A proxy setting can prevent your Mac from reaching websites, apps, and online services even when Wi-Fi appears connected. To remove it, open System Settings > Network, select your active connection, open its details, and disable the proxy options under Proxies. If your Mac uses an older version of macOS, the same controls are in System Preferences > Network > Advanced > Proxies.
Quick Answer
- Select Apple menu > System Settings > Network.
- Choose your active connection, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Click Details next to the connection.
- Select Proxies.
- Turn off any proxy options you did not intentionally configure.
- Click OK, then Apply if that button appears.
- Reconnect to the network and test a website.
If the settings return after you remove them, your Mac may be managed by an employer, school, VPN, security app, or configuration profile.
What a Proxy Setting Does
A proxy is an intermediary between your Mac and the internet. Instead of connecting directly to a website, your Mac sends traffic through the proxy server first. Businesses and schools may use proxies to filter or monitor network traffic, while some security, VPN, and ad-blocking apps configure them automatically.
A proxy is not automatically a problem. However, an incorrect server address, port, username, or password can cause errors such as:
- Websites failing to load
- Apps reporting that there is no internet connection
- Safari displaying a proxy-related error
- Wi-Fi showing as connected while online services do not work
- Only certain websites or services being blocked
Removing an unused proxy restores a direct connection for the affected network service.
Remove Proxy Settings in System Settings
These steps apply to Macs that use System Settings.
1. Open your network settings
- Select the Apple menu in the upper-left corner.
- Choose System Settings.
- Click Network in the sidebar.
You may need to scroll through the sidebar to find Network.
2. Select the active connection
Click the connection you are using:
- Wi-Fi for a wireless network
- Ethernet for a wired connection
- A VPN or other network service if that is where the problem occurs
Your active Wi-Fi network normally appears beside Wi-Fi. If you are unsure, temporarily disconnect Ethernet or turn off other network services so you can identify the connection being used.
3. Open the connection details
Click Details next to the selected connection. In the window that opens, select Proxies.
You will see several proxy types. Common options include:
- Web Proxy (HTTP)
- Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS)
- FTP Proxy
- SOCKS Proxy
- Streaming Proxy
- Automatic Proxy Configuration
- Automatic Proxy Discovery
4. Turn off unwanted proxy options
Clear the checkbox beside each proxy type that you did not intentionally configure. If you do not use a proxy at all, all proxy checkboxes can usually remain cleared.
Pay particular attention to Automatic Proxy Configuration. If it is enabled, your Mac may be using a proxy configuration file, sometimes called a PAC file. The file can tell your Mac which connections should use a proxy.
Also check Automatic Proxy Discovery, which allows the network to find proxy settings automatically.
Warning: Do not remove proxy settings if your employer, school, or organization requires them. Disabling a required proxy may prevent access to internal websites or services. If you are not sure, ask the organization’s IT department before changing the settings.
5. Save the change
Click OK. If the Network settings window includes an Apply button, click Apply as well.
Close System Settings, reconnect to Wi-Fi if necessary, and test a few websites. Try both a familiar site and the app or service that originally failed.
Remove Proxy Settings in System Preferences
Older macOS versions use System Preferences instead of System Settings.
- Select Apple menu > System Preferences.
- Click Network.
- Select Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or the affected network service.
- Click Advanced.
- Open the Proxies tab.
- Clear the proxy options you do not need.
- Click OK.
- Click Apply.
If you use more than one network service, check each service separately. Proxy settings for Wi-Fi do not necessarily match those for Ethernet, a USB network adapter, or a VPN.
Check for a Proxy Configuration File
If Automatic Proxy Configuration is enabled, look at the address shown in its URL field. This address points to a configuration file that controls proxy behavior.
If you recognize the address as belonging to your company, school, VPN provider, or security software, do not delete or change it without confirming that it is safe. If the address is unfamiliar and the proxy appeared unexpectedly, clear Automatic Proxy Configuration, save the change, and test the connection.
A configuration file may be reapplied by:
- A device-management profile
- A workplace or school network
- VPN software
- Antivirus or web-filtering software
- Parental-control software
- A browser or network utility
Removing the checkbox may provide a temporary fix, but the underlying software or profile may restore it later.
Reset the Network Location
If the proxy checkboxes are already clear but websites still fail, create a new network location. A network location stores groups of network settings, so creating a fresh one can eliminate a damaged or unusual configuration without manually changing every setting.
Warning: Changing network locations can affect custom network settings, including DNS servers, VPN-related settings, and manually assigned addresses. Make a note of special settings before switching, especially on a work or school Mac.
In System Settings
The exact controls can vary by macOS version, but the option is generally available from System Settings > Network:
- Open System Settings.
- Select Network.
- Click the More button, which may appear as a button with three dots.
- Look for Locations or a similar network-location option.
- Create a new location, such as Home Test.
- Select the new location and reconnect to Wi-Fi.
If the new location fixes the problem, the previous location likely contained a conflicting setting. You can continue using the new location or compare the old settings to identify what changed.
If you do not see a location option, skip this method and continue with the troubleshooting steps below.
Check VPN and Security Software
A VPN can install its own network service, proxy, or automatic configuration file. Disconnect from the VPN and test the internet again. If the connection works only when the VPN is off, open the VPN app and review its connection or traffic-routing settings.
Security and filtering tools can also route traffic through a local proxy. Look for settings related to:
- Web protection
- Traffic filtering
- Content filtering
- Local proxy
- Secure browsing
- Network monitoring
- Automatic configuration
Do not uninstall security software as a first step. Instead, disable its network-filtering feature temporarily, if the app provides that option, and test the connection. Re-enable protection after testing.
Remove Unknown Configuration Profiles
A configuration profile can enforce network settings and prevent you from changing them normally. Profiles are common on company- and school-managed Macs, but they can also be installed by software.
Open System Settings and look for General > Device Management or Profiles, depending on the macOS version. Select a profile to see what it controls.
Warning: Removing a configuration profile can delete managed settings, email accounts, certificates, VPN configurations, or other access information. Do not remove a work or school profile without permission from the administrator.
If a profile is unfamiliar, review recently installed apps and contact Apple Support or the profile’s administrator before deleting it.
Troubleshooting Proxy Problems
The proxy settings return after you clear them
This usually means another service is controlling the settings. Check:
- VPN software
- Antivirus or web-filtering tools
- Device-management profiles
- Login items and background services
- Work or school network requirements
If the settings return only on one Wi-Fi network, the network may be supplying automatic proxy information. Test another trusted network, such as a phone hotspot, to compare the behavior.
Wi-Fi says “Connected,” but websites still do not open
A Wi-Fi connection only confirms that your Mac is connected to the local network. It does not guarantee internet access.
After checking proxies:
- Turn Wi-Fi off and back on from the menu bar or System Settings > Wi-Fi.
- Restart your Mac.
- Restart the router if you control it.
- Test another website and another app.
- Try a different network.
If other network problems remain, follow a broader Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide for Mac.
Only one app cannot connect
If websites work but one app does not, the problem may be inside that app. Check the app’s own network, proxy, VPN, or account settings. Quit and reopen the app after changing system proxy settings.
If the app is managed by an organization, it may require a specific proxy even when Safari does not.
Proxy errors appear only in a browser
Check the browser’s proxy behavior and extensions. Some browsers use the macOS network settings, while others may have additional connection settings or extensions that alter traffic.
Temporarily disable unfamiliar extensions, then quit and reopen the browser. Also test another browser to determine whether the problem affects the entire Mac or only one browser.
You cannot edit the proxy settings
A locked or unavailable setting may be enforced by a configuration profile or administrator. On a managed Mac, contact the organization’s IT department.
If the Mac is personally owned and no management profile should be present, review Device Management or Profiles and investigate recently installed VPN, security, filtering, or parental-control software.
Removing the proxy did not help
The cause may be DNS, the router, the network itself, or a VPN rather than a proxy. Compare the connection on another network. If the Mac works elsewhere, the original network may require a proxy or may have a separate internet-access problem.
If Bluetooth or other wireless features are also behaving unexpectedly, the issue may be broader than proxy settings. For Bluetooth-specific symptoms, see this guide to fixing Bluetooth not working on a Mac.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I turn off every proxy setting?
If you do not intentionally use a proxy, you can generally clear all proxy options for the affected network service. If the Mac belongs to an employer or school, confirm the required settings first.
Will removing a proxy delete my Wi-Fi password?
No. Clearing proxy options normally does not delete saved Wi-Fi passwords. It changes how network traffic is routed.
Do I need to remove proxy settings from every network?
Proxy settings are saved per network service and may also vary by network location. Check Wi-Fi, Ethernet, VPN, and any other service that you use.
Why does my proxy keep coming back?
A VPN, security app, configuration profile, or managed network may be restoring it. Find and adjust the software or profile responsible instead of repeatedly clearing the checkbox.
Can a proxy block only some websites?
Yes. A proxy may mishandle particular websites, ports, or connection types while allowing other sites to work normally.
Is a proxy the same as a VPN?
No. Both can route traffic through another server, but they are configured differently and serve different purposes. A VPN usually creates a broader encrypted connection, while a proxy often handles specific types of traffic.
Final Thoughts
To remove a proxy that blocks internet access, open the affected network service in System Settings > Network, select Proxies, and disable settings you do not need. If the settings return, investigate VPN software, security tools, automatic configuration files, and management profiles. Keep required work or school settings intact, and test another network when you need to determine whether the problem is on the Mac or the network.