Browsers and extensions

Safari proxy setup

This guide shows how to use a ProxyOnly proxy with Safari. Safari uses the macOS network proxy settings. You will copy four values from your dashboard (host, port, username and password), add them to Safari, and confirm that the exit address and country are the ones you ordered.

You need an active ProxyOnly proxy first. Create an account, add funds from US$1, and order a proxy in one of the 63 countries we stock. The dashboard then shows the host, port, username and password. If you have not done that yet, start with the quick-start guides.

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Tool: Safari
Category: Browsers and extensions
Proxy protocol: HTTP with username and password
Example host: proxy.proxyonly.com
Countries in stock: 63

What you need from your dashboard

Every ProxyOnly proxy has the same four values. The example host and port below are placeholders, so always copy the real ones from your dashboard. The username can carry options after the account name, which is how you choose the country and the session.

Setting	Example	What it is
Host	proxy.proxyonly.com	The gateway address
Port	8000	The port for your proxy type, shown in the dashboard
Username	username-country-us	Your account name, with the country added as -country-xx
Password	password	The proxy password. Treat it like any other secret
Protocol	HTTP	Use an http:// proxy URL, even for HTTPS sites

Set up Safari with a ProxyOnly proxy

Safari is a browser, so you set the proxy in its settings and not in code. These are the steps. Menu names change between versions, so if a label is slightly different in your version, look for the nearest proxy or network option.

Open Safari Settings, go to Advanced and choose Proxies. This opens macOS Network settings.
Turn on Web Proxy (HTTP) and Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS).
Enter proxy.proxyonly.com and the port from your dashboard for both.
Tick Proxy server requires password and enter your username and password.
Click OK and confirm the exit country on an IP lookup page.

Choose the country and the session

You choose the exit country by adding it to the username, and you can pin an address for a while by adding a session name. The same patterns work in Safari because they are part of the credentials.

Use username-country-us for a United States exit, username-country-de for Germany, and username-country-gb for the United Kingdom. Add -session-NAME, for example username-country-us-session-qa42, to keep the same exit for the session. Use a new name to get a new exit. Codes are two-letter ISO country codes, and a country that is not in stock is rejected.

username-country-us
username-country-de
username-country-us-session-qa42

Check that Safari is really using the proxy

Do not assume. Verify the connection before your real job starts, and again after any change to the settings.

Request https://httpbin.org/ip or any IP lookup page with Safari.
Compare the address with your own. It must be different.
Check the country in a lookup tool and compare it with the country in your username.
Run the ProxyOnly proxy tester for the same country as a second opinion.
Repeat the request once. For a sticky session the address should stay the same, and for a rotating one it may change.

Fixing common Safari proxy problems

These are the problems we see most often, with the fix that usually works.

407 Proxy Authentication Required. The username or password is wrong, or the tool did not send them. Copy both from the dashboard again and check the username format.
Connection timed out. The host or port is wrong, or a firewall blocks the port. Try curl first to separate a tool problem from a network problem.
The exit country is not the one you expected. Check the country code in the username, and look the address up in two lookup tools, because databases do not always agree.
TLS or certificate errors on HTTPS pages. Use an HTTP proxy URL (http://...) for the proxy itself, even when the website is HTTPS. The proxy opens a tunnel and does not inspect the traffic.
Pages load slowly. Lower your concurrency, reuse connections and try a country closer to the target.
The site blocks you. Slow down, send realistic headers, and consider an ISP proxy if the site is strict about datacenter ranges.
Your balance ran out. Check the dashboard. Orders are paid from your balance, and an expired rental stops working.

Good habits when you use Safari with a proxy

A proxy only changes the address your traffic comes from. These habits make the difference between a setup that lasts and one that does not.

Use a separate browser profile for proxy work, so your normal browsing and logins stay apart.
Check the exit address on an IP lookup page every time you change country.
Clear cookies when you switch country. A site that has seen you from one country will notice a sudden change.
Do not sign in to personal accounts through a shared or rented address.
Close the profile or switch the proxy off when you are done.

macOS applies the proxy to the whole network connection, not only Safari.

Using proxies responsibly in any country

A proxy is a networking tool and it is lawful in most places, but what you do with it still has to be lawful and fair. Follow the laws that apply to you and to the place you send traffic to, read the terms of the sites you visit, honour robots rules and rate limits, and never use an address to access accounts or data that are not yours. ProxyOnly cannot give legal advice, and our acceptable use policy applies to every order.

In practice that means reading public pages, checking your own sites and ads, and testing your own products. If a task would be unwelcome to the site owner when done by hand, it is unwelcome when done through a proxy too.

Frequently asked questions

Does Safari work with ProxyOnly proxies?

Yes. ProxyOnly proxies are standard HTTP proxies with username and password authentication, and Safari supports that kind of proxy. Use the setup above and verify the address with an IP lookup.

What proxy settings do I enter in Safari?

Enter the host, the port, your username and your password from the ProxyOnly dashboard. Use HTTP as the proxy type. Add -country-xx to the username to choose the exit country.

Why does Safari show a 407 error?

A 407 means the proxy did not accept the credentials. Copy the username and password again, check for extra spaces, and make sure the username format is correct. Also check that your rental has not expired and that your balance covers the order.

Can I choose the country in Safari?

Yes, by adding the country to the username, for example username-country-de. Check the exit country with an IP lookup, since a country that is not in stock is rejected.

How do I keep the same IP in Safari?

Add a session name to the username, for example username-country-us-session-qa42, and reuse it. A new session name gives you a new exit. Datacenter and ISP proxies you rent also keep the same address for the whole rental period.

Is it safe to put my proxy password in Safari?

It is as safe as any other password in that tool. Do not share exported settings or projects that contain it, do not commit it to a repository and tell support right away if it leaks.

Ready to try it?

Create an account, add funds from US$1 and pick your country and proxy type.

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