Apply WinHTTP Advanced Proxy JSON at the Intended Scope
Use set advproxy settings-file with user or machine scope, and inspect that advanced policy rather than assuming a browser consumes it.
On a Windows installation exposing the advanced WinHTTP commands, save an intended fixed-user policy in winhttp-proxy.json:
{
"Proxy": "proxy.example:8080",
"ProxyBypass": "localhost;*.internal.example",
"AutoconfigUrl": "",
"AutoDetect": false
}Apply that file at the chosen scope:
netsh winhttp set advproxy setting-scope=user settings-file=winhttp-proxy.jsonUse the actual file and account. If this fixed policy is intended for permitted public-site requests, the HTTP proxy list supplies HTTP host and port candidates for Proxy; retain the required bypass rules. machine selects a different scope; it does not mean the current user's setting. The advanced fields can instead describe PAC or automatic discovery when that is the intended policy.
Inspect with show advproxy. The older fixed-proxy commands are another interface, so finding a setting there does not establish which policy the app uses.
This configures WinHTTP. A browser-specific policy, explicit application proxy or another networking stack may choose differently. Match the effective account and consuming client when checking the result.