Crypto
09 Dec 2025
Read 13 min
how to fix 407 proxy error in 5 minutes *
how to fix 407 proxy error and restore page downloads quickly with clear steps to fix proxy auth now.
What Is a 407 Proxy Error?
A 407 Proxy Authentication Required error means your request reached the proxy, but the proxy needs a valid login before it will forward your traffic. It is like a locked door that sees you but will not open because it cannot verify who you are. Common causes include:- Wrong username or password, or a locked account
- Saved, outdated credentials in Windows, macOS, or the browser
- Apps using system proxy while your system has no credentials saved
- Environment variables pointing to an old proxy or wrong port
- HTTPS inspection with a missing root certificate
- PAC file changes that route you to a new proxy you never logged into
Quick 5-Minute Checklist: how to fix 407 proxy error
Use this short list from easiest to a bit deeper. Most people fix the issue on steps 1–3.1) Confirm your proxy login
- Check the username format. Some networks need DOMAINusername or username@domain.
- Retype your password. Watch for Caps Lock. If your company forces password changes, update it everywhere.
- If your account may be locked, sign in to your email or a company portal to verify. If locked, reset it.
2) Clear saved credentials and re-authenticate
Old credentials often cause silent 407 loops.- Windows: Open Credential Manager. Remove any proxy-related entries. Also remove saved credentials in your browser.
- macOS: Open Keychain Access. Search for “proxy” or your proxy host. Delete stale items. Also clear browser saved logins.
- Browsers (Chrome/Edge/Firefox): Remove saved proxy auth, close the browser, reopen, and try again so it prompts for fresh login.
3) Verify system proxy settings
Your app might inherit system proxy settings even if you changed them inside the app.- Windows: Internet Options > Connections > LAN settings. If “Use a proxy server” is on, confirm the address and port. If your network uses a PAC file, make sure the URL is correct and reachable.
- macOS: System Settings > Network > your adapter > Proxies. Check Web Proxy (HTTP), Secure Web Proxy (HTTPS), or Automatic Proxy Configuration (PAC). Fix the host, port, and credentials.
- Linux: Check environment variables HTTP_PROXY, HTTPS_PROXY, and NO_PROXY. If they point to an old proxy, update or unset them.
- curl -x http://proxy.company.com:8080 -U username:password https://example.com
4) Set or fix app-specific proxy settings
Each tool may keep its own proxy config.- Git: git config –global http.proxy http://username:password@proxy:port
- npm: npm config set proxy http://username:password@proxy:port and npm config set https-proxy http://username:password@proxy:port
- pip: set HTTP_PROXY/HTTPS_PROXY env vars or use pip.ini/pip.conf to point at the proxy
- Docker: configure the daemon proxy and also the client (systemd drop-ins or ~/.docker/config.json)
- Package managers (apt, yum, Homebrew): update their proxy files or environment variables
5) Check HTTPS and certificates
If the proxy inspects HTTPS, it may present a corporate certificate. If your device does not trust that cert, the connection can fail in odd ways.- Install your company’s root certificate into the system trust store (and Java truststore if you run Java apps).
- Try a plain HTTP test site to compare. If HTTP works but HTTPS fails, a trust issue is likely.
6) Toggle VPN, Wi‑Fi, or captive portal
If you just changed networks, your device may still point at the old proxy.- Disconnect and reconnect VPN.
- Forget and rejoin Wi‑Fi to refresh proxy settings (especially with PAC files).
- Open a browser and visit a non-HTTPS site to trigger any hotel/guest captive portal login.
Fixes by Operating System
Windows
- Open Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy. Ensure Auto-detect or PAC URL is correct, or set the manual proxy host and port.
- Remove old proxy entries in Credential Manager and sign in again when prompted.
- If using Enterprise auth (NTLM/Kerberos), make sure you are logged into the domain and your time is correct.
macOS
- System Settings > Network > Proxies. For Automatic Proxy Configuration, make sure the PAC URL loads in a browser.
- In Keychain Access, delete stale proxy passwords and re-enter when prompted.
- If using a browser extension that sets a proxy, disable it to test system settings.
Linux
- Echo your variables: echo $HTTP_PROXY $HTTPS_PROXY $NO_PROXY. Fix case; many apps only read uppercase.
- For systemd services, set Environment=HTTP_PROXY=… inside a drop-in and reload the service.
- Add localhost, 127.0.0.1, and your internal domains to NO_PROXY so local traffic does not hit the proxy.
Developers and CI: Make Tools Work Through the Proxy
Knowing how to fix 407 proxy error in code and pipelines saves hours.- Node.js: set HTTPS_PROXY and HTTP_PROXY before npm/yarn runs. Add NO_PROXY for registry.npmjs.org if not required by policy.
- Python: requests and pip read environment vars; for code, pass proxies={‘http’: ‘http://proxy:port’,’https’:’http://proxy:port’}.
- Java: use -Dhttp.proxyHost, -Dhttp.proxyPort, -Dhttps.proxyHost, -Dhttps.proxyPort. For auth, configure a ProxySelector or Authenticator.
- GitHub Actions/GitLab CI: set proxy vars in secrets; avoid committing credentials. Test with a curl step.
When the Problem Is Upstream
Sometimes you did everything right, but the proxy still says 407.- Your account may lack internet access or is not in the proxy’s allow list.
- The proxy may require MFA or a portal login after password changes.
- A new PAC file may send you to a different proxy that needs fresh auth.
- The proxy may block CONNECT to certain ports or domains. Ask for the domain to be allowed or use the standard HTTPS port.
Prevent the 407 From Coming Back
- Standardize proxy settings at the system level, not app by app.
- Use a password manager or OS keychain rather than embedding passwords in config files.
- Document the PAC URL and proxy hosts/ports for your team and CI systems.
- Set NO_PROXY for localhost, 127.0.0.1, and internal domains to avoid needless proxy hops.
- Keep the company root certificate installed and updated if HTTPS inspection is used.
- After password changes, sign out and sign back in so integrated auth refreshes cleanly.
For more news: Click Here
FAQ
* The information provided on this website is based solely on my personal experience, research and technical knowledge. This content should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation. Any investment decision must be made on the basis of your own independent judgement.
Contents