Common Proxy Problems (And How You Can Fix Them)

No matter why your organization uses the internet, it’s a good idea to use a proxy. The right proxy offers your business safety and security that can’t be matched by other solutions. On top of that, you can use proxies as tools for web scraping research and for getting around region locks. That’s why you need to understand how to spot and fix problems with your proxies when they pop up.‌

Proxy issues are inevitable, just like technical difficulties with every other kind of software and networking solution. If you take the time to learn about proxy spotting and troubleshooting, you’ll have all the tools you need to understand what the real problem is and the best solution for your organization. Keep reading to learn about proxy issues, how to determine if your proxy is really the problem, and the best ways to fix common proxy errors. ‌‌‌

What Is a Proxy Error?

Proxies are shields that live between your IP address and the websites you visit. They’re great for shielding your anonymity and letting you do research quickly. They operate by funneling all your traffic through a data center or a residential server to make it look like you’re operating through a different IP address.

That offers your organization an exciting amount of freedom, but it’s not infallible. Just like any other part of your network, a proxy can sometimes run into problems. That’s a result of the same ingenious process that allows proxies to work in the first place.‌‌

There are a bunch of steps between your data leaving your computer, traveling through the proxy, and getting to the internet. If anything goes wrong along the way, your proxy may not work as it’s supposed to. When that happens, proxy issues occur. Whether or not the problem actually stems from your proxy is another question.‌

Is It a Proxy Error or Something Else?

Before you can learn how to fix proxy errors, you need to confirm that your proxy is actually causing the error. Again, there are a lot of moving parts involved in getting you online. It’s not unusual to run into a problem that affects your proxy that isn’t caused by your proxy.‌‌

To figure out if your proxy is the root of the problem, you can take a couple of steps. First, run some basic checks. Is your internet working? Is your browser up to date? Your proxy relies on both of those services to work properly. You can test both of these problems by using a different browser or device to access the web. If your proxy works in a different browser, then your original browser is the problem. Meanwhile, if you can’t use the internet on another device without the proxy, then your internet connection is to blame.‌‌

You can also look for problems with your proxy itself. A sign that your proxy isn’t working is that you can access certain websites but not others through your browser. If you can get to those sites in another browser or a different device, then something’s gone wrong with the proxy. Now you can focus on diagnosing the actual issue and working out how to fix your proxy error.‌‌

Common Proxy Issues and Causes

Once you’ve determined that your proxy is definitely the problem, it’s time to look for a solution. It helps if you understand the issues that you’re most likely to run into while using a proxy. Some, but not all, are inevitable. Here are the four most common proxy problems and how to solve them.‌

1. Too many website IP bans

The first and most common type of proxy problem is getting too many of your proxy IP addresses banned. It’s inevitable that a few of your proxies will get banned after you’ve used them for a while. However, if you notice that bans seem to be happening a lot or very quickly, you may not be using the correct type of proxy.‌‌

For example, suppose you’re using proxies from a data center and getting bans. In that case, it’s probably time to increase your subnet diversity or switch to something more secure. Residential proxies are the perfect alternative. These proxies are less likely to get banned, because they appear more like a real user. Swapping to a residential proxy service will probably help improve matters.‌

2. Proxy provider failing

Sometimes, your proxy just doesn’t work. You may get connected, but you can’t get to the internet from the proxy. Other times, you’ll fail to connect entirely. This can mean that your proxy provider itself is having problems. ‌

The best way to check this is to try your proxy on different browsers and devices. If you see the same problem in multiple places, then try another proxy from the same provider. If you still get the same problem, your proxy provider’s servers are probably down, and you just have to wait. This is most common from free proxies, which don’t invest in their security or infrastructure. If you’re regularly facing service failures and similar proxy issues, then it’s time to switch to a more reliable proxy partner.‌‌

3. Proxies not configured for your browser or OS

You may get a specific error message when your proxy gives you problems. That’s a sign that your network or computer isn’t specifically configured for your proxy or vice versa. The error message itself can give you more information. A few common proxy error messages are as follows:‌

There is something wrong with the proxy server, or the address is incorrect: Your proxy settings are probably incorrect. You may need to go into your proxy dashboard to adjust your settings.‌

Err_Proxy_Connection_Failed: Your browser settings may be incorrect, or a browser add-on is interfering with your connection. If your proxy works in another browser, roll your original browser back to its default settings, and try again.‌‌

Cannot connect to proxy server Windows 10: This is a sign that your Windows install is the problem for your proxy. You can follow basic Windows troubleshooting guides to resolve it.‌‌

No connection on your web browser: Your antivirus program may be interfering with your proxy and browser. Go into your security tool, and give your proxy program permission to work.‌

4. Proxies not connecting

The last problem you can face is a proxy that won’t let you connect in the first place. That points to a proxy server error. Somewhere between your computer and the proxy server, data is getting lost.‌

This can have many causes, so you need to figure out what’s causing the disconnect. Look for error messages, and try the same proxy on a couple of browsers. Any detail you can find is valuable. If error messages don’t point you in the right direction, then it’s time to reach out to your proxy partner and get help.‌‌

How to Fix a Proxy Issue

There are two ways to fix proxy issues: Troubleshoot on your own, or work with a professional. On your own, the easiest solution is to switch to a professional, reliable proxy provider. Unlike free services, paid proxy providers owe you their time and support, and if you find the right one, they will go above and beyond for you. With a proxy service like Rayobyte’s, you can minimize problems like failing proxy providers or too many banned IPs. You can pick from semi-dedicated, dedicated, and rotating proxies. You can also choose whether you need data center proxies for large amounts of data or residential ones for maximum anonymity.‌

That’s a great solution when you need help with how to fix a proxy issue, but it’s not perfect. If you experience problems even when using our proxies (which is bound to happen since we can’t control who bans what and why), Rayobyte offers excellent customer support. Our customer support team is happy to help you with custom solutions that work for you.‌‌

In the world of proxies, that support is invaluable. Rayobyte’s world-class service means that we are more than a proxy provider. We aspire to be your proxy partner. Because we provide ethical proxies, not only is your conscience clear, but you also get the maximum amount of uptime possible. We own all our IP infrastructure, from the servers straight to the bandwidth provider, so we have complete control over all uptime factors.‌

Meanwhile, our system is designed to help you solve any potential problems as quickly as possible. Our outstanding customer support team is available to help you 24/7. We also provide a robust monitoring system, immediate proxy rotation, data center redundancy, and a robust dashboard with clear setting guidelines. Rayobyte makes proxy setup and troubleshooting as simple as possible.‌

Summary: Solving Proxy Problems

Proxies are a robust tool for keeping your business safe and secure online. Still, even the best proxy service can run into problems sometimes. That may be because a website is blocking your proxy, because there are issues with your browser or OS settings, or because your proxy provider is encountering difficulties. Whichever it is, proxy errors are inevitable but easy to fix.‌

The easiest way to limit proxy issues is to work with a reliable, professional provider. It’s a safe and simple way to maximize your success rate and get more support. If you’re ready to fix proxy problems for good, reach out to Rayobyte today.

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