Windows Could Not Automatically Detect Network Proxy Settings
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Windows Could Not Automatically Detect This Network's Proxy Settings
This message appears when you run the Windows network troubleshooter on a PC that says it is connected but has no internet. A proxy server is a middleman that some offices and schools use to route web traffic. When Windows is told to use a proxy that doesn't exist or doesn't answer, web pages fail to load, even though Wi-Fi or Ethernet looks fine.
On a home PC, the fix is usually to make sure no proxy is set. The steps below apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Work or school laptop? Your organisation may require a proxy. Don't change these settings; contact your IT team.
Fix 1: Restart the PC and the Router
Before changing settings, restart both. Shut down the PC, unplug the router for 30 seconds, plug it back in, wait for its lights to settle, then start the PC. If other devices on your network also have no internet, the problem is the connection itself, not the proxy: see router connected but no internet.
Fix 2: Check the Proxy Settings
- Open Settings > Network & internet > Proxy.
- Under Automatic proxy setup, make sure Automatically detect settings is On.
- If Use setup script is on and you didn't set it up, turn it off.
- Under Manual proxy setup, next to Use a proxy server, click Set up (or Edit) and make sure it is Off. Save.
- Test a website.
In Windows 10 the same switches are under Settings > Network & Internet > Proxy.
If a proxy address was filled in that you don't recognise, note it down: it may have been added by an unwanted program (see Fix 6).
Fix 3: Check the Older Internet Options Window
Some programs change the proxy through the older control panel instead.
- Press Windows + R, type
inetcpl.cpland press Enter. - Open the Connections tab and click LAN settings.
- Tick Automatically detect settings and untick Use a proxy server for your LAN.
- Click OK twice.
Fix 4: Reset the WinHTTP Proxy
Windows services such as Windows Update use a separate proxy setting called WinHTTP.
- Right-click Command Prompt in the Start menu and choose Run as administrator.
- See what is set:
netsh winhttp show proxy- On a home PC it should say Direct access (no proxy server). If it lists a proxy, reset it:
netsh winhttp reset proxyFix 5: Reset the Network Stack
If the proxy settings were already correct, the troubleshooter may be pointing at a wider network fault. In Command Prompt as administrator, run these one at a time:
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /renew
ipconfig /flushdns
netsh winsock reset
netsh int ip resetRestart the PC afterwards. These commands reset network settings only, not your files. If you had set a static IP address or custom DNS servers, write them down first because you may need to enter them again.
Fix 6: Scan for Adware and Malware
A proxy that keeps switching itself back on is a common sign of adware or a malicious browser add-on: it routes your browsing through someone else's server.
- Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection and run a Full scan.
- Then run Scan options > Microsoft Defender Offline scan.
- Check your browser's extensions and remove any you don't recognise.
- In Settings > Apps > Installed apps, uninstall unfamiliar programs installed around the time the problem started.
Our step-by-step guide to removing malware from Windows covers the deeper checks. Change the proxy back only after the scan is clean.
Fix 7: Turn Off VPN Software for a Test
VPN apps and some security suites install their own network filters and can change proxy settings. Disconnect or pause the VPN, test a website, and turn it back on afterwards. If the VPN is the cause, reinstall it or check its settings for a proxy or "web protection" feature.
Fix 8: Update or Reinstall the Network Adapter
- Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
- Expand Network adapters, right-click your Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter and choose Uninstall device (leave the driver-deletion box unticked).
- Restart the PC so Windows reinstalls it.
For a newer driver, use the laptop or motherboard maker's support page rather than driver-updater tools.
Fix 9: Network Reset
As a last step, open Settings > Network & internet > Advanced network settings > Network reset and click Reset now. The PC restarts, all adapters are reinstalled, and you'll need to re-enter your Wi-Fi password. VPN software may need to be set up again.
Still Not Fixed?
If the troubleshooter now reports something else, or pages still won't open, see DNS server not responding and our main guide to Wi-Fi connected but no internet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need a proxy server at home?
Almost never. Home connections work without one. A proxy is normally set up by a workplace or school, so on a home PC the proxy switch should usually be off and Automatically detect settings on.
Is this error dangerous?
The message itself is not. But if a proxy was switched on without you doing it, adware or malware may have changed it, so run a full antivirus scan after fixing the setting.
What does netsh winhttp reset proxy do?
It clears the proxy that Windows system services use, so they connect directly. It does not change your files or other network settings.
I use a work laptop. Should I turn the proxy off?
No. On a work or school device the proxy may be required and managed by IT. Contact your IT team instead of changing it.
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