What Is My Proxy?

Updated October 8, 2026

How this check works

1. Proxy headers. Many HTTP proxies add headers such as Via, Forwarded or a chain of addresses in X-Forwarded-For. If your request arrives with them, a proxy is certain.
2. Type of network. We look up who owns your IP address. Home and mobile providers point to a normal connection; hosting companies and cloud platforms point to a VPN, a proxy or a server.

Neither check is perfect. Encrypted proxies and most VPNs add no headers, and some services rent “residential” addresses from home providers. A clean result therefore means “nothing detected”, not “definitely no VPN”.

Proxy or VPN — what is the difference?

• A proxy forwards the traffic of one browser or app. It changes the IP address websites see but usually does not encrypt anything.
• A VPN takes all traffic of the device — or of the whole home, if it runs on the router — and encrypts it up to the VPN server.

Either way, websites see the server’s address instead of your own public IP.

Where proxy settings hide

If this page shows a proxy you did not set up — or a site blocks you as a “proxy user” — check these places:

• Windows: Settings → Network & internet → Proxy. Turn off “Use a proxy server” unless your workplace requires it.
• macOS: System Settings → Network → your connection → Details → Proxies.
• iPhone and iPad: Settings → Wi-Fi → ⓘ next to your network → Configure Proxy → Off.
• Android: Wi-Fi settings → your network → edit → Advanced options → Proxy → None.
• Browser extensions — free “VPN” extensions are usually proxies; disable them to test.

Office and school networks often route all traffic through a proxy on purpose. In that case the result here is expected.

Why sites care

Streaming services, banks and shops look at the same signals to fight fraud and enforce licensing by country. That is why a VPN or data-centre address can trigger extra checks, captchas or a “content not available” message.

Proxy check: frequently asked questions

Can a website tell that I use a VPN?

Often yes: most VPN servers sit in data centres, and their addresses are listed in public databases. VPNs that use home addresses are much harder to detect.

Is it bad if a proxy is detected?

Not if you set it up yourself or your workplace uses one. If you did not, check the proxy settings of your device and browser extensions.

Does a proxy hide my IP from my internet provider?

No. Your provider still sees that you connect to the proxy. Only encryption, as with a VPN, hides what you do from the provider.