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Connection errors

ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED

The browser is set to send traffic through a proxy server that it cannot reach.

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Quick answer

A proxy is a middle server that forwards your web traffic. The setting can come from the network settings of your system, from a browser extension that manages proxies, or from your school or employer. ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED (Chromium error -130) means Chrome could not create a connection to that proxy, so no website loads; Chrome shows "No internet" and "There is something wrong with the proxy server, or the address is incorrect."

When to wait: If the proxy belongs to your workplace or school and it is down, waiting for the fix may be the only option. A wrong setting on your own device does not fix itself.

If you are visiting the website

  1. Check the proxy setting of your system If you never set up a proxy on purpose, switch it off. If your workplace or school requires one, leave it on and ask the administrator for the correct address instead.

    Windows

    In Settings, go to Network & internet > Proxy. Select Set up next to Use a proxy server and switch it off, and check whether Use setup script points to an address you do not know.

    macOS

    Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Network, select your network service, then Details > Proxies. Switch off every proxy type you did not configure, including Automatic proxy configuration.

    Android

    Open Settings > Network & internet > Internet and tap the settings icon next to your Wi-Fi network. Find Proxy (often behind an edit button or Advanced options) and choose None. Menu names differ between phone makers.

    ChromeOS

    Select the time at the bottom right, then Settings > Network, and select your network. If its settings show a Proxy section, choose a direct connection. On a school or work Chromebook, ask the administrator instead.

  2. Switch off proxy and VPN extensions Open chrome://extensions and switch off extensions that offer a VPN, a proxy or a change of location, then reload. Extensions with the proxy permission can take over the proxy settings of Chrome.
  3. Make Chrome pick up the change After you change a setting, open chrome://net-internals/#proxy, select Re-apply settings and Clear bad proxies, then reload the page.
  4. Check for unwanted software if it comes back A proxy setting that returns after you removed it suggests a program is changing it. Run a full scan with your security software and remove programs you do not recognise.
  5. Use the network the proxy belongs to A company or school proxy may only answer inside that network or through its VPN. Connect there, or ask the administrator how the device should work at home.

If you run the website

  1. Test the proxy itself From an affected device, run curl -v -x http://proxy.example:3128 https://example.com with your proxy address and port. A refused or timed-out connection to the proxy reproduces this error.
  2. Check automatic configuration If clients use a PAC file (an automatic proxy script) or WPAD discovery, make sure the script loads. When a PAC script cannot be fetched, Chromium falls back to the next option: often a direct connection, and with Windows system settings the manual proxy if one is set. If the script was set as mandatory in Chrome's own proxy settings, requests fail with ERR_MANDATORY_PROXY_CONFIGURATION_FAILED instead.
  3. Review managed proxy settings If you push proxy settings to devices, check address and port, and decide what should happen on networks where the proxy cannot be reached, such as home Wi-Fi.

Why every website fails at once

Each request goes to the proxy first, so when the proxy cannot be reached, no website loads even though the Wi-Fi works. Apps that ignore the proxy setting may still get online, which makes the fault look confusing.

Chromium describes this code as a failure to create a connection to the proxy server. That separates it from ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED, where the proxy was reached but could not open a tunnel to the site.

For developers: where Chrome gets its proxy

Chrome can connect directly, use fixed proxy servers, load a PAC script, detect one automatically through WPAD, or follow the system settings. Extensions with the proxy permission can switch between these modes.

For a deeper look, the proxy documentation of Chromium suggests a network log from chrome://net-export/, which you can share with whoever runs the proxy.

Common questions

Is ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED a problem with the website?

No. Chrome never reached the website; it failed at the proxy in between. An outside check of the site, such as CheckWebsiteNow, normally works and confirms that the problem is local.

Why did a proxy switch on by itself?

Possible reasons are a VPN or proxy app that was removed without cleaning up, an extension, or unwanted software. Remove the setting, then check extensions and installed programs if it returns.

Will a VPN fix ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED?

Not by itself. Some VPN apps set a proxy of their own, and a broken one causes exactly this error. Correct or remove the proxy setting first.

Likely causes

  • Common A proxy is switched on in the system settings, but its server no longer runs or the address is wrong. (Your side)
  • Sometimes A VPN or proxy app was removed or crashed and left its proxy setting behind. (Your side)
  • Sometimes A browser extension or unwanted software changed the proxy settings. (Your side)
  • Sometimes The proxy of your company or school is down or cannot be reached from this network. (Either side)
  • Rare An automatic proxy script (PAC file) cannot be loaded. (Either side)

What to avoid

  • Do not enter a proxy address found online to make the error go away; an unknown proxy sees your traffic.
  • Do not change proxy settings on a work or school device without asking the administrator.

Is the website down? Check it now

One measurement point. Results explain what we saw, not a worldwide verdict.

Sources

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