Proxy servers sound way more complicated than they need to be. But if you have ever found yourself staring at your device asking, “Why is this thing even asking for a proxy?”—you are not alone.
Let us walk through it. Step by step. No fluff, no jargon. Just the stuff you actually need to know.
So, you want to update your proxy server?
Start here: open the Settings app on your Windows device. From there, click into Network & Internet. Now, look for Proxy on the side panel. Once inside the Manual proxy setup section, you will see an option that says Use a proxy server. Hit Set up next to it.
A dialog box will pop up. This is where the magic happens. Flip the switch to turn on Use a proxy server, and go ahead—plug in your proxy details.
That is it. You just updated your proxy.
But what happens when things go sideways?
Proxy servers break. Often. And they do it for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes the issue is with your settings, sometimes it is the proxy server itself throwing a tantrum, and occasionally, it is the website you are trying to reach.
Think firewall misconfigurations. Wrong DNS entries. IP address mix-ups. Laggy timeouts. Or maybe the proxy server just went completely offline. Ever had to deal with authentication problems? Yeah, that too. The list is long, and it is annoying.
Trying to use a proxy while syncing software updates?
Here is the trick. In your software update system (think WSUS, for example), head to the bottom pane. Right-click Software Update Point, then click Properties. Flip to the Proxy and Account Settings tab. You will see an option that says Use a proxy server when synchronizing software updates. Check that box.
Simple move. Big impact.
Why is your PlayStation asking about a proxy server like it’s 1999?
Good question. It could be several things. Maybe your internet connection is flaky. Maybe the firmware is out of date. Or maybe your home network setup is all out of whack. Whatever it is, your PS4 is confused—and it is looking for a middleman (the proxy) to make things work.
That prompt? It is the console asking for help navigating a mess it cannot handle on its own.
Need to refresh your proxy server? Here’s the command.
Log in to your system. If the proxy server runs on low-numbered ports (anything under 1024), you will need root access. Otherwise, your server’s regular account will do.
Once in, type this command:
server-root /proxy-server id /restart
Hit Enter. Boom—your proxy is refreshed. Sometimes the fix really is that clean.
Curious about what proxy settings are currently in place?
Tap that Windows + I shortcut to launch Settings. Head to Network & Internet, then click on Proxy in the sidebar.
If Use a proxy server is switched on, you will see the proxy’s Address and Port fields filled out right there. Transparent. No digging required.
Need to fix a broken proxy server? Try this first.
Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot. Select Internet Connections and let the troubleshooter run.
It will sniff out most common problems and walk you through a fix. Might take a few clicks. Might save you hours.
So… are proxy servers bad?
Not always. But they can be. Especially the free ones.
Here is the deal: some sketchy folks set up “free” proxies just to spy on your traffic. They act like helpful middlemen, but they are really data vampires—collecting everything you send and receive. You think you are browsing safely. You are not.
Be careful who you trust with your connection.
Using WSUS? Here is how to add a proxy server.
Open the WSUS Administration Console. On the left, expand the server name and go into Options. From there, click Update Source and Update Server. Then flip to the Proxy Server tab.
Tick the box that says Use a proxy server when synchronizing. Done and done.
Last thing—what ports does Windows Update actually use?
WSUS needs a few doors open to talk to the outside world. It grabs updates from Microsoft’s servers over ports 80 and 443. Your local clients will talk to the WSUS server over ports 8530 and 8531, unless you changed those.
That is the path data travels. Keep those open—or nothing works.
So there it is. Proxy servers, decoded. Whether you are updating, fixing, or just trying to figure out why your console is being weird, you now have the guide. No tech jargon. No fluff.
Just real talk.