Setting Up a SOCKS5 Proxy on Windows 10/11
Connect a Pure Connect static SOCKS5 proxy in just a few minutes. We'll show three methods: through the dedicated app, in your browser, and system-wide. UDP and QUIC support, unlimited traffic, speeds up to 1 Gbps.
What you'll need
Access credentials
After payment, you receive a static proxy in the host:port:login:password format — for example, 198.51.100.10:1080:user:pass. This is your dedicated IP for the entire rental period.
Windows 10 or 11
Any 64-bit edition will do. You'll need permissions to change network settings or install the Pure Connect app.
Type — SOCKS5
Everywhere, specify exactly the SOCKS5 protocol with login-and-password authentication. This enables UDP and QUIC support as well as DNS leak protection.
Through the Pure Connect app
The easiest route: the app stores your list of proxies, switches locations, and shows the status right away.
Download and install the client
Download the Windows build on the "Download" page and run the installer. Installation takes less than a minute.
Add the proxy
Open the app, click "Add proxy," and paste the host:port:login:password string. You can add several proxies at once as a list.
Choose a location and connect
Pick the server you need from the list of 30,000+ servers in 50+ countries and click "Connect." The app will route your system traffic through SOCKS5.
Check the status
The indicator will turn green, and your current IP will appear next to it. Done — the connection is protected and UDP apps work through the proxy.
Setup in Chrome and Firefox
Suitable if you need to send only your browser through the proxy while leaving the rest of your traffic direct.
Mozilla Firefox
Firefox can work with SOCKS5 natively, without third-party programs.
Open Settings → General → Network Settings and click "Settings."
Select "Manual proxy configuration," enter the host and port in the SOCKS Host field, and check the SOCKS5 version.
Enable "Proxy DNS when using SOCKS5" — this protects against DNS leaks. Save the settings.
On the first page load, Firefox will prompt for your login and password — enter them from your access string.
Google Chrome
Chrome takes the proxy from Windows settings, so it's more convenient to use a proxy manager extension.
Install any extension for managing proxies (for example, a SOCKS proxy manager) from the extension store.
Create a new profile, select the SOCKS5 protocol, and specify the host and port.
Enable authorization and enter the login and password from the host:port:login:password format.
Activate the profile — now all Chrome traffic goes through your static proxy.
Windows system settings
The built-in Windows proxy window is designed for HTTP. For system-wide SOCKS5, it's more reliable to use the Pure Connect app.
Open the proxy settings
Click Start → Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy. Here you'll see the built-in manual proxy setup window.
Note the limitation
The system proxy field in Windows accepts only HTTP addresses and does not understand SOCKS5. So for system-wide SOCKS5 tunneling, use the Pure Connect app — it routes all traffic correctly on its own.
Connect through the app
Launch the Pure Connect client, select the proxy in the host:port:login:password format, and click "Connect." Your system traffic will go through the dedicated IP.
Verify that the proxy is working
Open an IP check service
In the connected browser, go to any IP check site (for example, search for "my IP"). The displayed address should match the location of the chosen proxy, not your home IP.
Check for DNS leaks
Open a DNS check site. The DNS servers should belong to the proxy's country — this confirms that DNS leak protection is active.
Check via the terminal
You can also confirm the proxy's response from the command line:
curl --socks5 host:port -U login:password https://api.ipify.orgIf the IP differs from your real one, the setup was done correctly. If something doesn't add up, take a look at troubleshooting or contact support.
Frequently asked questions
The built-in window "Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy" in Windows 10/11 works only with HTTP proxies, so you cannot enter a SOCKS5 proxy there. Use the Pure Connect app, the settings of a specific browser (Firefox supports SOCKS5 natively), or a wrapper program for system-wide tunneling. The login and password are entered in the host:port:login:password format.
The app is more convenient: it stores your list of proxies, switches locations with one click, and shows the connection status right away. Manual setup in the browser is useful if you need to route only one browser through the proxy while leaving the rest of your traffic direct. Both methods use the same access credentials, host:port:login:password.
Yes. Our static SOCKS5 proxies support UDP and QUIC, so they correctly handle not only ordinary TCP traffic but also apps that need UDP. For UDP to actually go through the proxy, route your traffic system-wide via the Pure Connect app rather than only through the settings of a single browser.
First, check the format of the data, host:port:login:password, and that you copied it without extra spaces. Make sure the type SOCKS5 is selected, not HTTP. If you are using a VPN or another proxy at the same time, disable it. Detailed scenarios and solutions are collected on the /troubleshooting.html page, and you can get live help from support.
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