How to set up a proxy on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad a proxy is set up right in the system — in your Wi-Fi network settings, with no separate app required. Below we cover, step by step: how to set up, add, and connect a proxy, what to enter in the Server and Port fields, how to turn it off, whether a proxy works on iPhone at all, and what the risks are.

Can you use a proxy on iPhone, and does it work?

Yes — a proxy works fully on iPhone and iPad. iOS supports proxies at the system level for Wi-Fi networks: traffic from Safari, apps, and most services goes through the server you specify. One important nuance: iOS has no built-in proxy setting for the cellular network — there you need a configuration profile or an app (see below). So the simplest, most reliable approach is to set the proxy for your Wi-Fi network.

How to set up, add, and connect a proxy on iPhone and iPad

To set up and connect a proxy on iPhone, add it to your active Wi-Fi network settings:

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap the (i) icon next to your network.
3. Scroll down to "HTTP Proxy" and choose "Configure Proxy" → "Manual".
4. Fill in the Server and Port fields (see below what to enter).
5. If the proxy uses login auth, turn on "Authentication" and enter the username and password.
6. Tap "Save". Done — the proxy is connected.

What to enter in the Server and Port fields for an iPhone proxy

In the Server field, enter the proxy's IP address or host (e.g., 185.xxx.xxx.xxx); in the Port field, the port number from your dashboard (e.g., 8080 for HTTP). HTTP and SOCKS5 usually use different ports — use the one that matches the protocol you need. Your proxy provider gives you these details at purchase.

How to download or install a proxy on iPhone via an app

If you need to "download" or "install" a proxy on iPhone — for example for SOCKS5, or to work over cellular rather than Wi-Fi — use an App Store app such as Shadowrocket, Potatso, or similar. They let you set the server, port, protocol, and authentication, and work where the system setting isn't enough. For a system HTTP proxy on Wi-Fi, no app is needed. For SOCKS5 specifically, see our dedicated guide on setting up SOCKS5 on iPhone and iPad.

How to turn off and disable a proxy on iPhone

To turn off a proxy on iPhone (including disabling a "stuck" network proxy):

1. Open Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) next to the network.
2. Under "HTTP Proxy", choose "Configure Proxy" → "Off".
3. Save. If "Auto" (a PAC file) was used, switch that to "Off" as well.

An iOS proxy is tied to a specific Wi-Fi network, so you need to turn it off in every network where you enabled it. On an Android phone, a proxy is disabled similarly — in the Wi-Fi network settings, under "Proxy".

How to make a proxy server out of your phone

The query "how to make a proxy server on your phone" means something different — turning the phone itself into a proxy. On iPhone this isn't possible out of the box: iOS won't let you run a proxy server without special solutions. In practice, a mobile proxy is built on a separate device (a modem or an Android phone with dedicated software), and the ready-made mobile IP is rented from a service. If you specifically need a carrier mobile IP, that's mobile proxies from mobileproxy.space — not a DIY server on an iPhone.

Risks of using a proxy on iPhone

The main risk is trust: all your traffic goes through someone else's server, which makes free and public proxies dangerous (they can read data, alter pages, or leak traffic). What to keep in mind:

• Use only trusted paid proxies, and keep connections to target sites encrypted (HTTPS).
• Check for DNS leaks and verify your real IP after setup.
• Don't enter passwords on HTTP sites through an unknown proxy.
• The iOS system proxy only applies to Wi-Fi — on cellular, traffic goes direct unless you use an app.

When you need a mobile proxy rather than a public one

Public and datacenter proxies on iPhone get blacklisted fast and are blocked by services. If your goal is stable access, multi-accounting, or bypassing geo-restrictions, you need a mobile proxy with a real carrier IP. You can test any proxy for availability and anonymity in our proxy checker.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a proxy on iPhone?

Yes. iOS supports system-level proxies for Wi-Fi networks — set them under "Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → HTTP Proxy". For the cellular network you need a configuration profile or an app.

Does a proxy work on iPhone?

It does: after setup, traffic from Safari and apps goes through the server you specified. To confirm the proxy is active, open an IP-checking service — it should show the proxy's IP, not yours.

How do I disable the network proxy on iPhone?

Open "Settings → Wi-Fi → (i)" next to the network, set "HTTP Proxy" to "Off", and save. If "Auto" (PAC) was enabled, switch that to "Off" too.

Where do I turn off the proxy on iPhone?

The proxy setting isn't in a general menu — it's inside a specific Wi-Fi network's settings: "Settings → Wi-Fi → (i) → HTTP Proxy". Turn it off in every network where you enabled it.

What do I enter in the Server and Port fields?

In "Server", enter the proxy's IP address or host; in "Port", the port number from your provider's dashboard. HTTP and SOCKS5 usually use different ports — use the one for the protocol you need.

Do I need to download an app for a proxy on iPhone?

For a system HTTP proxy on Wi-Fi, no — it's all configured in the system. An app (Shadowrocket and similar) is needed for SOCKS5 or to work over the cellular network.

How do I make a proxy server out of an iPhone?

iOS doesn't let you run a proxy server on the phone itself out of the box. To get a mobile IP, you use separate hardware or rent a ready-made mobile proxy from a service.