Let’s start from the basis that a proxy is a type of server that acts as an intermediary between the connections of a client and a destination server. This is how we filter the packets sent between both devices. However, this is something that can fail for various reasons and put the security of the packages that we are going to transfer at risk, which is precisely what we are looking for with these elements.
One of the main reasons why this security element does not work well is because we have misconfigured it in the corresponding browser. Obviously this means that the level of protection we expect is not adequate or simply non-existent. It may also be the case that we are using some version of the Google program that has caused some type of incompatibility. It may also be the case that the security software installed on the computer is blocking this proxy, we refer to the antivirus.
Another of the most common reasons why this security component fails is due to an error in the Internet connection available at that moment, or even a failure in the Windows network drivers. For all this, we are going to show you the solutions that you can carry out to fix this error as soon as possible.
Fix “The proxy server is refusing connections” error
The causes of this error message can be very varied, and sometimes it is difficult to find them. It may happen that the proxy server is not working correctly, that the settings have changed and even that something on our PC, such as malware, is blocking these connections. Therefore, below, we are going to give you an answer to some of the most common possibilities when we encounter a problem like the one we mentioned in these same lines.
If we are not connected to a corporate network (a company, a school, etc.) and we have already verified that we are not infected with malware, then most likely the problem has originated because a program has changed the proxy settings of our computer. This is something that we can sometimes find with certain applications related to the online world. Thus, when we install them and without us realizing it, or because we don’t read the fine print, they themselves make changes to our PC connection.
Check Internet settings in the registry
When some program makes changes to the Windows registry settings it may also occasionally change the permissions to prevent the user, or any other program, from being able to change these settings. To say that these types of modifications are much more common than they should be, which causes unexpected problems like the one we are dealing with here.
To solve this problem, what we must do is open the Windows registry settings.
First of all, we must bear in mind that this is a very delicate section that is part of the operating system by default. What we want to tell you is that to make changes here we must be very clear about the entries that we are going to change and what we are really going to do. This is, for example, what we are going to carry out below where we specify what we are going to change exactly. With everything and with this, the most advisable thing at this point is to make a backup copy of the entire registry.
To do this, all we have to do is go to the File / Export menu option and thus achieve a file with the entire Windows registry database inside. In the event that we find a bug or unwanted change in this section, we will only have to import the file that we have just created to solve the problem. And it is that an erroneous change in this section of the system can cause malfunctions in installed applications or even crashes in Windows itself.
To do this we can open the run dialog box through the Win + R key combination. Next, we write the command regedit, which leads us to the registry editor window. And in this way, once inside the window that we are commenting on, we will move to the following route:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Policies>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Internet Settings
In it we will click with the right button on «internet settings» and we will select the option “Permissions”. Now is when we are going to really carry out the necessary changes to solve this problem that we are talking about in these lines.
In the new window that opens we must select our user and mark the option «Total control«. Thus, said user can make changes to that registry key, which is really what we are looking for in this case.
Ready. Once this change is made, we can go to our browser and try to modify the Proxy properties from there, since having full permissions we won’t have problems doing so. Of course, this method will only work with those browsers that share the configuration with the operating system. If our browser has its own configuration, as it happens with Firefox, this method will not help.
However, in the event that we use Google Chrome, which is in fact the most widespread and used Internet browser, this change will be very useful for us.
Check browser proxy settings
Chrome, Edge, and Internet Explorer pull network settings directly from the operating system. In Windows 10, for example, we can access this setting from the Settings menu. Within the network and Internet section we will find the proxy options.
In the case of Firefox, the proxy configuration is found within the browser itself, and we can review and modify it from the configuration itself.
Therefore, depending on the web browser we use, it is likely that we will have to modify the network proxy settings in one way or another. With everything and with this, these modifications will be of great help to us in order to solve the potential failures that we can find with the proxy of our team.
Reset your browser to fix connection issues
Another option that can help us solve problems with our computer’s proxy is to restore the default settings of our browser. This process may be somewhat different depending on the browser we are using (Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc).
In Google ChromeFor example, it will suffice to enter “chrome://settings/?search=restore” in the address bar and select the option that allows us to restore the browser’s default settings to delete all data. We must do the same with other web browsers, for example, in Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
In this way, having cleared all browser data, including proxy settings, any settings that were blocking these connections will no longer be enabled. We only have to re-enter the proxy configuration data so that everything returns to normal.
If we don’t know how to completely reset the browser, or we encounter any error while doing so, we can also locate its personal folder and forcefully delete it from our computer. Thus, when you reopen the browser, a new profile folder will be created, and we can start configuring it.
In turn, we must take into account that this function that we have just mentioned and that you can carry out in most current web browsers, will be very helpful in other circumstances or failures. For example, if we notice strange behavior in Google Chrome and we can’t get it to work as usual again, this reset to factory settings will help us. And it is that what we actually achieve with all this is that the program eliminates all the changes and configurations that we have made over time so that we have it available as it was the first day when we downloaded it from Internet.
Try another web browser
We can try to isolate the problem, and make sure that it is not in the web browser itself, simply Trying with a different browser. To do this, what we must do is take note of the browser that we are using right now, and that gives us problems, to choose the best alternative. For example, if we have problems with Chrome or Edge (which share Windows proxy data), we can give Firefox a chance to see if we can navigate with it. Otherwise, if we use Firefox, then we will try Edge (since it is the one that comes installed by default in Windows) to see if we can navigate with it.
A browser that works completely independently of proxy and other settings is Tor Browser. This browser has its own settings to be able to send traffic through the Tor network without anything being able to intercept it. Therefore, it is an excellent option to rule out that the problem is here.
Of course, we must keep in mind that it is a browser that gives priority over all things to privacy when we use it. This negatively affects the performance and fluidity of the program’s operation in most cases.
If everything works fine with the alternative browser, then clearly the error is in the browser settings. Therefore, we must try the previous option, which allows us to completely restore it to the factory, and review the settings of windows proxy, since the error should be there. If we have weird extensions installed that filter traffic, or an antivirus that takes control of browser traffic, the problems may also be there, so we must disable both the extensions and the antivirus to see if everything works correctly.
Other checks
In addition to the above, we can also try other settings to try to fix the Windows “The proxy server is refusing connections” error that prevents us from browsing the Internet. And there are many factors that influence this type of error related to the Internet and connectivity on our Windows computer. That is why the more solutions we have at our fingertips, the more chances we will have of being able to solve them easily.
Try Safe Mode
The reasons why this error may appear are very varied. So before we give up, let’s rule it out as a software issue. To do this, what we must do is restart the computer in Safe Mode with network functions and check if the Internet connection is working in this way.
If the Internet works without problems in this mode, then the problem is due to software installed on the computer. An antivirus? the firewall? a malware? Now we only have to investigate until we find the person responsible. If in Safe Mode it still does not work, then we should locate what configuration, or device, is acting as a proxy within our network. And most importantly: why…