Proxy servers are very useful tools for all browsing sessions. Instead of directly sending your traffic to the designated target, a connection routed through a proxy gets a new IP address.
There are many reasons to mask your IP. For example, many clients use proxies to prevent third parties from seeing their digital identity. However, the list of essential use cases is a lot bigger. For example, with a quick connection to an outside server, your data packets travel longer, but connection request headers get a unique and very valuable change. Once you connect to a remote proxy server, the target will treat you as the user with that address in a different location.
IP addresses carry a lot of data that many people would not want to have exposed. For them, a quick change to a server nearby is the best solution with minimal internet speed loss. Still, top proxy suppliers have tons of unique and reliable IP addresses around the globe. With adjustable deals and fair pricing, anyone can find a provider that suits their needs, even if their need for proxies is not frequent. While businesses have more use cases that make them the prime beneficiaries of intermediary servers, the average user can pick from different proxy types and bypass IP blocking, and internet censorship, or just see how the same site looks from a different location. A great example of good proxy use is the change of connections for a streaming service. If you do not like the local Netflix library, pick a country that has your favorite movies and TV shows, and connect to the region via high-quality, tested proxy servers.
Residential proxy server proxies are more expensive but blend in better with regular web traffic. Meanwhile, datacenter servers are cheaper and more suitable for casual browsing sessions. Still, like most internet privacy tools, proxy servers are often seen as PC-oriented solutions. In a corporate environment, there is no need to run proxies on other devices, but for the average user, an Android phone needs a lot more protection. Still, despite full support for datacenter and residential proxy servers, mobile devices are neglected in terms of privacy. In this guide, we will teach you to set up a proxy server on an Android device with Smartproxy or any other proxy server. As the top provider with a versatile client base, it provides tested proxies with great mobile support. Keep reading to learn and set up a proxy on your Android phone in no time!
Why Android phones need proxies
While most Android owners use computers for work-related and business-oriented tasks, where proxies come in handy, that does not mean that their servers are not useful for entertainment.
Because the average web surfer watches a lot of content on their Android phone, proxy servers help bypass IP address blocking and censorship. With a quick set-up, you can appear as a new visitor from a different region. Once the internet access point changes, you can lift the location restrictions that are forced upon every internet user.
Setting up your proxy server: A step-by-step guide:
A proxy server setup is an easy task. Here is what you need to do:
1. Unlock your phone and open the Settings app
2. Find and select the section for Wi-Fi & internet
3. Click on the gear icon, located on the right side of the connected network, or click and hold on the network and select Modify network
4. In your network settings, click Advanced Options to expand the menu. Now your proxy settings section should be visible
5. Click on proxy settings to see available options. Select Manual, which will let you pick and change proxy parameters
6. Add your IP and login credentials for authorization
7. You are all set! To see if the proxy server is in use, go to whatismyip.com or any other website that lets you see your IP. The page should start showing proxy IP as the address connected to the site.
Paid vs. free Android proxies
While the best proxy suppliers have favorable deals, trial periods, and money-back guarantees if the service ends up disappointing the client, most beginners are not eager to spend money on a service for the first time, especially when a quick Google search recommends free proxy servers.
For your safety, we recommend sticking to paid Android proxies, as there are many reasons to avoid free servers at all times. In most cases, nobody knows or cares about the owner of a discovered proxy server. When gullible internet users pick free proxies for privacy, the connection ends up in bigger danger than ever before. Open proxies are often maintained by dangerous third parties that want to steal your data.
Even if you end up lucky and find a safe public proxy, you will have to compete with other users over crumbs of bandwidth. If you are getting into proxies and using them more often, stick to paid options instead.