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ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED means your browser could not connect through the proxy it is configured to use. Chromium documents an unreachable proxy as a direct cause of this error. It does not, by itself, prove your internet connection is down: the proxy address, setup script, or network route may be the problem.

What causes ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED?

A proxy sits between your browser and the websites it visits. If the browser is set to use a proxy but cannot reach it, requests can fail with this error. Chromium describes the outcome this way: “With the above configuration, if the proxy server was unreachable all requests would fail with ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED.” Chromium’s proxy documentation

The error identifies a failed connection through the configured proxy; it does not identify exactly why that connection failed. Common possibilities include:

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  • The proxy server is unavailable or unreachable. The server may be offline, or the current network may not be able to reach it.
  • The proxy details are incorrect or outdated. A wrong server address, port, or setup script can send traffic to a proxy that is not reachable.
  • A work or school proxy is required. Organizations may configure a proxy for their networks. Disabling it without checking can prevent access or conflict with policy.
  • Another setting or application may be affecting routing. A VPN, security application, browser extension, or managed browser policy is worth checking if the configured proxy does not explain the failure. The error alone does not prove one of these is responsible. Chrome Community guidance

How to tell what to check first

Start by separating a browser-specific problem from a broader connectivity problem. If other apps can reach the internet while one browser shows the error, that makes the browser’s proxy route or settings a sensible first place to investigate. It is a clue, not proof of the cause.

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On Windows, proxy settings can come from automatic detection, a setup script, or a manually entered server. Microsoft’s Windows proxy guidance explains these options.

What you find Next step
The device is managed by work or school, or the proxy is familiar Ask IT to confirm the intended proxy address or setup script before changing it.
You use a proxy, but the address or script may be stale Verify the correct details with the person or organization that provided them.
You do not expect to use a proxy Look for an unexpected manual proxy setting or setup script; change only settings you understand.
The proxy settings look right, but the error persists Check whether a VPN, security application, browser extension, or managed policy affects routing.
Other apps also cannot connect Investigate the device’s broader network connection as well as the proxy configuration.

How to troubleshoot safely on Windows

  1. Check whether the issue is limited to one browser. Try another app or browser that you normally use. Note whether it can reach the internet; this helps narrow the next check without establishing the cause on its own.
  2. Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy. Review the automatic detection, setup script, and manual proxy sections. These are the Windows proxy configuration options covered by Microsoft’s guidance: Use a proxy server in Windows.
  3. Confirm whether the proxy is required. On a work or school device, or if you recognize an organization proxy, contact IT for the intended settings before turning anything off. Microsoft advises users who do not know the setup-script address or manual server details to contact their organization.
  4. If no proxy is intended, inspect unexpected settings. Check for an unfamiliar manual server or setup script. Correct only details you can verify, then restart the browser and try again.
  5. Check software and browser policy if settings appear correct. Consider whether a VPN or security application controls routing, or temporarily test a relevant browser extension only if doing so is safe and permitted. In Chrome, enter chrome://policy in the address bar to see whether policies are managed, as suggested in the Chrome Community guidance.
  6. Ask for help if the failure continues. Give IT or support your device operating system, browser, network, whether other apps work, whether the device is organization-managed, and which proxy mode is configured. An administrator can confirm the intended settings and investigate relevant logs.

Avoid registry edits or disabling organizational controls based only on generic troubleshooting advice. Use the supported settings and get the intended configuration from your administrator when the device or proxy is managed.

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Is a proxy certificate error the same problem?

No. A workplace proxy that intercepts HTTPS traffic may cause Chrome to show NET::ERR_CERT_AUTHORITY_INVALID if its certificate is missing or not installed. That is a certificate error, distinct from ERR_PROXY_CONNECTION_FAILED, which indicates that the browser could not establish a connection through its configured proxy. Google’s guidance for Chrome and proxy certificates

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What if you are not using Windows?

The steps above apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11. The cited guidance does not establish equivalent platform-specific steps for macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, or mobile devices. On those systems, check the proxy configuration for the operating system or browser you use, and consult your organization’s administrator if the device is managed. The error text alone cannot identify the exact cause on an individual device.

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