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Proxy Server Keeps Turning on in Windows 10: Disable it now
Using a VPN may be the fastest solution
8 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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As more and more people rely on the internet for work and entertainment, the use of proxy servers has become increasingly common. However, in some cases, the proxy server keeps turning on Windows 10.
This can be frustrating and pose a security risk, as it could allow unauthorized access to a user’s online activity.
This article will explore why the proxy server keeps turning on in Windows 10 and provide step-by-step instructions on disabling it to ensure a safer and smoother internet experience.
Why does my computer keep turning on the proxy server?
There can be several reasons why your computer keeps turning on the proxy server. Some of the most common reasons are:
Regarding this problem, time after time, various users reported proxy issues, such as:
To determine the problem’s specific cause, you should troubleshoot and investigate each possibility. Once you have identified the reason, you can disable the proxy server and prevent it from turning on automatically.
What can I do if the proxy server keeps turning on in Windows 10?
1. Use a VPN
Often, proxy servers are the preferred choice instead of VPNs because they are usually free. However, using a VPN could boost your connection in terms of privacy, security, and even speed if you’re lucky enough.
Private Internet Access, for instance, has a great network of over 22,000 servers (and counting) that you can choose from.
It won’t log any of your online activity details, so you can rest assured knowing that your privacy is in good hands.
PIA also offers SOCKS5and Shadowsocks proxy support, so you can always use those in addition to standard VPN features.
On the downside, using a VPN won’t automatically disable your proxy, so you might want to try our suggestions above before installing a VPN.
Private Internet Access
2. Run a full system scan
As we briefly explained above, being unable to turn off the proxy can signify malware infection. This is the worst-case scenario, so you’ll want to act quickly if your proxy won’t turn off.
Therefore, a complete system scan is in order. Even if it doesn’t detect anything, you can at least rule out this scenario and try other suggested methods.
If you’re unsatisfied with Windows’ built-in security features, check out thebest antivirus softwarefor your Windows 10 PC.
3. Edit your registry
If the above does not work, some users also suggest making the following changes in the same location:
Many users reported that this solution worked in their case.
On the other hand, it’s worth mentioning that modifying the registry is a risky procedure, especially if you have no experience with the RegEditor.
4. Check if your proxy has been disabled properly
This might sound like the equivalent of restarting your computer when something goes wrong.
However, you have no clue how often users complain about things not working without starting them.
With that in mind, kindly check if you correctly turned off your proxy before panicking about it and refusing to disable it.
5. Check if any apps or services run on port 8080
Other applications might use port 8080 on your system, which could sometimes cause proxy issues. For that reason, you should check quickly and see if any apps on your system are running on port 8080.
Reportedly,ISUSPM.exefrequently uses port 8080. Thus, to fix your proxy issues, you need to disable them.
Now you have to restart your PC, and the problem with the proxy should be gone.
6. Create a new user account
Sometimes your user account can get corrupted, and as you can see, it can cause many issues.
If this is the case, you might be better off creating a new account than trying to recover your old, corrupted one.
After doing so, switch to the new account and check if the problem persists.
If everything is alright, you can start moving your files from your old account and delete the corrupted account once you’re done.
7. Enable WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service
Check if the issue is still present after starting the service.
If you notice that the service was already running when you arrived at it, this method doesn’t apply to you, and you can skip it.
Sometimes your proxy not turning off problem may be caused by certain services on your system.
To be more specific,WinHTTP Web Proxy Auto-Discovery Service, or its absence, could be responsible for this issue. So, naturally, you have to start this service to fix it.
8. Disable your browser’s proxy settings
In some instances, you might be able to fix this problem simply by disabling your proxy settings in your browser.
This process is different for each browser; however, it shouldn’t be too complicated, regardless of your browser.
You need to open the Settings page in your browser, locate the Proxy section, and ensure everything is disabled. Then, you may need to start your browser as an administrator to apply the changes.
After disabling all proxy settings from your browser, check if the problem persists. If it does, try restarting your PC and checking once more.
As it turns out, sometimes your PC may refuse to turn off the proxy server connection, which can happen for many reasons.
However, we managed to identify most (if not all) of them and offer practical methods to solve this issue, regardless of its cause.
If you managed to disable the proxy on your system, it would be wise to invest in a trustworthy VPN service such as PIA.
It offers greater privacy and security features minus all the hassle a proxy server brings.
More about the topics:Proxy settings,windows 10 fix
Vlad Constantinescu
Vlad might have a degree in Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management, but he’s currently rocking anything software related, ranging from testing programs to writing in-depth reviews about them.
He spent 3-4 years as a software editor at Softpedia and another year as a VPN specialist before he landed his current job as an author at Windows Report.
In his free time, Vlad enjoys playing guitar, doing jigsaw puzzles, researching cybersecurity, and even having a good read on rainy days.
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