Set a Proxy for Wi-Fi or Ethernet on a Mac
Choose the active macOS network service, enter an HTTP or SOCKS proxy IP, and restore its previous configuration afterward.
Choose the active network service first. Wi-Fi and Ethernet can keep different proxy configurations; editing Wi-Fi does not establish the route after you switch to Ethernet.
Open Apple menu → System Settings → Network → the active Wi-Fi or Ethernet service → Details → Proxies. Note the enabled modes and values before changing them, especially on a work device with an existing policy.
| Endpoint | Setting |
|---|---|
| HTTP proxy | Enable Web Proxy (HTTP) and enter server and port separately. |
| HTTP proxy carrying HTTPS | Configure the HTTPS destination option too, using an endpoint that permits the needed tunnels. |
| SOCKS proxy | Use SOCKS Proxy instead of an HTTP field. |
For the placeholder 203.0.113.10:8080, the fields are 203.0.113.10 and 8080. Replace them with an entry matching the chosen protocol from your service or the free proxy list; an address field does not need a full http:// URL. Only add operator-supplied credentials. Automatic discovery and PAC are other route-selection modes, not additional manual endpoints to fill indiscriminately.
Save and make a fresh IP-check request in the intended browser, then load an ordinary HTTPS page. If one destination stays direct, inspect bypass hosts/domains. If a terminal tool differs, check its own proxy policy; it need not follow the system service configuration.
Return to this same network service to restore the recorded values and reload the test page. Undoing a proxy test does not require deleting the network service or resetting the Mac's network settings.