Setting up Proxy in Brave Browser

Настройка прокси в Brave Browser

Brave Features and Proxies

Brave Browser is built on Chromium, so working with proxies is similar to Google Chrome. Brave uses system proxy settings by default but also supports extensions and command-line flags.

Important note: The built-in Brave VPN/Firewall is not a proxy and operates at the system level. Proxy configuration is a separate process.

Method 1: System Settings

Windows 10/11

1. Open Brave → Settings → System → Open your computer's proxy settings
2. Or: Windows Settings → Network & Internet → Proxy
3. In the "Manual proxy setup" section, enable "Use a proxy server"
4. Enter the proxy address and port
5. Click "Save"

macOS

1. Open System Preferences → Network
2. Select your active connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet)
3. Click "Advanced" → "Proxies" tab
4. Check the desired proxy type (HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS)
5. Enter the address and port
6. Click OK → Apply

Linux

1. Open Settings → Network → Network Proxy
2. Select "Manual"
3. Enter the address and port for HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS
4. Settings are applied automatically

Important: System settings affect all browsers and applications.

Method 2: Extensions (Recommended)

SwitchyOmega

SwitchyOmega is the best extension for managing proxies in Chromium-based browsers.

Installation:
1. Open the Brave Web Store (chrome.google.com/webstore)
2. Search for "Proxy SwitchyOmega"
3. Click "Add to Brave"

Proxy Profile Configuration:
1. Click the SwitchyOmega icon → Options
2. Select the "proxy" profile (or create a new one)
3. Choose the protocol: HTTP, HTTPS, SOCKS4, or SOCKS5
4. Enter the server address and port
5. If authentication is required, enable it and enter your username/password
6. Click "Apply changes"

Auto Switch (Smart Switching):
1. Create an "auto_switch" profile
2. Add rules: specify for which domains to use the proxy
3. Route other traffic directly (Direct)
4. This implements split tunneling directly within the browser

Other Extensions

FoxyProxy — an alternative to SwitchyOmega with a different interface.
Proxy Helper — a simple extension for quick proxy switching.

Method 3: Command-Line Flags

Brave can be launched with a proxy specified via a flag:

Windows:
brave.exe --proxy-server="http://proxy_ip:port"

macOS:
/Applications/Brave Browser.app/Contents/MacOS/Brave Browser --proxy-server="http://proxy_ip:port"

Linux:
brave-browser --proxy-server="http://proxy_ip:port"

Proxy Types in the Flag

• HTTP: --proxy-server="http://ip:port"
• SOCKS5: --proxy-server="socks5://ip:port"
• HTTPS: --proxy-server="https://ip:port"

Exclusions

To bypass the proxy for specific addresses:
--proxy-bypass-list="localhost;127.0.0.1;*.local"

PAC File

For complex routing rules:
--proxy-pac-url="http://example.com/proxy.pac"

Proxy Authentication

Via Extensions

SwitchyOmega supports username/password authentication. Specify credentials in the profile settings.

Via URL (HTTP Proxy)

Format: http://username:password@proxy_ip:port

Not all proxies support URL-based authentication. For SOCKS5 with authentication, it's better to use an extension.

Pop-up Window

If the proxy requires authentication, Brave will display a dialog box for entering your username and password.

Verification

After configuring the proxy, check:
1. Open an IP check website (e.g., gproxy.net/tools/my-ip)
2. Ensure that the proxy's IP is displayed, not your own
3. Check for WebRTC leaks
4. Check for DNS leaks

Brave Shields and Proxies

Brave Shields (the built-in blocker) operates independently of proxies. Shields continues to block trackers and ads even when using a proxy.

If the proxy is not working correctly, try temporarily disabling Shields for a specific website.

Tips

1. Use SwitchyOmega for flexible management — it's better than system settings
2. Enable remote DNS for SOCKS5 — this prevents DNS leaks
3. Disable WebRTC — Brave Settings → Privacy → WebRTC IP handling policy → Disable
4. Check for leaks after configuration
5. Brave VPN does not replace a proxy — they are different tools

Conclusion

Proxy configuration in Brave Browser is identical to Chrome due to their shared Chromium base. The recommended method is the SwitchyOmega extension for flexible profile management and routing rules. For simple tasks, command-line flags are sufficient.