient if you continue to follow the manual approach of adding each proxy. To address this issue and keep the user from the tiresome process, FoxyProxy includes bulk proxy import.
The best part is that you get to import from FoxyProxy account, URL, Proxy list, and even from older versions.
Ping Proxies proxy list import works seamlessly with Foxy Proxy, it auto-fills all the details for you, and all you need to do is one-click on the respective proxy to connect.
Troubleshooting Common FoxyProxy Issues
When working with FoxyProxy, you tend to come across a few issues. But worry not, as most are arguably easy to fix, here is what to look out for.
- Web pages aren’t loading correctly: You might have experienced a few pages not working well with the proxy, be it failing to load or not updating with proxies. In this scenario, clear your browser cache, as it might be the reason for conflicts.
- Wrong Google location for your IP: Geolocation databases aren’t always accurate, and there’s a high possibility for inaccurate location. Always check your IP on multiple lookup services before proceeding with a task.
- Poor speeds: If your internet speeds have fallen off drastically, it might be due to connections to distant servers. Manually selecting a proxy location closest to yours helps increase speeds significantly.
- Proxy isn't working after setup: FoxyProxy won’t notify you if your username or password is wrong. Make sure you’re entering the correct credentials. Also, double-check that the hostname, proxy type, and port are entered correctly. These small mistakes often go unnoticed, causing connection issues.
Wrapping Up
While FoxyProxy is a great proxy management tool and is reliable with added features and customization, it falls behind compared to the latest alternatives. However, unlike those that are feature-loaded, it is completely free and supports all proxy providers, giving you the flexibility to add proxies of your choice.
Ping Proxies are one of the best proxies to use with FoxyProxy. It offers complete integration, and setting up a proxy is instant. Plus, all proxies are legal and ethically sourced, making it a risk-free choice.
