How to Bypass a Proxy Server in a LAN
By Tammy Columbo
If your network uses a proxy server for Internet connections, your access to certain sites may be restricted. You can, however, change the browser settings in your Web browser to bypass the proxy server and establish a direct connection to the Internet. Bypassing the proxy server on your LAN will speed up your connection and get around proxy restrictions when navigating certain sites. Be sure to make the changes in each of the browsers you use on your computer.
Internet Explorer
Step 1
Close all instances of Internet Explorer.
Step 2
Press “Windows-R” simultaneously to open the Windows Run dialog box.
Step 3
Type or copy and paste the following command into the Open input box, and then press “Enter.” The command resets the proxy server settings for Internet Explorer in the registry.
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings" /v ProxyEnable /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Step 4
Open Internet Explorer and confirm that the proxy server data has been deleted. To do this, click the gear icon in Internet Explorer, and then click “Internet Options.” Click the “Connections” tab, and then click the “LAN Settings” button. The “Use a Proxy Server for your LAN” and “Use Automatic Configuration Script" options are de-selected, which means that your computer is now bypassing proxy settings on your LAN.
Step 5
Reboot your computer, and then restart Internet Explorer. You can now access the Internet without the LAN proxy server.
Firefox
Step 1
Close all Firefox windows except for the one you will use to make the configuration changes.
Step 2
Click the “Firefox” drop-down menu in the top navigation bar, and then click “Edit.” Click “Preferences” to open the Firefox Preferences menu.
Step 3
Click the “Advanced” option, and then click the “Network” tab. The Network Preferences screen opens.
Step 4
Click the “No Proxy” option, and then close the window to save the settings.
Step 5
Click the “Close” option to close the Firefox Preferences menu.
Step 6
Close and relaunch Firefox. Your LAN Proxy settings are removed, and you can now bypass the LAN proxy to surf the Internet.
Google Chrome
Step 1
Close all Google Chrome windows except for the one you will use to make the changes.
Step 2
Click the “Google Chrome” menu button in the top navigation menu to display menu options.
Step 3
Click the “Settings” option to open the Google Chrome Settings menu.
Step 4
Click “Show Advanced Settings.”
Step 5
Click the “Change Proxy Settings” in the Network section in the Advanced Settings screen. The Change Proxy Settings dialog box for your operating system opens.
Step 6
Click the “Connections” tab, and then click the “LAN Settings” button. The LAN Settings dialog box opens.
Step 7
Click the “Use a Proxy Server for your LAN” and “Use Automatic Configuration Script" options to clear the check boxes, and then click “OK.” You can now bypass the LAN proxy server to surf the Internet.
References
Warnings
- Information provided in this article applies to all versions of Google Chrome, Firefox for Windows, version 20 and Internet Explorer 10. Instructions may vary slightly or significantly for other versions of browser software.
- If your network administrator has implemented a group policy for browsers on your enterprise network, these steps may not work to enable you to bypass the proxy server.
Writer Bio
Based in the live music capital of the world, Tammy Columbo continues to work in the information technology industry as she has done for more than 10 years. While living in Austin, Columbo has contributed to high profile projects for the State of Texas, Fortune 500 technology companies and various non-profit organizations. Columbo began writing professionally in 2009.