FoxyProxy Setup: A Step-by-Step Guide for Chrome and Firefox

In this guide, we will discuss all the main steps you need to follow to quickly install this extension in Chrome and Firefox. FoxyProxy is also supported by other Chromium browsers like Edge and Opera, so the steps for Chrome can easily be adapted for those browsers. Before we dive into these steps, let’s look at a few basics about FoxyProxy. 

What FoxyProxy is and why you need it

FoxyProxy is a free, open-source proxy-manager extension that has been in the market since 2006. This extension allows users to store multiple proxy configurations and to switch between them without touching browser/OS settings, making the whole experience more seamless. 

Using these extensions removes the need to retype host, port, and credentials on every switch, which makes it more easy to use for even everyday users. Some of the reasons you may consider using this proxy extension include:

• Enabling more privacy
• Geo-restriction bypass
• Web app testing
• Web data scraping
• Local debugging.

How FoxyProxy differs from built-in browser proxy settings

The built-in browser settings store one configuration and apply it globally to every connection. With FoxyProxy, you can store unlimited profiles and can switch by URL, tab, or private window with one click. 

Since it is open source, it is free and requires no paid account to get started. Some browsers also don’t have built-in proxy settings, so using an extension like this is the way to go. 

Supported browsers and protocols

FoxyProxy works with a wide range of browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, and most Chromium-based browsers such as Edge, Opera, Vivaldi, and Brave. It supports the standard protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, and SOCKS5.

Please note that the Chrome and Firefox builds of this extension have been unified since version 8, so the steps for installing and configuring each are almost the same, as of September 2026. 

Key FoxyProxy features

Some of the features FoxyProxy providers include one-click, credential-free proxy switching with URL-based automation, per-tab/container assignment, and privacy tools like WebRTC blocking, Global Exclude, and Incognito mode support, and keyboard shortcuts. 

Let’s explore the key features in detail:

Fast switching between proxies

After creating your proxy configurations with FoxyProxy, you can switch between them with one click from the toolbar dropdown with no restart required. A color-coded icon shows the active profile, allowing you to know the proxy your traffic is being routed through. 

Choosing a proxy by URL

All the different proxy profiles you create carry URL patterns, so FoxyProxy auto-routes matching sites and sends the rest directly. For instance, you may choose to route all Amazon traffic and allow the rest of the traffic to go directly. With this feature, you no longer need to enable or disable the proxy manually. 

A separate proxy per tab

FoxyProxy also allows you to assign different proxies to different tabs for parallel work. This is documented as a Firefox-only capability, so it isn’t available on Chrome or other Chromium-based browsers.

Importing and exporting settings

Export configs to a file to move devices or share with a colleague, and also works as a backup. This feature allows users to seamlessly share their settings with others or between devices without the need for cloud syncing. 

Custom labels, colors and country flags

FoxyProxy also allows you to add a name, color, and flag per profile, making it easier to keep large lists manageable at a glance. 

Incognito mode support

Assign a proxy for private windows only to enable maximum privacy whenever you switch to Incognito mode. In Firefox, this must be enabled at install time. 

Patterns and wildcards (including regular expressions)

Supports the use of full regex, not just * wildcards, with a built-in tester to validate rules first. This makes it even more flexible and precise than simple wildcard matching alone.

WebRTC control

Toggle WebRTC on/off in-extension to prevent real-IP leaks behind a proxy. With this feature, you don’t need to touch about:config or install a separate add-on since the toggle applies instantly and can be scoped per proxy profile, so WebRTC stays blocked only when that specific proxy is active.

Predefined configurations and built-in help

One-click presets for Tor, Privoxy, and Psiphon skip manual host/port entry entirely. This allows you to pick the preset and FoxyProxy fills in the known-good connection details. FoxyProxy also has extensive built-in help documents for every option for first-time users.

FoxyProxy Standard or FoxyProxy Basic: which version to install

These are the key differences

Feature	Standard	Basic
Basic profile management	Yes	Yes
One-click switching	Yes	Yes
URL Patterns	Yes	No
Pattern Tester	Yes	No
Whitelist / blacklist by domain	Yes	No
Price	Free	Free

In 2026, both FoxyProxy versions remain free

Installing the FoxyProxy extension

Install only from the Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons. We don’t recommend using a third-party mirror since your proxy traffic passes through it. Let’s explore the steps for installing this extension on Chrome and Mozilla Firefox:

Installing FoxyProxy in Google Chrome

• Go to Chrome Web Store
• Search “FoxyProxy” 
• Choose FoxyProxy Standard
• Click Add to Chrome and confirm the installation
• Configure your proxy details into the extension

These steps apply for other Chromium-based browsers, including Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi.

Installing FoxyProxy in Mozilla Firefox

• In your Firefox browser, go to addons.mozilla.org 
• Choose FoxyProxy Standard
• Click Add to Firefox
• Tick the “Allow in Private Windows” option and confirm (shown in the screenshot below).

• Configure your proxy details into the extension

How to pin the FoxyProxy icon to the toolbar

• For Chrome, click the puzzle-piece Extensions icon and pin (shown in the screenshot below). 

• For Firefox, click menu (☰) > Add-ons and Themes > pin.

Setting up a proxy in FoxyProxy: step-by-step

Once you have installed FoxyProxy on any of the browsers, you can now input the proxy parameters to get started routing your traffic. Create a configuration, save it, select it from the icon. The flow is identical in both browsers.

Step 1. Open the extension settings

Click the FoxyProxy icon in the toolbar (or find it under the browser’s Extensions menu if it isn’t pinned), then select Options from the dropdown to open the full settings page in a new tab (shown in screenshot below)

Step 2. Go to the Proxies tab and add a new profile

In the settings page, switch to the Proxies tab, then click Add on the left to open a blank configuration form. Fill it out with your provider’s connection details and save it as a new profile (shown below).

Step 3. Fill in the proxy server parameters

Fill in the proxy server details, including the hostname (IP address), port, and log in credentials if provided. These details come from your provider’s dashboard and a typo in any will cause a silent failure, not a visible error.

Let’s explore the various configurations in detail: 

Title: the profile name

This is an arbitrary label for your own reference and you can decide a naming scheme early. It allows you to easily identify which profile you are using. 

Type / Protocol: the proxy type

You can choose between the HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5 protocol depending on your use case and other preferences. These are usually set by the provider and the wrong type is a common cause of dead connections.

Hostname / IP Address:  the proxy server address

This can be the gateway domain for rotating proxies or specific IP for static/dedicated ones. It should be set up at the time of purchasing the proxy from your provider. 

Port: the port number

The port number is provider-set and often maps to IP position, rotation behavior, or protocol. Double check the provider’s dashboard to get this right.

Username and Password: authentication details

If you chose the password/username option, you need to watch for required prefixes (e.g., customer-USERNAME). Leave this option blank if using IP whitelisting.

Step 4. Save the configuration and activate the proxy

Once you have input your proxy configurations save them and select the profile from the icon. The icon color confirms it’s active, no restart needed.

Step 5. Verify that the proxy actually works

Before accessing any of your target sites, check an IP-lookup service against the proxy’s expected location. Consider testing on more than one, and check for WebRTC/DNS leaks. The screenshot below shows the proxy check made using ProxyWing’s IP checker tool. 

Enabling and disabling proxying

Click the extension icon and select a profile to enable it, or choose Disable to go direct. Disabling is not the same as removing; removing deletes profiles, which means you’ll need to reconfigure them from scratch.

How to configure different proxy types in FoxyProxy

Regardless of the proxy type, you fill out the same form, but with different parameters per type; this is where most setup mistakes happen.

Table 2. Proxy type configuration reference

Proxy type	Hostname	Port	Username format	IP rotation	Typical use
Rotating residential	Provider gateway domain	Rotation-specific port	Includes session/location tags	Per request	Scraping, high-volume automation
Sticky residential	Provider gateway domain	Sticky-session port	Includes session ID	Held for session	Account management, logins
Static residential	Assigned IP	Fixed to that IP	Standard credentials	None	Persistent sessions
ISP / dedicated ISP	Assigned IP or gateway	Provider-specific	Standard credentials	None or provider-defined	Speed + trust balance
Shared datacenter	Provider gateway domain	Provider-specific	Standard credentials	Varies by billing	Bulk, low-cost tasks
Dedicated datacenter (self-service/enterprise)	Assigned IP or own gateway	Indexed to IP or protocol	Standard credentials	Fixed per IP	High-speed dedicated work

Residential proxies (rotating and sticky)

Generate in the provider dashboard by country/city/type. Choosing the rotating option changes IP per request and sticky holds one for a session (duration varies by provider). The choice between the two depends on your use case.

Buy Residential proxies

Static residential and ISP proxies

This is usually pre-issued and no generation is needed. The IP itself goes in the hostname field, unlike domain-based rotating proxies.

Buy ISP proxies

Datacenter proxies: shared, dedicated and enterprise

Shared datacenter proxies use the provider’s gateway, while dedicated and enterprise proxies use a specific assigned IP address, often with separate ports per protocol.

Buy Datacenter proxies

How to parse a proxy string into the form fields

Providers often hand over a proxy as one string in the format hostname:port:username:password. For example, residential.provider.com:8000:user123:pass456. Split each segment into its matching FoxyProxy field (Hostname, Port, Username, Password) rather than pasting the entire string into the Hostname box; one of the most common setup mistakes most people make. 

Geo-targeting and IP rotation via connection parameters

The exit location and rotation behavior are usually controlled without creating new profiles, either through a country-specific gateway host or a modifier appended to the username. Rotation often works the same way: one port pins the session to a single IP and another triggers a new IP per request. 

FoxyProxy for a local proxy: Caido, Burp Suite, Tor

If you’re testing web applications with a local tool like Caido or Burp Suite, create a profile pointing to it: Type – HTTP, Hostname – 127.0.0.1, Port – whatever your tool uses, and leave the credentials blank. 

This lets you turn traffic interception on or off with a single click, instead of routing your entire browser through the local proxy all the time. FoxyProxy also includes ready-made presets for Tor, Privoxy, and Psiphon.

URL rules and patterns: automatic proxy switching

Instead of manually turning your proxy on and off for each site, you set the rule once; which addresses should use a proxy and which shouldn’t, and FoxyProxy handles the switching automatically from then on.

Creating rules and using the Pattern Tester

Open your profile settings and go to the Pattern Tester tab, where you can set a URL pattern and test it to confirm it works correctly before the rule goes live. The screenshot above shows the testing of the wildcard pattern *.example.com/* against five URLs in the Pattern Tester — green checks show matches, red crosses show misses.

Whitelist and blacklist: wildcards and regular expressions

A whitelist lists addresses that must go through the proxy, while a blacklist lists ones that should skip it. Both support simple `*` wildcards or full regular expressions for more precise matching.

Global Exclude; global exceptions from proxying

Global Exclude is a shared list of sites ( like banking sites or internal company tools) that always bypass proxying, no matter which profile is currently active. The screenshot above shows the Global Exclude list on the Options page.

Bulk proxy import

If you’re working with a lot of proxies, you don’t have to add them one at a time. FoxyProxy lets you import a whole list at once (from a FoxyProxy account, a URL, a pasted list, or a saved file) from an older version of the extension. The screenshot above shows the Import tab’s four bulk options. 

Common FoxyProxy problems and how to fix them

Most issues trace back to proxy parameters or target-site behavior, not the extension.

Table 3. Quick diagnostics

Symptom	Likely cause	Check first
Proxy doesn’t work after setup	Wrong credentials or field values	Username/password, prefixes, hostname, port, protocol type
Pages load incorrectly	Stale cache/cookies from old IP	Clear cache, test in private window
Wrong IP geolocation	Geolocation database lag/disagreement	Cross-check on multiple IP-lookup services
Slow connection speed	Distance to exit node or pool congestion	Closer proxy location, dedicated vs. shared
Constant CAPTCHAs	Overused shared/free IP	Switch to residential or ISP, reduce request rate
Works on some sites, not others	Site-level fingerprinting/ASN detection	Residential over datacenter, add to Global Exclude if unneeded

The proxy does not work right after setup

FoxyProxy won’t show an error for bad credentials; it just fails silently. Check for missing prefixes, incorrect field values, stray spaces, and whether you still have remaining balance on your plan.

Pages load incorrectly or do not open

This is usually caused by stale cache or cookies. Try clearing them, or test the site in a private window instead.

Wrong IP geolocation

Geolocation databases can lag or disagree with each other. Cross-check your IP on a few different lookup tools before assuming something’s wrong.

Slow connection speed

Slow speeds are usually caused by distance to the proxy server or pool congestion. Try switching to a closer location or a dedicated proxy.

Constant CAPTCHAs while using a proxy

Overused shared or free IPs tend to trigger anti-fraud systems. Switching to private residential or ISP proxies usually solves this.

The proxy works on some sites but not others

Some sites detect more than just your IP. If a site keeps blocking you, try switching from datacenter to residential proxies, or add that site to Global Exclude.

FoxyProxy’s limitations and what to know before using it

FoxyProxy is a connection manager, not a security tool. So, it doesn’t encrypt your traffic or guarantee anonymity, since fingerprinting, WebRTC, and DNS leaks can still expose you. It only proxies browser traffic (not the rest of your system), has limited mobile support, and as a third-party tool, comes with no vendor responsibility if something goes wrong.