Safari proxy settings

Safari doesn’t have its own separate proxy settings. On macOS, Safari uses the proxy configuration set in your system network settings (for your current connection, such as Wi-Fi or Ethernet). That’s why “setting up a proxy in Safari” usually means configuring it in macOS System Settings.

In this guide, we’ll show the standard system-level proxy setup on macOS (Sequoia). If you only need a proxy for basic web browsing, keep in mind that a system-wide proxy can also affect other apps that rely on macOS network settings.

If this system-level setup doesn’t work for your workflow (for example, you need quick proxy switching or more flexible rules), the best alternative is Mozilla Firefox with the FoxyProxy extension. At the moment, this is one of the most precise and flexible combinations for managing proxies directly in the browser.

If you need to route only specific applications through the proxy (while keeping everything else on a direct connection), you’ll need a third-party tool. macOS system proxy settings apply at the network level and don’t provide per-app routing.

For advanced per-app routing, see our Proxifier guide here.

1. Proxy settings apply per network interface. If you configure a proxy for Wi-Fi, it won’t automatically apply to Ethernet (and vice versa).

2. If you use iCloud Private Relay (iCloud+), it can affect how Safari behaves and may interfere with proxy-based access. If a page doesn’t load as expected, try reloading it without Private Relay (Safari → View → Reload and Show IP Address).

3. If your proxy works in some apps but not in Safari (or the other way around), double-check that you edited the correct active network (the one currently connected) and that the proxy type (HTTP/HTTPS/SOCKS) matches your service.