PostmanHow-ToBeginner · 4 min read

How to Use Proxy in Postman: Step-by-Step Guide

To use a proxy in Postman, go to Settings > Proxy, enable the proxy, and enter your proxy server details like host and port. This routes your API requests through the specified proxy server for monitoring or debugging.

📐

Syntax

In Postman, proxy settings are configured through the user interface, not code. The key parts are:

Proxy Server: The address (host) of the proxy.
Port: The port number on which the proxy listens.
Username and Password: Optional credentials if the proxy requires authentication.
Bypass List: Hosts or domains to skip the proxy.

These settings tell Postman how to route your HTTP requests through the proxy server.

json

{
  "proxy": {
    "enabled": true,
    "host": "proxy.example.com",
    "port": 8080,
    "username": "user123",
    "password": "pass123",
    "bypass": ["localhost", "127.0.0.1"]
  }
}

💻

Example

This example shows how to enable and configure a proxy in Postman settings to route requests through proxy.example.com on port 8080 with authentication.

postman

1. Open Postman.
2. Click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right.
3. Select the <strong>Proxy</strong> tab.
4. Toggle <strong>Use System Proxy</strong> off.
5. Toggle <strong>Global Proxy Configuration</strong> on.
6. Enter <code>proxy.example.com</code> in the <strong>Proxy Server</strong> field.
7. Enter <code>8080</code> in the <strong>Port</strong> field.
8. Enter your <strong>Username</strong> and <strong>Password</strong> if required.
9. Add <code>localhost</code> and <code>127.0.0.1</code> to the <strong>Bypass</strong> list.
10. Save and close settings.
11. Send any API request; it will route through the proxy server.

Output

All API requests in Postman will now pass through proxy.example.com:8080, allowing you to monitor or debug traffic via the proxy.

⚠️

Common Pitfalls

Proxy Not Enabled: Forgetting to toggle the proxy on in settings means requests won’t use the proxy.
Wrong Host or Port: Entering incorrect proxy server details causes connection failures.
Authentication Missing: If the proxy requires credentials but they are not provided, requests will fail.
Bypass List Misconfiguration: Not adding local addresses to bypass can cause unnecessary proxy routing.
System Proxy Conflicts: Having system proxy enabled alongside Postman proxy can cause confusion; disable system proxy if using Postman proxy.

json

{
  "proxy": {
    "enabled": false,
    "host": "",
    "port": 0
  }
}

{
  "proxy": {
    "enabled": true,
    "host": "proxy.example.com",
    "port": 8080
  }
}

📊

Quick Reference

Setting	Description	Example
Proxy Server	The proxy host address	proxy.example.com
Port	Port number of the proxy	8080
Username	Proxy authentication username	user123
Password	Proxy authentication password	pass123
Bypass List	Hosts to skip proxy	localhost, 127.0.0.1
Enable Proxy	Toggle proxy usage on/off	On

✅

Key Takeaways

Enable the proxy in Postman settings before sending requests to route traffic through it.

Enter correct proxy host, port, and credentials to avoid connection errors.

Use the bypass list to exclude local addresses from proxy routing.

Disable system proxy if using Postman’s global proxy to prevent conflicts.

Check proxy settings carefully if requests fail to connect.