Because Edge is Chromium-based, its network stack follows the same logic as Chrome's: by default it uses the operating system's proxy setting. The "Open your computer's proxy settings" link on Edge's settings screen takes you straight to Windows' proxy screen. So if you want to define a proxy specific to Edge, you have to pick one of three routes.
The extension route is practical, but you entrust all of your browser traffic to a third party. For corporate use the shortcut flag is preferred.
1. Profile-Based Proxy with a Shortcut Flag
Right-click the Edge desktop shortcut → Properties → leave a space at the end of the Target field and add:
--proxy-server="http=185.93.68.14:8080;https=185.93.68.14:8080" --user-data-dir="C:\EdgeProxyProfil"
--user-data-dir parameter creates a separate profile folder, so you can run a second browser with a different exit IP without affecting your normal Edge window. The format for SOCKS5: --proxy-server="socks5://10.0.0.5:1080".
To exclude specific addresses, add a second flag: --proxy-bypass-list="localhost;127.0.0.1;*.intranet".
2. Quick Switching with an Extension
The proxy managers in the Edge Add-ons store let you save several addresses and switch between them with a single click. Things to watch after installation:
- You grant the extension permission to "read your data on all sites" — choose only publishers you know.
- Close off WebRTC leaks separately; a proxy extension does not do it automatically. To check, use WebRTC Leak Test.
- For it to work in an InPrivate window, you need to grant permission in the extension's settings.
3. Enterprise Policy
On managed devices the proxy is deployed through the registry or Intune. The relevant keys are the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge values under ProxyMode, ProxyServer and ProxyPacUrl . ProxyMode value, when set to fixed_servers , overrides the user setting, which then appears grayed out in the interface.
The keys are defined under the HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge path. ProxyMode must be set, otherwise the others are ignored.
Verification and Common Errors
The error codes Edge produces tell you exactly what is wrong: if the word TUNNEL appears, the problem is HTTPS/CONNECT; if the word PROXY appears, it is the address itself.
To check whether an address is live you can use our Proxy Checker tool , and for testing you can get an address from our free proxy list .