How to Register Proxy: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Proxies are now widely used to enhance online privacy, bypass geo-restrictions, and scale operations, such as anonymous browsing, web scraping, and managing multiple accounts. For beginners, figuring out how to register and set up a proxy may be confusing.

In this guide, we’ll break down the basics of using proxies, including how to register, choose, and configure. After reading this blog, we hope you can use it successfully for your tasks.

What is a Proxy?

A proxy is an intermediary server acting between the internet and the connected device. It helps facilitate, manage, and enhance users' internet traffic for privacy, security, and performance.

Why Use a Proxy?

Before introducing the registration step-by-step process, let's discuss the key functions of a proxy and how it works:

• Anonymity and Privacy: Mask users' IP addresses for anonymous browsing and personal information protection.
• Enhanced Security: Prevent cyber threats by filtering malicious content and harmful websites.
• Content Filtering: Workplaces or educational institutions often restrict access to certain websites or content.
• Bypassing Geo-Restrictions: Access geo-restricted content by pretending from proxy servers' locations.
• Load Balancing: Route incoming traffic through multiple proxy servers. This can effectively avoid overwhelm and improve performance.
• Caching: Store copies of frequently accessed web content, speeding up and reducing bandwidth usage.

How to Register a Proxy?

Below is a step-by-step guideline to help you register and set up a proxy:

Step 1: Choose the Suitable Type of Proxy

Before registration for a proxy, decide on the type of proxy you need based on your use case. 

According to IP Location:

1. Residential Proxies

IPs assigned by ISPs to real devices.

Best For: Web scraping, bypassing tough anti-bot systems, or accessing geo-restricted content.

Pros: Harder to detect and block.

Cons: More expensive.

2. Datacenter Proxies

IPs generated by data centers, not tied to real devices.

Best For: General tasks like accessing blocked sites or low-risk web scraping.

Pros: Fast and affordable.

Cons: Easier to detect and block.

3. Mobile Proxies

IPs assigned to mobile devices by mobile carriers.

Best For: High-trust tasks, such as managing social media accounts or accessing mobile-only content.

Pros: Extremely reliable and trusted by websites.

Cons: Expensive.

According to IP Rotation

1. Static Proxy

A static proxy always maintains one IP address, beneficial for certain consistent tasks.

Best For: Account management, and specific web scraping tasks.

2. Rotating Proxy

A rotating proxy regularly changes its IP address, either at predetermined intervals or with every request.

Best For: Large-scale data scraping, accessing geo-restricted content,  without being blocked.

There are also more types classified according to anonymity degree, traffic flow, protocol, and service, you can read our blog "A Quick Proxy Guide for Beginners: Definition, Types, and How to Choose" for detailed information. 

Step 2: Select a Proxy Provider

Once you decide on the proxy type, next is to choose a reputable proxy provider.

Popular options:

• Bright Data: Known for its premium proxies, including residential, datacenter, and mobile.
• MacroProxy: Affordable residential proxies with a large IP pool.
• Oxylabs: Enterprise-grade proxies for large-scale operations.

Features to Look for:

• IP Pool Size: A larger pool reduces the risk of detection and offers wider location choices.
• Rotation Options: Ensure the proxy supports IP rotation if needed, especially for scraping alike tasks.
• Geo-Targeting: You can select proxies from specific countries or even cities, this is beneficial for better local targeting activities.
• Reliability: Look for providers with high uptime and fast proxies.
• Customer Support: Responsive support can significantly affect your task progress when encountering issues.

Step 3: Create an Account

Follow these steps to register with the Proxy Provider:

1. Visit the provider’s website and click the "Sign Up" or "Register" button.

2. Sign up with Google(Often available) or Enter your details as required

• Email address
• Password

3. Check the box to agree to the policy（Often Terms of Service and Privacy Policy）and then go to the next step

4. Verify your email

Check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the verification link. If you did not receive it, you can click resend or directly contact customer support to get instant help.

Step 4: Purchase Proxies

After registering your account, purchase proxies based on your needs:

1. Select Or Customize a Proxy Plan

Most plans are based on the number of proxies, bandwidth, and duration of use. You can choose the plan shown in your Dashboard and click "Buy Now".

Or if you don't find suitable plans, you can contact our support to customize a personal or enterprise plan.

2. Choose the Region

If geo-targeting is important, select proxies from the desired country or region.

3. Complete Payment

Pay using your preferred method.

Step 5: Access Proxy Details

Once your purchase is complete, you will receive your proxy details in the dashboard.

This typically includes:

• IP Address: The proxy’s IP.
• Port: The port number to connect to the proxy.
• Username & Password (if applicable): For authenticated proxies.

Some providers also allow you to whitelist your IP address instead of using authentication credentials.

Step 6: Configure Your Proxy

Now that you have your proxy details, configure it for your intended use. Here are the setup steps for common applications:

1. Use Proxies in a Web Browser

Google Chrome:

• Go to Settings > Advanced > System > Open Proxy Settings.
• Enter the proxy IP and port under the manual proxy configuration section.
• Save changes.

Firefox:

• Go to Settings > General > Network Settings > Manual Proxy Configuration.
• Enter the proxy IP, port, and authentication (if required).
• Save changes.

2. Use Proxies in Python

For developers, proxies can be configured in Python using libraries like requests:

For Copy:

import requests

proxy = {
    "http": "http://username:password@proxy_ip:port",
    "https": "http://username:password@proxy_ip:port",
}

response = requests.get("http://httpbin.org/ip", proxies=proxy)
print(response.text)

3. Use Proxies in Web Scraping Tools

Scrapy:

Add proxy settings to your Scrapy project’s middleware:

For Copy:

PROXY = "http://username:password@proxy_ip:port"

Selenium:

Configure your Selenium WebDriver to use a proxy:

For Copy:

from selenium import webdriver
from selenium.webdriver.common.proxy import Proxy, ProxyType

proxy = Proxy({
    'proxyType': ProxyType.MANUAL,
    'httpProxy': 'proxy_ip:port',
    'sslProxy': 'proxy_ip:port',
})

options = webdriver.ChromeOptions()
options.add_argument('--proxy-server=%s' % proxy.httpProxy)

driver = webdriver.Chrome(options=options)
driver.get("https://example.com")

Best Practices for Using Proxies

1. Use Reliable Proxies

Avoid free proxies for critical tasks, as they’re often slow and unreliable, even bringing losses.

2. Rotate Proxies

If your task doesn't require a constant IP, a rotating proxy service can prevent detection and bans better.

3. Add Delays

Adding delay between requests can effectively mimic human behavior.

4. Monitor Proxy Performance

Regularly test proxies for speed and availability.

5. Respect Website Rules

Avoid scraping or accessing websites that explicitly prohibit automated traffic.

FAQs About Registering Proxies

1. Is it legal to use proxies?

Yes, using proxies is legal. However, the improper use (e.g., for scraping or bypassing restrictions) may cause legal or ethical implications.

2. Can I use free proxies?

Free proxies are not recommended for serious tasks due to their unreliability and security risks, such as sensitive or large-scale tasks.

3. How do I test if a proxy is working?

You can test a proxy by visiting a website like http://httpbin.org/ip to check if the request goes through the proxy.

4. Can I register proxies for specific regions?

Yes, most premium providers offer geo-targeted proxies that allow you to select IPs from specific countries or cities.

Conclusion

Registering and using a proxy are not complicated. By following this guide, you can choose the suitable proxy type, register with a reliable provider, and configure it for your specific needs. Whether you’re enhancing privacy, scraping data, or bypassing geo-restrictions, proxies are invaluable tools for navigating the web efficiently and anonymously.

Start registering your proxies today and take control of your online activities!