Troubleshooting Proxy Connections

Proxy connection errors are frustrating. Wrong credentials. Timeouts. Slow speeds. Here's how to diagnose and fix the most common issues.

Error: "Authentication Failed"

What it means: Your proxy username or password is wrong.

Common causes:

• Typo in username or password
• Copy-paste included extra spaces
• Username format is wrong (missing session ID or country code)
• Proxy provider changed credentials
• Subscription expired

Solutions:

1. Check credentials: Log into your proxy provider dashboard. Copy credentials fresh. Don't type manually.
2. Trim whitespace: Paste into text editor first. Remove any leading/trailing spaces. Then paste into Multilogin.
3. Verify format: Some providers require specific username formats like "username-session-123" or "username-country-us". Check documentation.
4. Test in browser: Set proxy in Chrome/Firefox system settings. Try browsing. If that fails, issue is with proxy provider.
5. Check subscription: Verify your proxy plan hasn't expired. Check bandwidth limits.

Error: "Connection Timeout"

What it means: Couldn't reach the proxy server within timeout period.

Common causes:

• Wrong host or port
• Proxy server is down
• Your firewall blocking connection
• ISP blocking proxy ports
• Network connectivity issues

Solutions:

1. Verify host/port: Double-check proxy host and port from provider dashboard. Common ports: 8080 (HTTP), 1080 (SOCKS5), 22225 (Bright Data).
2. Test connectivity: Open terminal/command prompt. Run: telnet proxy-host port. If connection fails, proxy is unreachable.
3. Check firewall: Temporarily disable firewall. Test connection. If works, add Multilogin to firewall whitelist.
4. Try different protocol: If SOCKS5 times out, try HTTP. Some networks block SOCKS traffic.
5. Contact provider: Proxy server might be down. Check provider status page or support.

Error: "Connection Refused"

What it means: Proxy server actively rejected your connection.

Common causes:

• Wrong proxy type (using HTTP endpoint with SOCKS5 protocol)
• IP whitelist not configured
• Proxy provider blocked your IP
• Port is closed

Solutions:

1. Match protocol to endpoint: If provider gives HTTP endpoint, use HTTP protocol in Multilogin. If SOCKS5 endpoint, use SOCKS5 protocol.
2. Check IP whitelist: Some providers require you to whitelist your IP address. Log into provider dashboard → Settings → Whitelist your current IP.
3. Verify port: Common mistake: using port 1080 for HTTP proxy or 8080 for SOCKS5. Match port to protocol.

Proxy Works But Sites Detect It

Connection successful but accounts get banned or CAPTCHAs appear constantly.

Causes:

• Using datacenter proxies on strict platforms
• Proxy IP is blacklisted
• Too many users sharing same IP
• Geolocation mismatch with browser fingerprint

Solutions:

1. Switch to residential: If using datacenter proxies, upgrade to residential. Facebook, Amazon, Instagram block most datacenter IPs.
2. Test IP reputation: Visit ipqualityscore.com. Enter your proxy IP. Check fraud score. Score above 75 = bad IP.
3. Match geolocation: Profile Settings → Geolocation. Set coordinates to match proxy IP location. Visit ipinfo.io with your proxy to find coordinates.
4. Rotate proxies: If using static proxy, switch to rotating. Spread activity across multiple IPs.

Extremely Slow Loading Speeds

Pages take 10-30 seconds to load. Constant loading spinners.

Causes:

• Residential proxies are naturally slower (normal)
• Overloaded proxy server
• High latency to proxy location
• Bandwidth throttling

Solutions:

1. Set expectations: Residential proxies are 2-3x slower than datacenter. 3-5 second load times are normal.
2. Choose closer location: Use proxies geographically closer to you. US East instead of Europe if you're in New York.
3. Test different times: Proxy networks get congested during peak hours (9am-5pm EST). Test at off-peak times.
4. Upgrade plan: Budget residential proxies oversell bandwidth. Premium providers (Bright Data, Oxylabs) have better speed.

DNS Resolution Failed

Error says can't resolve proxy hostname.

Causes:

• Typo in proxy host
• DNS server issues
• Proxy hostname changed

Solutions:

1. Check spelling: Verify every character in hostname. Common mistake: "proxy.provider.com" vs "proxies.provider.com".
2. Use IP address: If hostname fails, ask provider for IP address directly. Use that instead of hostname.
3. Change DNS: Switch your system DNS to 8.8.8.8 (Google) or 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare). Test again.

Diagnostic Checklist

Work through this checklist to systematically diagnose proxy issues:

1. ✅ Credentials are correct (no typos, no extra spaces)
2. ✅ Host and port match provider documentation
3. ✅ Protocol matches endpoint type (HTTP vs SOCKS5)
4. ✅ Subscription is active and not expired
5. ✅ Bandwidth limit not exceeded
6. ✅ IP whitelist configured (if required)
7. ✅ Firewall allows proxy connection
8. ✅ Proxy provider status page shows "operational"
9. ✅ Geolocation matches proxy IP location
10. ✅ Using residential proxies for strict platforms

If all checkboxes pass and proxy still fails, contact your proxy provider support. Issue is likely on their end.